THE FANTASTICAL WORLDS OF H. LEIGHTON DICKSON
  • Home
  • Books
    • Reading Order
    • Dragon of Ash & Stars
    • Cold Stone & Ivy
    • Cold Stone & Ivy 2: The Crown Prince
    • To Journey in the Year of the Tiger
    • To Walk in the Way of Lions
    • Songs in the Year of the Cat
    • Snow in the Year of the Dragon
    • Swallowtail & Sword: The Scholar's Book of Story & Song
  • Cover designs
  • Shop
  • An Imaginary Blog
  • News
  • Contact

Steady as She Goes...

1/24/2013

0 Comments

 
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
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    H. Leighton Dickson

    Author. Zoologist. Imaginary Genius. Engineer of Fantastical Worlds. Master of None.

    Archives

    October 2020
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    May 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    September 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

    Categories

    All
    Book Fair
    Books
    Indie Authors
    Local Book Markets
    Publishing
    Writing

    RSS Feed

The Fantastical Worlds of
H. LEIGHTON DICKSON

© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.