Dodge and weave, duck and dive - isn't that what life is all about? Dodging the bullets and grasping the nettle. The trouble is all the nettles in the bed sting you - so which one do you choose to pick? I am sure some Zen monk somewhere has the answer, but who has the time to contemplate their naval these days?
So, that also leads me on nicely to the fact that I have not had time to follow my dream, because I have been too busy earning a crust - a poor excuse I know. It's the perennial problem of a writer - if I don't write, then I don't have to send the work out to an agent or a publisher and then I won't get hurt by all the rejection letters.
I know that there is probably a hard nose business decision being made out there - will it sell? is the market saturated? Who is this person - are they famous, have they been on Big Brother, are they a footballer? If the answer to any of the above is 'NO' then forget it - it won't sell, it won't make money, we are not interested.
I know all these things; I know about business, it's my job - but it doesn't make the pill any easier to swallow. I mean if it was me, if it was my business then I would be exactly the same, I am sure. After all, you don't go into business to loose money, do you? So you follow the sheep, you don't take a risk and you churn out even more garbage that you think the punters will want to buy.
And yet.. and yet, who is it that influences what they want to buy by filling the book shelves with it in the first place? Who sets the trends? Who cuts the Big Brother video tapes to make a good guy look like a stupid prat and get him voted off the show?
I wonder.... I wonder if I joined them, as a rebel, publish my own work and be dammed, would I become like them in the end? If fame and fortune followed, would I put on my woolly coat - baaa!
Monday, May 14, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Post and problems
The postman keeps coming, and keeps bringing back brown envelopes - I had one today from United Authors Ltd and not only did they send it back with a pre printed rejection slip - which, OK, they are busy people and don't have time to type a reply, but the galling thing is, they hadn't even taken out my letter of introduction.
Some spotty oik in the back room just took the whole lot out my envelope and stuck it back in the return envelope without even a glance - how on earth they expect to identify talent when they do that, I do not know. I mean, what a way to run a business!
Still, got a great rejection letter back from Kate Shaw at Gillon Aitkin Associates - Kate, if you ever get to read this, thank you very much for taking the time to write a proper letter, with some words of encouragement and, even better, a scribbled p.s that made a huge amount of sense - and caused a giggle in our household. Why can't all agents be like Kate Shaw?
Some spotty oik in the back room just took the whole lot out my envelope and stuck it back in the return envelope without even a glance - how on earth they expect to identify talent when they do that, I do not know. I mean, what a way to run a business!
Still, got a great rejection letter back from Kate Shaw at Gillon Aitkin Associates - Kate, if you ever get to read this, thank you very much for taking the time to write a proper letter, with some words of encouragement and, even better, a scribbled p.s that made a huge amount of sense - and caused a giggle in our household. Why can't all agents be like Kate Shaw?
Friday, February 9, 2007
Why don't they tell you in the small print?
Hi there,
another day, another rejection in the post - this is starting to become a habit!
The last bit of paper says: "It is the policy of this agency not to consider unsolicited material." I ask you, how are they going to find new writers if people don't write in, huh? Are they going to run up to some fella in the street and say: "oi mate, are you a writer? Come round to my office and sign this bit of paper; we'll take 15% of whatever you earn - now don't call us, we'll call you."
Still, I've got a week off this week so I am determined to finish I hate spaghetti sauce and start the editing process - after all, I've got some many other ideas bursting out of my head, it would be rude not to get on with writing them down.
See ya. Ian
another day, another rejection in the post - this is starting to become a habit!
The last bit of paper says: "It is the policy of this agency not to consider unsolicited material." I ask you, how are they going to find new writers if people don't write in, huh? Are they going to run up to some fella in the street and say: "oi mate, are you a writer? Come round to my office and sign this bit of paper; we'll take 15% of whatever you earn - now don't call us, we'll call you."
Still, I've got a week off this week so I am determined to finish I hate spaghetti sauce and start the editing process - after all, I've got some many other ideas bursting out of my head, it would be rude not to get on with writing them down.
See ya. Ian
Monday, January 22, 2007
Another rejection
Hi there,
Interesting day today with 'I hate short trousers', in the latest chapter I have got Eddy and John charging around a Roman Fort on elephants trying to retrieve their spaceship from well armed aliens during a battle between the Ninth Legion and naked Iceni warriors in blue paint - get out of that one if I can!
Ho hum, got another rejection in the post. This one was from Marjacq scripts - just a photocopied piece of paper in the envelope.
Now, I'm not one to whinge, but the devil on my shoulder asks, "did they actually take the time to read it, or did some snotty nose office junior just open it, slip in a rejection slip and shove it in the return bag?"
Of course, the little angel on my shoulder would reply "of course they have read it, every single golden word; what are you thinking of Ian? They have a dedicated team who pick through every manuscript they get and pour over every word in case they miss the most amazing piece of writing that ever came their way. Wouldn't they just kick themselves if this piece of work went on to become a best seller, a film adaptation and printed in 20 languages."
I say - just think of all that money they have just lost the company.... shame. More for me when the book is finally in print.
Interesting day today with 'I hate short trousers', in the latest chapter I have got Eddy and John charging around a Roman Fort on elephants trying to retrieve their spaceship from well armed aliens during a battle between the Ninth Legion and naked Iceni warriors in blue paint - get out of that one if I can!
Ho hum, got another rejection in the post. This one was from Marjacq scripts - just a photocopied piece of paper in the envelope.
Now, I'm not one to whinge, but the devil on my shoulder asks, "did they actually take the time to read it, or did some snotty nose office junior just open it, slip in a rejection slip and shove it in the return bag?"
Of course, the little angel on my shoulder would reply "of course they have read it, every single golden word; what are you thinking of Ian? They have a dedicated team who pick through every manuscript they get and pour over every word in case they miss the most amazing piece of writing that ever came their way. Wouldn't they just kick themselves if this piece of work went on to become a best seller, a film adaptation and printed in 20 languages."
I say - just think of all that money they have just lost the company.... shame. More for me when the book is finally in print.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Progress - Wednesday 17th January 2007
So far I have had 9 out of 9 rejections by Agents - only another 22 to try (that were listed in Writers & Artists Year Book that specialise in Children's authors anyway)
So, what I say is that it is their loss. I know; I have every faith that this book, or should I now say - these books - are going all the way to the top of the children's best seller list. Children out there just want to read them, I know they do, they just haven't had the opportunity yet. But when they do - when you do - you will see what I mean.
I am now about 3 parts of the way through the first draft of I hate shirt trousers and am enjoying and hating each part of the process. I hate not being able to get a straight run at the writing due to other commitments, such as work. I love it when the writing comes together and just spills onto the page.
So, what I say is that it is their loss. I know; I have every faith that this book, or should I now say - these books - are going all the way to the top of the children's best seller list. Children out there just want to read them, I know they do, they just haven't had the opportunity yet. But when they do - when you do - you will see what I mean.
I am now about 3 parts of the way through the first draft of I hate shirt trousers and am enjoying and hating each part of the process. I hate not being able to get a straight run at the writing due to other commitments, such as work. I love it when the writing comes together and just spills onto the page.
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