Hi Guys.
Haven't posted
anything for a while as usual – this time mostly because I haven't had much to
say. But just at the moment I feel inspired.
It may have
something to do with the polar blast that seems to be streaming up the country
at the moment. The big chill certainly doesn't inspire me to head out of the
house any more than absolutely necessary, which leaves me stuck in front of the
computer more often. That would be good except that I'm also sure my fingers
have frozen to to the bone which makes typing difficult! Fortunately my cat has
selflessly volunteered to take over the writing duties by sleeping on the
keyboard at every opportunity. Unfortunately I have no idea at all what she's
been typing. I just don't read cat!
Then again it
could be because of the latest news in the world of writing which is a
disgruntled author who has apparently been turned down three hundred and
nineteen times by agents and decided to have a bit of whine about it.
Unfortunately not about being rejected so many times, just about the latest
agent to do so and her appearance, dress sense, and motives for not paying him
the attention he so richly deserves. I won't mention his name or give a link –
because I'm just cynical enough to suspect he may have written such an
offensive piece simply to gain publicity and if so I don't want to help him.
It'll be easy enough to find his blog and the endless scathing reviews of it if
you just google “how to get yourself blacklisted” since it's gone viral.
But in the
meantime to said author – dude a few words of advice;
First, agents
are people too. Yes I know it's hard to believe, but personal attacks will not
endear you to them. And yes, the rest of the writing community is largely
unimpressed by your rant too. So you probably have got yourself blacklisted.
Congrats!
Second, despite
your rant, you actually know her motivations. She wants clients with books that
are going to sell and make her lots of money. Was that not perfectly obvious
from the start? So why did you even bother going to see her if you weren't
prepared to sell her your book on that basis?
And third and
probably most critically – three hundred and nineteen submissions?! Did you get
dropped on your head at some stage?! It's time to go indie and let the readers
decide whether your book's any good. Though I'd probably put it out under a pen
name if I were you. Readers also read blogs, and most I suspect won't be any
more impressed by your rant than I was.
However, to
switch to a more positive note my latest space opera “Spaced” has now completed
two full edits with Tickety Boo Press and I believe they're just finishing up
now as they prepare to publish. So really looking forward to that. It's been a
challenging process, using different editors with different styles and an
emphasis on different aspects of the writing, but I think well worth it. So I'm
hoping you'll all agree and it sells well and I can afford some new winter
thermals!
Anyway, must get
back to freezing to death! But looking forwards to the news in the next few
days. Selena Gomez is coming to town for a concert, and I'm expecting records
to be set. One in particular. Most concert goers ever to come down with hypothermia in one go!
Also her new single which is really quite good may well be retitled after the
event – Killing them with Frostbite!
Stay warm guys!
