Comments on: Think before you kvetch

By: Melissa Walker

Melissa Walker — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:28:18 +0000

Great thoughts! Thank you!

By: anne Rockwell

anne Rockwell — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:43:06 +0000

Great blog Michael. This is something we all forget, everyone in the industry needs a courteous reminder such as yours.

Iin part it's due to the bloated aspect of book publishing today, too many people in too many meetings, who often forget that authors should be included in some of the design, marketing, etc. decisions.

By: Kathi Oram Peterson

Kathi Oram Peterson — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:16:19 +0000

Great advice! I've had two editors, each with their own way of doing things. I liked them both and learned a lot from each. I didn't always agree with them, but knew they wanted my book to succeed as much as I did. Thanks for a great post.

By: Elizabeth Spann Craig/Riley Adams

Elizabeth Spann Craig/Riley Adams — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:00:26 +0000

Good points. I'm tweeting this one....

Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder

By: june

june — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:59:53 +0000

Authors destroyed by jealousy? Wow. Jealousy – an emotion that needs to be addressed and subdued quickly and often before it gets out of hand and devours you. Wise words. Thanks…and let the author beware.

By: Jill Corcoran

Jill Corcoran — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:50:26 +0000

LOVE this post!

By: Debra L. Schubert

Debra L. Schubert — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:50:24 +0000

Michael, You win the prize for best blog post title ever! And, of course, the content is just as riveting. Thank you for this. I'll make sure my agent reads it so she can be prepared, in advance, for any kvetching that may occur. 😉

By: Gregory K.

Gregory K. — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:20:52 +0000

Michael – I think this is excellent advice. Kvetching in these situations is of no use and counter-productive. I'd add a converse or caveat or something, though, and that is that editors and publicists and others in publishing need to embrace that same collaborative spirit all along the line. Sometimes authors and agents do have ideas that will work, even if they go counter to traditional publishing paths. Authors should not fear speaking up (and agents should be supporters) and quite often, they do. That still isn't the same as kvetching and behaving badly, of course, but I still think it's important to keep in mind.

By: nikkimantyla

nikkimantyla — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:09:23 +0000

This is what I love about agents: having somebody who's looking out for me as an author, even if sometimes it's saving me from myself. Thanks for the important role you play and for this great post.

By: DGLM

DGLM — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:04:10 +0000

Anon 4:50 – It depends on the book. Sometimes they've read it, sometimes they've read part, sometimes they've only read a description. But covers don't just come from the designers — the entire publishing team usually has some say in the cover.

– Michael