"i don't write for the money." um...

I have been chewing over the topic for this week's post since the comments began to roll in on last week's post. Luke Raftl's comment in particular caused thoughts to spark between the wires in my brain.

Luke said this:

I like to think that I don't care about the money, that I write solely for the love of the craft, that I just want the thrill of having my work read and I'd do it for free if I could, and for most of us this is all somewhat true; however I think we are all also vain, we are all also ambitious dreamers, and while we like the romantic notion of being driven by purely selfless aims in reality we want to be as successful as we can.

hey, look - i can avoid all the fiery hoops of the publishing process

Over the last two weeks, I have received five emails (from five different people) asking what my thoughts are on this topic:

Self-Publishing versus Traditional Publishing

Because of the "current publishing climate" (a phrase you are likely to come across a lot in your correspondence with agents), many writers are wondering if they would not be better off self-publishing.


Better off?

My answer: No.

A viable alternative?

My answer: Sure. Why not. Maybe...

make yourself an island. and write.

The other day, while I was writing, some check-the-meter lady walked through my front yard. When The Old Man And The Sea (AKA Tomats, AKA My Cat) saw this woman, she jumped up onto her perch by the window and started growling. This is something Tomats does when she sees a stranger in our yard - she doesn't like strangers, and she wants to chase them off.

the best query letters do...what?

In December, I collected responses from over fifty literary agents to the question, "What is the biggest mistake writers make when querying you?" and compiled the answers in a blog post. That post was helpful to many of you, but a number of people also complained that "agents always tell us what not to do, and they never tell us what to do!"

And so, I emailed those same agents recently, asking them, "The best query letter that ever came across your desk did...what?"