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Nathan Bransford

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Talking to Yourself

October 11, 2007 by Nathan Bransford 29 Comments

I have talked myself into many things. For instance, in the Spring of 1998 I talked myself into the idea of seeing “Spice World,” the pseudo-documentary about the Spice Girls. And then afterwards I talked myself into thinking it actually wasn’t all that bad. And then, perhaps most impressively of all, I talked myself into not being embarrassed about paying to see it (this took some doing).

I tell you this because when you’re an agent who so badly want to discover new authors and sell books and when you are reading thousands of queries in search of new projects, it’s very very very tempting to talk yourself into a project from a new author. If you squint right, a whole bunch of projects can sort of touch on the same chord as that other project that kind of hit this other nerve as this other project that enjoyed so much success.

But every now and then, a project comes along through the Discovery Pile (I have to pay Edward Necarsulmer IV a dollar every time I use that phrase) that is just so good and such an absolute no-brainer that it reminds you what it feels like when you have something that works. You don’t even have to think about whether it’s good or whether you want to rep it or whether it will sell, you just know.

And it always reminds me that if you have to talk yourself into something it means it isn’t right. Especially if it’s a movie about a British girl group.

SPICE UP YOUR LIFE! People of the world! Spice up your life! Every boy every girl!

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Comments

  1. Luc2 says

    October 11, 2007 at 7:09 pm

    Hmm, I can see how that works.
    But about what are these projects when you just know, Nathan? Is there a denominator? Or to quote the Spice Girls: Tell me what you want, what you really really want!

    I had to ask.

    Reply
  2. Nathan Bransford says

    October 11, 2007 at 7:12 pm

    luc2-

    I wish there were a formula or a common denominator, but there really isn’t one beyond “I just know.” I really just go for the projects that make me want to ziggy zig ha.

    Reply
  3. Luc2 says

    October 11, 2007 at 7:27 pm

    I thought so.
    Drat, you really know your Spice-stuff. I’m just a Wannabe.

    Reply
  4. Melanie Avila says

    October 11, 2007 at 7:27 pm

    So, if you’re gonna be my agent, I gotta get with your friends?

    Sorry, this isn’t helping.

    Reply
  5. Other Lisa says

    October 11, 2007 at 7:48 pm

    “ziggy zig ha”?

    Is this something I missed staying away from the Spice World?

    Reply
  6. Nathan Bransford says

    October 11, 2007 at 7:50 pm

    other lisa-

    In the song Wannabe there’s a part where Mel B says “I wanna I wanna I wanna I really really really wanna ziggy zig ha.”

    Or something like that.

    Reply
  7. Heidi the Hick says

    October 11, 2007 at 8:08 pm

    OO embarrassing confession time! I liked that movie! I went in expecting it to be totally STOOPID and I was not disappointed!

    I have never ziggyzigha’d though. I’m sorry, all the other smart folks took all the good Spice Girl jokes.

    So when do we get to hear about this project that you didn’t have to talk yourself into?

    Reply
  8. Chiron O'Keefe says

    October 11, 2007 at 8:11 pm

    Does the same hold true if you have to talk yourself OUT of something?

    *grin*

    Thanks for the chuckles and the insights…

    –Chiron O’Keefe

    Reply
  9. Other Lisa says

    October 11, 2007 at 9:03 pm

    Boy, so you agree to “ziggy zig ha,” who knows what you could be getting into?!

    Reply
  10. Topher1961 says

    October 11, 2007 at 10:26 pm

    This is Topher1961, I haven’t been able to get into my account, so I’m posting anonymously.

    I just want you to know that your blog is now blocked from my worksite due to

    “Potentially Dangerous Material”

    So there, you’re a danger to the state of Minnesota.

    Reply
  11. Topher1961 says

    October 11, 2007 at 10:27 pm

    how about that, I did get into my account

    Reply
  12. Nathan Bransford says

    October 11, 2007 at 10:29 pm

    topher1961-

    I don’t know what I’ve done to be considered a danger to the good people of Minnesota, but I’m oddly flattered.

    Reply
  13. Topher1961 says

    October 11, 2007 at 10:39 pm

    I can still access Jonathan Lyons’ site.

    Jonathan Lyons is NOT a danger to the state of Minnesota.

    Nathan Bransford IS.

    Just setting the record straight in case the FBI is monitoring agent blogs today.

    Reply
  14. sally jenkins says

    October 11, 2007 at 11:48 pm

    This whole dialouge is too funny for silence. I didn’t need to talk myself into feeling this way, even though I grew up in Minnesota. No wonder I frequent this site.

    Reply
  15. P.G says

    October 12, 2007 at 12:52 am

    Just remember Nathan that “Friendship never ends”.
    But you just might end for making those songs get stuck in my head again.
    Yes I will admit I bought two Spice Girls CDs. I blame my young niece who loved to dance for those purchases.
    I never did see the movie.
    And seems like staying away from Minnesota might be a smart move on your part Nathan.
    Do as the spice girls suggested and
    “be a little bit wiser” in your attendance of movies.

    Reply
  16. Dave F. says

    October 12, 2007 at 12:55 am

    I’m ashamed to say that I gave into temptation last night and watched the new episode of SOUTH PARK.
    It was crap. The European Fecal Standards and Measuring Office in Zürich Switzerland certified it as crap.
    And that’s my last online confession.

    And Edward Necarsulmer IV proves it’s all worth it. Never give up.

    Reply
  17. Church Lady says

    October 12, 2007 at 2:07 am

    “And that’s my last online confession. “

    Ahhh, yes. Dave is much better at other forms of confession.
    😉

    Reply
  18. Christopher M. Park says

    October 12, 2007 at 2:08 am

    Out of curiosity, at what point in the process do you generally realize that a submission is one of these golden projects? Is this something that you start to suspect while reading the query, or does that feeling not really take over until you start reading sample pages? Do you always realize this on page one, or does it take the entire manuscript before you are fully confident?

    I’m guessing that you start having excited suspicions early on in, but that you have to read the entire project before you know that everything gels the way it is supposed to.

    Reply
  19. Nathan Bransford says

    October 12, 2007 at 2:29 am

    Christopher-

    Yeah, I’ll have a feeling that something is good when I get the query, and then when I’m reading the manuscript I’m chanting “please stay good, play stay good,” but my decision isn’t usually made up until the end.

    Reply
  20. Danette Haworth says

    October 12, 2007 at 3:00 am

    Wow! to the lucky author who has you talking like this! It sounds like finding the golden ticket–way better than spice.

    BTW, did you read their reunion tour sold out in 38 seconds?

    Reply
  21. ORION says

    October 12, 2007 at 3:34 am

    And as a writer?
    When you zip off a first draft and you just KNOW in your guy that THIS is the one…
    LOTTERY…

    Reply
  22. ORION says

    October 12, 2007 at 3:35 am

    freudian slip
    gut NOT guy
    Thank GOODNESS for copyeditors

    Reply
  23. Christopher M. Park says

    October 12, 2007 at 4:31 am

    Ah, that makes sense. I’ve read about other agents being disappointed at how many of their promising partials fizzle in the full.

    Reply
  24. Miss Viola Bookworm says

    October 12, 2007 at 12:09 pm

    I saw them in concert. Seriously.

    Reply
  25. Josephine Damian says

    October 12, 2007 at 1:46 pm

    Nathan, please, please, say the project is “The Holy Bennu”!

    Or at least give us a clue as to what exactly about this project spiced up your world.

    Voice? Original concept? Characters? An evil albino in a jellytank? 🙂

    But I feel your pain as an agent. So many published books I read start off terrific, and maintain terrific-ness until they get into the second act wherein they tend to run amok and get lost.

    I stop reading MANY books in the second act for that reason, so I know what you mean about waiting till the end to decide.

    Reply
  26. Eric says

    October 12, 2007 at 1:49 pm

    I think “Fizzle in the Full” played the O-Dome in ’87.

    Reply
  27. original bran fan says

    October 12, 2007 at 2:34 pm

    Nathan, your description of how you read manuscripts sounds exactly like how I read published books. I pick it up on the blurb and premise, start reading… If it is good, I am thinking “please stay good, please stay good.” As Josephine Damian said, so many books fall apart halfway through. If I find myself NOT thinking “please stay good” for several chapters, but instead am caught up in the story, then I know it’s a keeper.

    Reply
  28. cyn says

    October 12, 2007 at 2:54 pm

    *shakes head*

    oh dear.

    HAHA!

    Reply
  29. getitwritten_guy says

    October 12, 2007 at 4:00 pm

    Nathan – –
    I love it when anyone gets enthused and even passionate about their work! Your posts are very encouraging.

    My big fantasy is to get exactly the reaction you describe from an agent when I start the query process.

    (WIP status: First draft complete, now into revision. And you’ve actually helped the process. When I need a little boost, I just read some of your posts.)

    Reply

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