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From Eleanor Michael
While I enjoyed all the stories, poems, and columns that I read
in the Winter 2008-09 issue, Harding Stedler’s poems and Ed Krizek’s
story stood out for me.
Also, I can relate to Sandy’s winter experiences. Snowy
driveways and trips to the grocery store between storms, etc.
As for someone figuring out global economics, good luck. Way
back when I kept books, if we made enough to pay everyone’s wages and
keep the owner’s grocery bill current, that was great.
And congress, well, we don’t want to get into that.
I’m looking forward to the 2009 fiction contest. I’m working on
a story. Let’s hope it fits the theme.
From Gordon Graves
At a time when almost all periodicals are
devoting half their pages to what our government has done or is dong
wrong, even those who supported the new regime, it is refreshing to see
your few paragraphs in Calliope.
Most of our troubles, I think, can be traced to economics.
Economics is a science one can graduate without leaning that the earth
is spherical. These Flat Earth scientists construct economic models from
a fanciful point of view: unlimited resources, unlimited markets, and an
unlimited desire to spend. They would be remarkable attractions at a
zoo, but unfortunately, capitalists, lawyers and politicians see the
economist’s theories as opportunities for the person who tries to make
the earth flat.
Bush tried in vain to jump start the economy by starting wars.
Wars are the best, perhaps the only way to get a sluggish economy
moving. I take it as a bad sign that these wars are not working. I think
we will be much better off if we quit flogging this dead horse and start
taking a serious look at reality.
I have this grim reoccurring dream that when our illustrious
leaders belatedly discover that there is a food shortage, they will look
into the methodology of that revered expert in agricultural production,
Pol Pot.
Looking ahead to the golden years, when the Feds find out they
have thrown my Social Security away, and the financial institutions I
have my money in are too late in collapsing to be eligible for a
bailout, I can start pushing a shopping cart. With no one doing any
shopping, I imagine there will be carts enough to go around, and enough
police officers with cudgels to keep me moving.
From Caleb Powell
I'd like to comment on the Spring article you wrote in
Calliope titled "How to Find an Agent". It was mostly wrong. I have an
agent (her biggest clients are US Congresswoman Barbara Lee and the
journalist Helen Thomas). I also have two published books, one
nonfiction and the other fiction, and a novel that short-listed in the
Faulkner Competition. Publishers are looking at this novel, but right
now it's a very bad time, or at least I'd like to think this is why no
publisher has jumped on it. Ha ha. Anyway, I am certainly humbled by
writing, and though I have some lit
mag publication, my success is certainly miniscule.
Nevertheless, for starters, your article lacked any indication
you have an agent. Personal representation should be a starting point.
Your advice is sometimes practical, but often misleading. The most
egregious advice: synopsis of 4-8 pages? Consider paying a reading fee?
A synopsis, at most, should be one page. Hopefully one
paragraph. Under no circumstances should any writer pay a reading fee to
an agent. None. The only time a writer might pay might be for office
expenses, but with electronic submissions and communication this is
becoming outdated. Talking to published authors is good advice, but only
if you have already gotten some attention from your writing. Established
authors are inundated with requests, and the referrals from authors who
are obscure won't help anyone much. Your advice hints if you know
someone than you will have an easier time. This is a myth.
The way to get an agent is write, rewrite, rewrite, and every
time you are rejected look for ways to improve the manuscript. If your
writing improves to the necessary point eventually someone will
recognize it.
Reply from C.S.
Thanks for your comments, Caleb, and
congratulations on your writing success. I think you misunderstood a few
things in the article, no doubt because I did not make them clear. I
believe the article cautioned writers to beware of reading fees. Let me
clarify: You should NOT pay a reading fee to an agent.
As for the synopsis, this was meant for a novel-length work of
fiction. Many agents and editors will ask for that level of detail, but
you should definitely not send it off unless it’s requested. The
one-page synopsis reads more like the marketing blurb inside the book’s
front cover. It should create interest rather than outline how ‘it all
comes out.’
The entire article was predicated on the fact that you have
honed your craft and have a salable manuscript. If not, an agent cannot
help you. All that said, I stand by my statement that knowing someone
does make things easier. That’s life. Just as you’re not going to find a
date by sitting in front of your television, you have to market your
work in order to have it recognized and published. A literary agent is
not required, but having one improves your chances to find a publisher.
From Joan Tobin
I found this potential market for beginning novelists while I
was looking for something else. I was not able to find any way to access
it directly on the Internet.
Here are the instructions:
1. Go to
www.panmacmillan.com
2. Select IMPRINTS
3. Click on the “New Writing” icon
4. Then click on the title “MacMillan
New Writing” that’s above the short
description text.
On the
New Writing page a
"submissions information" link leads to specific instructions.