Huh. 956 comments on the contest thread? Waaaaasn’t really expecting that. But that’s ok! Please enter your paragraph in the main thread before tomorrow at 4PM Pacific, and I’m still on track to have finalists on Friday.
Now that I have your attention, I thought I would solicit your opinion on what could/should be done to improve and possibly expand this site. This community has really grown this year. Which is great! Trust me, I’m not in this for the page loads (look Ma, no advertising!), but it’s been great to have more opinions, more participation, more news tips, and more perspectives.
So what now? What should be done, if anything, to expand? New features? Topics? Contests (flinch)?
Oh! And you may have noticed that when you go to https://nathanbransford.com….. it is no longer a bunch of random links! Actually it should lead you right back here. Hello again!
That is because I very recently retrieved my domain from web squatters! So now that I have more than just a blogspot address, it’s possible to expand in the non-bloggy realm. (Forums?)
So you tell me: what would you like to see?
Thank you very very much for your feedback, and thanks even more for stopping by and adding your wisdom and taking the time to add to the site. I really really do appreciate it!
Matera the Mad says
Dude, you don’t have time for a forum! ROFL
Only thing that I would really like to see changed is the font. A readable sans-serif instead of Times New Eyestrain would be great. I could, of course , totally change my browser prefs, but since I do web design I like to keep some vague. semblance of normality in my view.
There, done ranting 😉
Professor Tarr says
I think the main thing I want is Nathan’s comments about what works and doesn’t in approaching agents. I find that I enjoy immensely reading the other writers on the comment section – and the contest was a fun diversion – but truly it is what comes from Nathan that I find myself actually thinking about later. That is what will improve my work.
Professor Tarr says
Oh, and change the comments up so that anonymity is not an option. Let’s be honest, people can still be anonymous. My name is not Professor Tarr for example, but there’s at least a level of accountability then (not hard to track down from our profiles who we are truly) and gentility in posting. Right now my mind thinks all anonymous posters are the same bitter dude.
danceluvr says
Nathan,
I LOVE the font you use.
What I’d like to see is a date when you post your comments. In the comments, there’s one, but on the website, all I see is the time of day you posted. Is there a way to add the actual date at the top of the posting?
Thanks for all your continued support of us unpublished authors.
GM says
Hi Nathan, I think you are excessively generous with your time as it is. More contests are probably not a good idea because of the time they would require from you.
However, a forum, one that us Bran Fans could perhaps use for discussion of your posts, might be an idea. Of course it would have to be maintained/moderated by someone other than you. To get an idea of what I am yapping about, you can check out Joel Spolsky’s website and the discussion boards he maintains there.
Steppe says
I was catching up on your blog.
liked this…
Nathan…
Thanks so much to everyone for the great suggestions! One thing I wanted to respond on is that people want more on the ins and outs of clients, my deals, etc. And I agree it would be fascinating to see a project go from query to published book. But it’s just not me.
—-
That’s logical. If you get somebody a deal be it for five thousand or five million
they certainly wouldn’t want that information tossed about like a worn out football.
No advertising is good.
The blog is exceptional advertising for
the agency you work for thats enough.
If you had a website you might consider an electronic slush pile. One piece per person. The exact project their primary energies are devoted to getting a deal on. With the proviso that you get to counter offer anything that is detected
by a rival. It would make a small database of aspiring writers so people could read each other’s work and privately and silently critique other nubes as their obvious competitors for publishing dollars and non-sense.
PDF’s work best.
Missed the contest, must be destiny.
KUTGW
swati Avasthi says
I am adding my voice to the group who is saying it would be great to get more info on what happens between getting an agent and getting a book out. since you aren’t an editor, guest editors would be great.
I’d also love to see more on publicity. it’s a black hole in my knowledge (much like getting an agent prior to reading your blogs)
And, since this seems to be the time to say it… i used your blog as a very important reference for how to write the query and how to conduct myself professionally. it’s so important for authors to be able to see the industry from the other side. thanks, nathan!