We're giving you a few days to let the agents settle, but be sure to head back here this Tuesday when we kick off our eight-day writer roast:
Tues, Sept 16: Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page
Wed, Sept 17: Bill Cameron
Thur, Sept 18: Jason Pinter
Mon, Sep 22: Donna Storey
Tues, Sep 23: Ray Wong
Wed, Sep 24: Danette Haworth
Thurs, Sep 25: Susan Gilmore
Fri, Sep 26: Sara Thacker
We'll be open for business 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, Tuesday 16 September when we'll be discussing food - real food! - with Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page.
Remember that our 24-hour business hours for the week means that as soon as one contest is done, we start cooking with another! No waiting!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Friday Feeding Frenzy... More Chum
For better scrolling...
I'm going to turn comment off on the previous thread so we can all post here.
Thanks!!
:-)
I'm going to turn comment off on the previous thread so we can all post here.
Thanks!!
:-)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Friday Feeding Frenzy
Please meet the rather wonderful Janet Reid. Her blog is one of the most delicious slices of agenting life around. Let's look back in time to some sage words from Janet, from 2005. And, just for fun, let's add a little Book Roast perspective to her wisdom.
Based on one of Janet's blog posts from August 2005
2. Discuss the business side of things with anyone before your agent. (Janet)
5. Say always yes/always no to blurb requests. (Janet)
We at the Book Roast like saying yes to everything, then letting the chips fall where they may. Then, if necessary, setting fire to them to obscure the evidence. (Book Roast team)
And the eighth way to make an agent crazy...invite her to Book Roast and don't offer her the whisky. Cheers, Janet!
Janet has been a great supporter of the nascent brilliance that is the Book Roast, dropping her authors in it, sorry dropping in to visit her authors when they are on the grill and helping us in many different ways. We'd like to thank her for everything she has done.
When she's not here, quaffing the water of life with us, Janet can be found at:
The Bar
Query Shark
Competition time...
For a copy of 'Scotland and its Whiskies: the Great Whiskies, the Distilleries and their Landscapes' by Michael Jackson, tell us your funniest whisky-fuelled story. Non-whisky drinkers (sigh) may substitute another liquor. Non-drinkers may disappoint me.
Based on one of Janet's blog posts from August 2005Seven Ways to Make Your Agent Crazy
1.Give your contracts to your son/daughter/neighbor who’s a lawyer “just for a quick glance”. (Janet)
So a law student is OK. Goody. (Book Roast team)
Poo? You want to talk about poo? Waaay TMI! (Book Roast team)
3. Delegate all business discussions to your spouse. (Janet)
This just simply never works. (Janet)
Even if my spouse is a law student? (Book Roast team)
Even if my spouse is a law student? (Book Roast team)
4. Give talks at writers conferences on “how to get published”. (Janet)
What about 'how not to get published'? We think we could all contribute to that one. (Book Roast team)
We at the Book Roast like saying yes to everything, then letting the chips fall where they may. Then, if necessary, setting fire to them to obscure the evidence. (Book Roast team)
6. Badmouth your publisher/agent/editor, and/or the industry in public. (Janet)
Agree. But we do respect the occasional motor mouth. (Book Roast team)
7. Not ask questions when you don’t understand something. (Janet)
But, surely, the more questions you ask, the stupider you look? (Book Roast team)
And the eighth way to make an agent crazy...invite her to Book Roast and don't offer her the whisky. Cheers, Janet!
Janet has been a great supporter of the nascent brilliance that is the Book Roast, dropping her authors in it, sorry dropping in to visit her authors when they are on the grill and helping us in many different ways. We'd like to thank her for everything she has done.
When she's not here, quaffing the water of life with us, Janet can be found at:
The Bar
Query Shark
Competition time...
For a copy of 'Scotland and its Whiskies: the Great Whiskies, the Distilleries and their Landscapes' by Michael Jackson, tell us your funniest whisky-fuelled story. Non-whisky drinkers (sigh) may substitute another liquor. Non-drinkers may disappoint me.
Thursday with Moonrat cont'd
Hi Everyone, Sorry to cut the last one off, but it was getting hard to refresh....
Thanks!!
:-)
Thanks!!
:-)
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Thursday's Thrills: Moonrat
These days, a person can learn a lot from reading blogs:
For example, anybody who has been following Moonrat for more than a day realizes that she is too nice to be an editor. She's always trying to help people:
And she's the only editor we know who can have a real partay with books:
As an editor, she's helped her readers learn about the publishing industry.
(cartoon courtesy of Chris Howard, who will hopefully pop in today)
For example, anybody who has been following Moonrat for more than a day realizes that she is too nice to be an editor. She's always trying to help people:
And checking to make sure others are doing good deeds:
But there are other photos, other sides of Moonrat.
She likes to dance:
She likes drinking with friends:
And she's the only editor we know who can have a real partay with books:
As an editor, she's helped her readers learn about the publishing industry.
Excerpts from Moonrat's Guide to Getting Published:
1) Your literary talent alone isn't enough for an editor to publish your book --(Moonie)--
So true. You need to have drinking talents and taser talents.
2) Build up your platform while you're writing--(Moonie)--
And adorn it with nice fluffy pillows so you can nap between opening rejection letters.
3) Do get an agent--(Moonie)--
But make sure he or she is potty-trained before bringing him/her back home.
4) Be a fantastic writer--(Moonie)--
Again, so true. Blogging is an increasingly competitive business. Your writing will need to stand out for people to visit you.
Again, so true. Blogging is an increasingly competitive business. Your writing will need to stand out for people to visit you.
*******************************
What to talk about. Hmmm.... Mice. And rats. Karoake. Sushi. Desserts. Questions about publishing. Oh! And T-shirt slogans.
***PRIZE: Make up a t-shirt slogan. Open prompt. You can write a slogan about anything. The funniest one, as chosen by Moonie, will receive a $25 Amazon gift certificate.***
We heart Moonie very much. If you'd like to join in an e-hug and get some literary culture at the same time, click here.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Wednesday Whimsy: Mystery Agent
Wednesday Mystery AgentUPDATE:
Our Mystery Agent is . . . writer (and former Book Roast roastee) Dennis Cass. Dennis is the author of HEAD CASE: How I Almost Lost My Mind Trying to Understand My Brain. He also regularly dispenses writing and career advice at his blog Dennis Cass Wants You To Be More Awesome.
Do you remember *this* YouTube which made its rounds a short while ago? Yep. He's famous!
A big thanks to Dennis for stopping by!!!!
Tired of reading the same how-to books on publishing? Looking for a fresh perspective on the business side and the creative side of being a writer?
Today's Mystery Guest is a former literary agent who spent his or her twenties representing clients, vetting contracts and selling film and foreign rights. Now he or she is a published author, writing teacher, blogger and all-knowing Oracle of Culture.
For today only, he or she will answer your questions the way they were meant to be answered: with three parts coffee and four parts rum. Tune in at the end of the day to learn his or her secret identity. In the meantime, if you have burning questions: ask (and roast) away!
Just for kicks- Another master of disguise, Jim Carrey: Jim Carrey Exercise Video
**PRIZE: After watching Jim Carrey, come up with a title for your own exercise show. Funniest title will receive a coolio music CD, "Eargasm." **
Disclaimers: Mystery Literary Agent is not Jim Carrey. Identity of Myster Literary Agent will be revealed at 9:00 pm Wednesday. Mystery Literary Agent may or may not be buff.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Twisted, Twatted, Tuesday: Editorial Anonymous
One of EA's first blog posts is a quiz on why you'll never get published (Why editors want to trick us into believing we won't get published is beyond me.):For kicks: Funny Cat YouTube
Take this short quiz!
a. You're writing about your pet.
I know you think your pet is darling and precious, but try to wrap your mind around this: no one else cares.
(Note: Exceptions may be made if you're writing about EA's pet, who really is darling and precious--Book Roast team.)
b. You're writing about your grandchildren.
See above.
c. You think writing poetry is easy.
Rhyme doth not a poem make. On the other hand, it's impossible to mail me the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard, so why not send bad verse?
d. You think writing a children's book is easy.
I mean, children can barely read as it is, so how hard can it be to write for them? (www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail84.html)
e. You're writing about squirrels.
Seriously, what is it with the squirrel manuscripts recently? There must be something in the water. Something squirrely.
EA seems to have an irrational fear of squirrels. We don't understand.
Let's talk about EA's cat (pictured above), Robert Munsch, pink clothing, celebrity books, or good luck charms.
****PRIZE: $25 Amazon gift certificate to the person who writes the funniest speech bubble for the cat.****
Please click here if you'd like to visit EA. And if your child has written a story you think is publishable (and your neighbors think so too), go ahead and send it to her. Spread the joy.
Editorial Anonymous has been one of the early supporters of our blog, and we really appreciate her and everything's she's done!! Thank you!!
Evil Continues...
Just popping in---Have to catch up, but let's start *another!* thread here... :-)
For kicks--Stella YouTube here.
The Evil Continues...
Continuation from Monday Morning Mogul, so it doesn't take as long to refresh your screen.Keep the guesses rolling in!
:-)
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