Post #9 - Blurbs

My complaint today is about name authors blurbing books that they never read.

I've recently read several novels and think I am now able to discern which of the blurbing authors actually took the time to actually read the novels that they've endorsed. I realize that publishers want to sell books and that getting a blurb from a big name person can help that happen. But for the love of god, Big Name Author X, this is the fourth crappy novel I've bought because you said it was good. I am a fan of your work and want to support other authors that you truly believe are worthy of my support. But you know what? Making me blow my hard earned money on a book that sucks means I have less money to spend on your next book. As an aspiring writer who was come to you for advice, I find your practice of blurbing books you don't read to be disheartening. It undermines my confidence in you as a professional and as a friend.

I hope that all authors who read this will think twice about giving honest feedback. Blurbing someone else's work is not only a reflection on them but also on you. Big Name Author X is on the verge of losing this reader's support going forward.

ps. And for those who are wondering, Big Name Author X admitted to never reading the crappy novels referenced above. However, why he blurbed them sight unseen is a still a mystery to me.

Post #8 - Fed Up With The Agent

I am sick and tired of my agent.

He sat on my novel for two months before finally submitting it and, since submission to five editors it's nearing another two months. Whenever I call him he tells me he's sooo busy with other authors and will follow up on mine real soon. Of course if he hears anything he'll get back to me pronto: or so he says.

At least he used to deign to pick up my once a month phone call-- now he doesn't even bother to do that-- just lets the damn phone ring unless I call from a different number. I swear this seems less like a professional relationship at times than some horrid affair where I'm crying because my boyfriend avoids my my phone calls and I'm crying because he never calls me.

Sure- go ahead, accuse me of stalking la agent. I just want to know what the hell is going on with my novel-- will it kill him to send me an e-mail every now and then so that I'm not sitting here
stress-eating myself into a bloated cow.

As for e-mails-- no use sending him one-- he doesn't bother to answer back. Of course when I
do speak to him or get in touch with him, funnily enough he happens to have just seen my e-mail....etc...

Why don't I look for another agent since this one's communications skills are not all up there in my book? Will a new agent really want to look at a novel that is currently sitting on editors desks?

And this agent has been with me since the last four years that it took to write this novel and I'd feel like a real shit to change him now.

But. Shit. If only he felt like a shit for not getting back to me.
I hate this career- if one can even call it that?

What is a writers life supposed to be anyway, especially when they are still trying to get their first novels published? I mean what is it I'm supposed to be doing that I'm not: going for readings, teaching writing, scratching myself with a lead-based pencil? WHAT?

Post #7 - What's Up?

Dear Vent Club,

Why haven't there been updates in forever? Is everyone in the publishing world happy?

JA's reply:

I dunno. Maybe folks are afraid to post becaue they don't believe it's truly anonymous.

Again, here's how it works:

1. Create an anonymous hotmail account.

2. Write your tale of woe without naming names.

3. Email me this tale from your anonymous account, and I'll post it.

What's up, folks? Is everyone that content with the way things are going with their careers?

--Joe

Post #6 - I Don't Get It

Vent Club! What a great idea!

Okay, here it goes...

I'm annoyed with the whole industry. More than annoyed.

I'm a romance writer with one of the big publishers. Not a best seller, but my paperbacks sell in the 200k range and always get good RT reviews. (They're historicals, if that matters.) I've won a few awards, and have some name recognition.

Last year, at my agent's suggestion, I wrote a book in a slightly different genre. A breakout novel. A Big Book.

When I finished the Big Book, my agent was very enthusiastic about it. But some of that enthusiasm seemed to melt away when it came time to submit it. He sent it to some editors that weren't right for it, and completely missed other editors that should have gotten it.

It's been on submission for a few months, and we finally got the last rejection letter. Every editor had different reasons for passing on the book, and my agent is agreeing with every single reason, even though some of those reasons are the things he loved most about the book. He's done a complete about-face now and is telling me the book isn't any good, even though he loved it originally and was the one who told me to do this genre in the first place.

I've had seven books published, and I'm sure this is the best work I've ever done. Some friends (other published writers) have read it, and agree.

I don't get it. I read a lot (not much of a social life, but that's another vent) and even though it's hard to judge my own writing I feel this book is better than most of what's being published in this genre. And even though I'm known for romance, I've been published in this new genre before, in a few anthologies and magazines.

I'm bewildered, and angry. I spent almost a year writing this book. My agent, whom I trusted, has turned hypocrite, and I seriously wonder if any editor in NY really has a clue. I read about 200 books a year in many different genres, and most of them are forgettable, and some of them are outright bad.

Am I crazy? Or is the business crazy?

Post #5 - POed at the Publicist

I am so PISSED at my publicist. What the flying fuck is he doing, or more accurately why isn't he doing anything?

I signed with this major publisher in hopes that maybe they'd do some publicity but so far he doesn't return calls, doesn't return emails. And it's not like I'm calling him or emailing him every week or annoying the fuck out of him.

Shit I know I'm one of probably 200 authors he's working on right now but what can I do to stand out and make him notice me? I gave him a list of media contacts (exact emails, names, addresses, phone numbers, astrological signs I mean shit), put everything together in a media kit, I mean I literarily did everything so that all he has to do is copy, paste and blast it to his list. No response, nothing. I don't want to call and sound ungrateful.

I'm very grateful for the opportunity to be published but fuck, what does a girl have to do to get some publicity around here? I mean I'm doing everything on my own cause I'm assuming they're not going to do anything. Sure they talk about this or that but what have they done for me lately? I'm thinking ... nothing! And I'm not just PMSing. I'm serious.

I mean I know that I have a 6 month lead time in order to get national media attention in magazines. And sure I'm a newbie but I think I have a real chance at getting national magazine attention because of the subject matter of my book. But if my publicist doesn't get started this month how does he expect to get any exposure in national magazines?

I get so frustrated with them, all talk, no action so far. And if they are doing something why don't they update me? I don't want to call them and leave another message or email because I don't want to be labeled as difficult. So my plan is do all the media I can on my own and make an awesome selling novel and make them wish they had done something. Maybe then cause of this experience I've had with them I'll sign with another publisher on my next book (though I fear it'll be the same experience) and teach them so there! Dammit!

New Rules

I'd originally set Vent Club up like a double-blind drop box, giving people detailed and complicated instructions on how to anonymously log onto this blog.

After trying this over a dozen times, I've realized that my instructions are waaaaay too convoluted.

So here are the new, easy instructions.

1. Create an anonymous hotmail account.

2. Email your vent to haknort@comcast.net.

3. I'll post it.

Isn't that simpler?

Apologies to the many who tried to post here and couldn't figure out how to jump through my hoops...

JA Konrath

Post #4 - Behind Your Back

By accident I discovered that my editor has been telling career-damaging lies about me within the publishing house to cover his/her own ass.

I've been told this is not uncommon behavior in the business world, but I'm having a hard time putting the incident aside because of how reprehensible I find it.

It's especially tough because there's really nothing an author can do in this situation.

My point is that we have no idea what is being said about us in New York. We are sitting ducks. How many editors will admit to a massive fuck up at the risk of losing employment? How many will blame the author who will never even discover he's been blamed?