1. Syn Opsis

    Syn Opsis New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2009
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    SoNJ

    This Doesn't Say Much For Literary Agents?

    Discussion in 'Discussion of Published Works' started by Syn Opsis, Dec 29, 2009.

    USA TODAY
    Why are we naming Kathryn Stockett's The Help USA TODAY's Book of the Year? Well, you can't stop reading until you've devoured the last word. Its characters jump off the page and into your heart. Most of all, The Help celebrates how kindness can forge bonds between women divided by race. And how can anyone resist the story of a debut novel — rejected by nearly 60 literary agents — that, through word of mouth, has sold more than 1 million copies in hardcover?
     
  2. thirdwind

    thirdwind Member Contest Administrator Reviewer Contributor

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2008
    Messages:
    7,851
    Likes Received:
    3,339
    Location:
    Boston
    All I can say is that these things happen from time to time. Pretty much every author that has appeared on the best seller list has been rejected many times. But I guess it sucks to be one of the agents that rejected her. A million copies means a lot of money.
     
  3. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    May 19, 2007
    Messages:
    36,161
    Likes Received:
    2,827
    Location:
    Massachusetts, USA
    You also have to wonder - did she make changes to the manuscript after it was rejected each time? The one that was finally accepted may well have been a far better piece of writing than what was submitted to the first couple dozen agents.

    To me it says more about perseverance and hard work.
     
  4. thirdwind

    thirdwind Member Contest Administrator Reviewer Contributor

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2008
    Messages:
    7,851
    Likes Received:
    3,339
    Location:
    Boston
    ^ Good point. I never thought about it like that.
     
  5. Syn Opsis

    Syn Opsis New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2009
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    SoNJ
    Yes, point taken - rewrites, over 60 perhaps, would certainly evolve into something entirely different than the original manuscript.
     
  6. Tessadragon

    Tessadragon New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2009
    Messages:
    31
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Surrey England
    Had the luck to do a work experience in a London literary agency, in order to better my understanding. It definitely did that. Within the week i felt the same way as they did, reading through some godawful stuff, felt like there must be kids fooling around with keyboards. There were cardboard characters, unrealistic, hilted and wooden speech, cliched description including 'teeth like that out of a toothpaste commercial', and authors namedropping everyone famous they knew in the hope that it'd give her an advantage and even books which had been selfpublished in another language (arabic i think.)
     
  7. marina

    marina Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2008
    Messages:
    1,275
    Likes Received:
    55
    Location:
    Seattle
    Her attitude about the rejections tells everything:

    Perseverance, self-confidence, and willingness to revise separates the published from the wannabes.
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice