First up, unless you have been living under a rock (or somewhere other than the US of A), you probably know that today is the premiere of “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3” starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta, which just got a terrific review in the NY Times. On the other hand, you may not know that it is based on a classic urban thriller by John Godey that is truly awesome and gripping and a great look at 1970s NYC and whose tie-in rights may have been sold by a certain agent whose blog you happen to be reading. Please buy the book or e-book!
Meanwhile, a busy link week in the publishing industry.
Jeff Abbott pointed me to a really cool site that shows writers in the spaces where they write. I’m always fascinated by the writing process, and this is a cool inside look.
Ever wondered why new books (and DVDs and music) come out on Tuesdays? Me too. The Millions investigates. (via Book Bench)
Former Random House CEO Peter Olson is back with an essay about e-book pricing and, among many points, he argues that demand should drive the price point for e-books (not any relation to print prices) and also argues that publishers are not sharing enough e-book revenue with authors. To which authors and agents say: THANK YOU. (Via Pub Lunch [subscription])
HarperStudio recently spotlighted a cool interactive map of New York’s literary landmarks, which did not at all make me nostalgic for living in NYC. Nope. Not. At. All.
The millionth English word was invented!! Do you know what it was? “Web 2.0“. Which is, um, two words. Or, if you want to be specific, a word and two numbers and a punctuation mark. That were already invented. Way to go, people who decided what the millionth word was. (via Neil Vogler)
In agent advice news, if you’ve written more than one novel but none are published, is the fifth one you’re written still “your first novel” for the purposes of the query? Janet Reid says yes, and I agree.
Meanwhile, Jessica Faust tackles a tough topic. Surely in a free country everyone who wants to write should write. But should everyone seek publication?
And some funny stuff this week: first, what can books learn from the movies? Among other things: more suspenseful music, that’s what. (via Christopher Ryan).
And finally, thanks to Nikki Duncan for passing along a hilarious comic about life as an acquisitions editor (or, really, agent).
Have a great weekend!
Nathan Bransford says
Rich-
I wasn't born when the book originally came out. I represent the estate, and re-sold all rights in advance of the new movie so that there would be new editions in stores when the movie came out. Here's more info on literary estate representation.
richfigel says
Aha! Thanks, Nathan, for the explanation and link to the older blog post.
I didn't realize you could resell movie rights for remakes… or did the original movie rights just give the producers a certain number of years to make their movie?
Nathan Bransford says
rich-
I didn't personally handle the movie rights, just the book rights. I can't get too much into the specifics, but I was able to re-sell the rights for the new editions of the book.
Laura Martone says
Hi, Nathan.
It was just pointed out to me that I might have sounded overly harsh in my "Pelham 123" rant on Friday. I was just expressing my movie opinion – not my opinion of the book or your part in its latest incarnation. I'm sorry if I offended you in any way.
I'm so excited to be a part of your blog fan club – and grateful for the wonderful tips I've learned here (and new writing pals I've made). And I, of course, am happy for your accomplishment – and hope the book sells like hotcakes. 🙂
My words on Friday simply reflected my general malaise about Hollywood remakes (especially when I adore the originals, as in the case of "123"). I have no doubt that I'll see the movie soon – as I do love me some Denzel – but I was feeling grumpy on Friday about the remake resurgence (given that I'm married to a struggling filmmaker) and certainly intended no ill will toward you.
I'll try to keep my grumpiness to myself in the future. 🙂
Mira says
Laura, I didn't think you were grumpy at all – just expressing an opinion. I got the same opinion walking out of the theatre yesteday. A theatre guy on his lunch break stopped us on the way out. He asked how the movie was, and wondered why there were so many re-makes. He liked the movie though.
So, yeah, I think film-makers stick with the known in order to make money. And that may limit the money going toward new artists. (I'll cross my fingers for your husband.) But the reality is, I would not have seen the original movie. So, at least with a re-make, the story will reach a new audience, and….sell new books, of course..
You know, I wish I had stayed to the end of the credits to see if the book was mentioned. You know: Book available at….whatever. If it's not, I throw my hands up in utter despair over the complete and total lack of marketing sense shown by the publishing industry.
deb says
I just found your blog. Thank you so much for taking the time to create it. You have done a wonderful job providing writers with some very useful information.
Anonymous says
Pelham 123. Good movie.
Chuck H. says
I was shocked when I saw the picture of Samuel Delaney and his writing space. I thought someone had put a spy camera in my space. But then I noticed that "Chip" is a little (not much) heavier than I am and his space is cleaner and has a window. Whew! Missed an attack of paranoia by this much.
Chuck H. says
Oh, and by the way, Happy Flag Day!
PurpleClover says
Just a comment on Jessica's post about whether everyone should seek publishing. I thought she did a great job and drove home her point well. I began reading some of the comments and was a bit shocked by some of the commenters that not only took offense, but others took a totally different approach to suggest the banning of full genres.
I would not be so brazen to say such a thing no matter my thoughts or opinions of specific genres (least of all my worries are teen vampire books – lol). I was just shocked. WOW.
Anonymous says
I'm confused. I don't think you were born when the book first came out. So what exactly did (or do) you rep?
-meant sincerely, not snarkily
Nathan Bransford says
laura-
No worries! I didn't make the movie.
anon-
I discussed that elsewhere in the comment section.
PurpleClover says
Sorry to separate all these comments so I'll try to make this my last.
The million word? Really? Web 2.0? I'm not even sure I know what Web 2.0 is?? Is that like the second version of the World Wide Web? Am I the only one that doesn't know?! I'll have to google it. Granted I don't know a lot of the words in the dictionary but since this was created in my generation I feel I should know it!
I liked the photos of writer's spaces. Maybe I'll take a pic of mine!
I LOVED the comic strip. Hilarious! That sums up my feelings toward work in general. lol.
Also, I appreciated Janet Reid's post but the part about hoping they have more manuscripts in the drawer really scared me since I don't. This is my first adult length novel so I've got nothing else except for a ton of picture book manuscripts which probably won't make a hill of beans for someone that doesn't rep PB's. I'm almost afraid it could be viewed as a handicap that I don't have something else. Yikes.
Haste yee back ;-) says
I always enjoy the Friday links… you do a good job, Nathan!
Haste yee back 😉
Oriane says
Great blog! Thanks for sharing all this valuable info.
For those of you in New York, I just noticed that the original Pelham movie is on TV at 8 pm, (45 minutes from now) channel 11 (CW). I've seen it; it's very entertaining, although on the violent side. Walter Matthau is the best.
Ink says
Purple,
I think Janet Reid was hoping writers have other books in the drawer not because she wants to represent those books, but because she hopes they've spent all their noobie mistakes on those early manuscripts developing their craft, and thus the current book is professional (noob mistake free) and ready to go. Not that noobs can't write something brilliant right off the bat, but more often than not it takes a lot of written words to finetune the wordsmithing.
Who was it that said you had to write a million words of crap before you could write the good stuff? Someone help me out here…
PurpleClover says
Ink –
I know it has to do with newbie (or noobie?) mistakes and that is what I have a lot of fear of. I LOVE my manuscript (I mean who doesn't love their story) and I'd hate to think it wasn't good enough to be "the one" (or "the ones" since I plan for a series). I'm a Type-A dreamer. 😉
I know there will be a ton-o-mistakes but I really wish and hope and dream that I can make it par for publishable by the time it's done. I'd really hate to think this is just my practice piece, you know?
Anyhoo, I'm not sure who said the million words of crap line but it sounds Mark Twainish.
PurpleClover says
okay I thought you were paraphrasing with the "crap" but I googled it and I think it was Ray Bradbury?
lol. Not Mark Twain I guess. 😉
Laura Martone says
Hey, Purple Clover! Don't worry – you're not alone. I'm currently revising my first novel, too – and I have every intention of querying that one first (even though I'm working on a second book for your JuJu write-a-thon).
I understand the reasoning behind Janet's comments, of course. Newbies (as Ink called us) need practice, no doubt. But I'm passionate about THIS story – and I think it deserves an audience (even a, gulp, small one).
–Laura
P.S. Phew! I'm glad I didn't offend you, Nathan. After I posted my apology (which was not meant in a kiss-arse sorta way and was truly heartfelt), I was actually worried about it. Sigh – I need a thicker skin if I'm gonna make it in this business. 😉
PurpleClover says
Laura –
I feel ya! I have an idea tucked away for a YA thriller but of course I want to finish my existing, write the two after and THEN focus on the YA. I need to sit on the idea for a while though…let it simmer until it's ready! It's in the conception stage and needs to go thru the full 9 months before it can be born on paper. 😉
Yes. Yes, I am a dork. I had sushi tonight. Just sayin…
—
P.S. The thick skin will come!
Mira says
Pelham 123 is on here at 8 too, the original. I'm going to compare.
I thought Janet Reid had an interesting point. I have mixed feelings about it. I think there are some first novels that are incredible. But I think many authors need practice in their craft and the first novel may be something to re-visit once they have more practice. That's not true for everyone, of course.
I think it's interesting that other artists practice more than writers tend to.
For example, a violinist will spend hours every day on one passage from a piece. Over and over.
But writers often expect themselves to hit it out of the ballpark through total natural ability and no practice. This may be why writers get blocked so easily. When they don't just flow from pen to page without practice, they get discouraged and think that means they have no talent or nothing to say.
So, I agree with Janet, in that it's good to look toward a body of work, rather than just one.
Ink says
I think Janet's advice is good – as generalization's go. That is, as long as we take it for what it is, a generalization. In any specific case you have to account for that case on its specific merits, and on its specific merits alone. So, look closely at your book, and then look at the competition on the shelves. Is it ready?
I also think, though, that submitting an early book that's not ready is not all that harmful – except to the free time of agents, of course. If you have the talent, but it's too raw yet… well, you'll get some rejections. Painful, maybe, but certainly not ruinous. And you might get some feedback that helps push you to that next level. So, submit away.
I do think there might be quite a few writers without the talent… but it's always hard to evaluate that. How do you know? Hard work, years of dedication… talent can grow in those optimal greenhouse conditions. No one can perfectly account for the limits of potential. So, write, try… see where it gets you.
But there's nothing wrong, either, with simply writing for the writing. There might be many writers better served by removing the goal of publication. And doing so might allow those writer's to find the proper place for their writing gift within their life.
It's something to think about. Maybe we should all take time to evaluate our goals. Are they the right goals? And, if so, what should we do to meet those goals?
Current goal: Sleep.
My best, as always,
Bryan
Mira says
Ink – I thought that was well said.
Those are completely different movies. It was a much more innocent time then.
The original is too dated; the re-make adds a whole relationship between the sociopath and the every day man that made it a deeper movie.
Just my opinion.
Jen P says
1)…"unless you have been living under a rock (or somewhere other than the US of A)"
2)…"You just say "this is my first novel." We assume there are more in the drawer."
I'd be curious to know:
a) what % of the community regulars (since I'm sure anyone who ever stops by becomes a regular, even if a lurking one) are living in the USA and what % elsewhere.
b) what % are already published, what % are actively seeking publication of a completed first work and what % have really their first book in a drawer but are seeking pub of a second or later work?
May be worth a poll on a quiet rainy day?
Laura Martone says
Mornin', Jen! Or should I say afternoon where you are? (wink)
Ooh, a poll! I love a poll!
I'm an American gal – course, where I am exactly depends on the season – Michigan in summer, New Orleans in spring/fall, Los Angeles in winter. Crazy, I know.
And, wise or not, I'm seeking publication for my first novel (while working on my second).
How 'bout you? Cheers!
–Laura