This Week….. Publishing……
Not a whole lot of news in publishing this week, so let’s start with a cheerful reminder: I’ve been getting so so so many questions like, “How do I find a literary agent,” “How do I write a synopsis,” “What are your submission requirements,” etc. etc. If you look to the right side of the page you will find a set of links called “The Essentials,” which will tell you all the basics. You will also find FAQs, which have much more than the basics and contain blog posts on nearly every question I have ever been asked. You can also Do A Google with my name and the subject you’re interested in. Since time is tight, I’m afraid I’m going to have to ignore questions that are easily answered in this fashion.
Cool? Cool.
Now then. On to the links! Starting with….. you guessed it, more layoffs (subscription). This time at Borders, who is cutting 12% of their corporate employees.
And speaking of layoffs: haven’t heard from your editor lately? Well, as Editorial Anonymous explains, in the wake of layoffs the projects of the departed are dispersed to the remaining editors, which creates a great deal more work.
In cheerier news, the indispensable Cynthia Leitich Smith, who runs one of the absolute best writing blogs out there featuring interviews and Cynsational News and Giveaways, will be on Second Life on February 24th! She has an awesome space set up, so if you prefer your book parties to be virtual, here’s your opportunity.
Probably about 25% of the projects I pass on result in a follow-up question asking for a recommendation for another agent. I’m afraid I have to delete these without responding, and Jessica Faust at Bookends wrote a post today addressing these questions.
And finally, via Andrew Sullivan comes one of the most amazing YouTube videos I’ve seen: driving into a dust storm.
Have a great weekend!
I just got done reading the comments and not trying to spark anything up again, but does anyone here have a problem submitting a resume for a job out in the real world? Because, as I see it, a query letter is pretty much the same thing.
I work in HR and I judge people every day by their resumes. If I don’t like the resume, they don’t get an interview. And just because someone has a great resume doesn’t mean they get the job. Bad resume doesn’t mean they aren’t talented and I probably could do the job. Resumes are just the most efficient way to get hiring done. If a fellow co-worker walks into my office and say, “I know this guy, he would be great for the position”, I will sure as hell look at the person first- makes my job easier and I generally trust my co-workers.
On some job postings I might receive 100’s of applicants. is there anybody out there who expects me to have them all show up and try out the job for a couple of hours to see who’s best? For better or worse, you have a page to show who you are and your talents, you should probably make the best of it.
I’m just baffled at the amount of anger and frustration queries raise.
Josh
So true that writing should be about the reader not about the writer. On the deep level.