Steady as She Goes...

My agent, Jennifer Udden of the Donald Maass Literary Agency, just did a marathon tweet-fest on Twitter yesterday as she plowed her way through the slush-pile of unanswered queries. She did this Live. The girl has guts, considering the last time an agent did this two years ago (#queryfail), there were serious repercussions. Jen, however, handled her quest with dignity and humour, and what could have become a querying writer's nightmare, actually became something educational and fascinating. She wrapped her sentiments up in her blog, Steady as She Goes, which I'll link here for you. It's a strange and wonderful world we live in, my friends, full of opportunity and challenge. And after going along with Jen on this rollercoaster yesterday, I think I learned a few things myself. 

I learned what Twitter is about. Basic stuff, you may say, but hey, when you're fifty and private, this is a big deal! I still may need several years before I'm a competent Tweeter (is there another word I'm missing?), I think I can finally wrap my head around the basic premise.

I learned that an agent's world is filled with hope and hopelessness. Probably just like everyone else, but it was and is supremely evident yesterday. So much hope on behalf of us writers, too little functional knowledge. I've said it before. Writing is an art. Publishing is a business. I really need to learn it.

I also learned (or had confirmed) that it would be ever so easy for anyone in the publishing field to become cynical or jaded. I believe that's true for writers as well as agents, for editors along with illustrators. It will always be a battle to remain optimistic and fresh for every project. World weariness is an easy garment to wear but I fear it would not keep one terribly warm...

So there, my discoveries of the day. I'm still learning and will until the day I die, which hopefully won't be for a long while. I have far too many books to write!

Steady As She Goes, a blog by Jennifer Udden