Category Archives: Stephanie

November 02, 2010   DG&B   advice, rejection, Stephanie  
5

Glass gives guidance

by Stephanie

Today, I wanted to pass along this brief interview from Morning Media Menu with Julia Glass, the National Book Award winning novelist. In the nine-minute-long interview, Glass reinforces the qualities that every aspiring writer must possess—first and foremost, determination. Before winning the National Book Award for her debut novel, Three Junes, Glass encountered the same repeated rejection—including the dreaded form letter—for quite some time. She admits surprise at not giving up after at least seven years of sending out her writing, only to have it rejected. Seven! She emphasizes the important lessons that a rejection can teach you, and the persistence and patience one must have in order to not be worn down by the system.

I feel like this is one of those things that can’t be stressed enough. Sometimes, it really does take countless rejections to find that one pair of eyes who is looking for and falls in love with what you’ve written. It may sound far-fetched but it does happen, and Julia Glass’s case is no exception.

October 26, 2010   DG&B   canon, editing, favorites, opinion, publishers, Stephanie  
10

The Austen question

by Stephanie

As a former college undergraduate who majored in English literature, I was never too far removed from the world of Jane Austen. Hers are novels that are firmly situated in the literary canon, and rightfully so. Her writing is more than well-known for its ability to weave elegant moral thought with comically ironic plot turns that prove to be not only witty but profound as well.

So I was interested to see this article at BBC News regarding a three-year-long study that suggests that someone else was heavily involved in the editing process of Austen’s manuscripts, namely an editor who worked for her publisher, John Murray II. This is a pretty big revelation, and indeed one that could incite both discussion and derision. Some could argue that the claim diminishes Austen’s prowess, making her writing not the product of her own talent, but rather something from an editor’s red pen. In other ways, as the article suggests, it could stand as an indicator of Austen’s openness to trying new things with her writing.

Either way, it’s interesting to think that new discoveries can still be made two hundred years after a book is published.

October 19, 2010   DG&B   characterization, gender, opinion, Stephanie  
5

Gender Talk

by Stephanie
Lauren brought this link to my attention this morning, and I had to share with you.  The people at OverthinkingIt.com created a fantastic flowchart representing the one- and two-dimensional female characters that repeatedly appear in contemporary fiction.  First of all, I never met a flowchart I didn’t like.  But I really enjoyed this one because it puts a tongue-in-cheek spin on something that manages to appear over and over in literature.  And as the accompanying article points out, while there certainly are male stereotypes out there, there seem to be far more female characters whose development gives in to the stereotypes.  Which makes me wonder if it is, for some reason, more challenging to construct a female character not entrenched in these stereotypes. What’s the deal with that?
via PW’s Genreville
October 12, 2010   DG&B   e-books, Stephanie  
2

Big, bad technology

by Stephanie

The debate over technology and the threat it poses to book publishing is one of those topics that continues to persist—and rightfully so.  No one can deny that the rise of technology and its impact on publishing has been and will continue to be profound.  The concern is tangible throughout the industry, but this article at USA Today makes a worthy case in favor of the book.  The piece highlights five specific myths surrounding publishing, ranging from the degree to which authors need publishers to the market for e-books, both now and in the future.  This article is just one of the many opinions being thrown around, but it provides an arguably valid and sound case.
Like I said, the technology debate is one of those things that isn’t going away any time soon.  And considering the impact it has already had on the industry, it’s one of those things that needs to remain at the forefront.
October 05, 2010   DG&B   advice, Stephanie, writing  
2

For the Long Term

by Stephanie

Leap-frogging off of John’s post from earlier today about developing the art of writing, I wanted to share this post from Rants & Ramblings, a really great blog belonging to literary agent Rachelle Gardner. In it, Rachelle examines the ways in which a writer, once in possession of representation, can improve their chances of remaining with an agent “for the long haul.” To that end, she advises both on a larger scale—by being the kind of writer agents and editors will want to work with, as well as on a level more individual to the writer—by developing a uniquely compelling voice, and of course, keeping a positive attitude throughout.

I think something like this is important for writers to keep in mind, particularly when reading in conjunction with John’s post. When viewing these two topics in conversation with one another, they further exemplify how the writing process, when interwoven with the publishing process, is a complex, sometimes confusing, and constantly evolving process. And it’s one that requires multiple pieces of the puzzle in order to be successful. That said, when it all falls into place? That’s what it’s all about.

September 28, 2010   DG&B   advice, fun, Stephanie, writing  
8

The best page you’ve ever written (you hope)

by Stephanie

In the interest of adding to my formal list entitled Things I Think Are Genius, I submit the soon-to-be-launched website called page99test.com, as spotlighted in this piece from the Guardian. The website takes the recommendation once given by English novelist Ford Madox Ford that readers “open the book to page ninety-nine and the quality of the whole will be revealed to you” and puts it into practice. The development of page99test.com aims to examine this concept by challenging authors to submit the ninety-ninth page of their work for readers to assess.

The concept seems alternately fantastic and flawed. By the ninety-ninth page, most if not all of a book’s central characters and plot lines should be established. But at the same time, is one page enough of a snapshot to make the reader want to dive in, start to finish? It just might be that the ninety-ninth page of any given book happens to be the one page wherein absolutely nothing constructive occurs. Then what? Definitely something to ponder as your typing finally breaks on to page ninety-nine in Microsoft Word.

September 20, 2010   DG&B   canon, opinion, Stephanie  
3

But Hey, Who’s Keeping Score?

by Stephanie

I found this piece over at the Guardian to be very interesting. In it, Robert McCrum considers the sometimes touchy yet seemingly ubiquitous concept of the “number one writer.” McCrum makes an undeniable point—that devising a list whereby there is always a top dog is part of the human condition. I find it interesting that the prevailing notion still tends toward nailing down a singular individual who encompasses the talent, finesse, and self-awareness to be considered top dog. To be perfectly honest, I have a hard time wrapping my head around it; this kind of thing may have been possible, and certainly more feasible, in times past. But these days, the range of literary material out there in the market is so expansive that it seems entirely impossible to make such a definitive and exclusionary selection.

But maybe I’m wrong, and maybe in one hundred years people like Toni Morrison and Jonathan Franzen will replace Charles Dickens and C. S. Lewis in the textbooks.

September 14, 2010   DG&B   fun, Stephanie, titles  
1

Calling it as you see it

by Stephanie

Keeping it brief today, folks! It’s been a busy morning so I haven’t been able to produce an entry this week that delivers my typically insightful and sage musings on life, but I had to share this one link with you. This is writer and comedian Dan Wilbur’s genius attempt to “cut through all the cryptic crap” that one finds on those mystifying book jackets and instead get straight to the point.

So check it out. They’re hilarious and most are spot-on. Enjoy!

September 07, 2010   DG&B   canon, fun, reading, Stephanie  
7

Talk to me not of blasphemy

by Stephanie

Okay, show of hands: who can honestly say that they’ve read the big classics—think War & Peace, The Canterbury Tales, etc—whether assigned in school or otherwise, thoughtfully and cover-to-cover? I’m just going to assume there aren’t many hands up, and the ones that are…I think you might be lying a little bit. But only a little bit.

I nonchalantly accuse you of lying today after reading this piece at the Huffington Post. You see, there’s this weird thing that happens with the classics, where people insist on having read them, but for whatever reason never really did. Personally I find this intriguing, because if there are enough rogue scholars amongst us who insist on having read certain classics when they haven’t, does this, in some part, contribute to keeping certain titles in the literary canon over others? Maybe that’s pushing it a bit, but either way, I enjoyed looking through the thirteen titles the piece offers. As for me, I can honestly say that I’ve read Moby Dick and A Christmas Carol cover-to-cover, but that’s about it. Though I’d happily assert having read them all to impress people. See how nicely that works?

August 31, 2010   DG&B   fun, our clients, relationships, Stephanie  
9

You don’t have to read our blog to be my friend

by Steph

I always find it interesting to hear about the personal interactions of the other agents here with authors. In many cases, they have real, lasting bonds of friendship that have developed with time. It’s gratifying, and quite frankly it makes perfect sense. Without good authors, we wouldn’t have material to work with. And without that, what would be the reason to show up to work every day? Seems logical, no?

My point is, I think that one of the most important parts of what we do is building relationships with authors. I’ve always believed this to be true. That’s why I loved reading this piece by Melanie Benjamin at the Huffington Post. In it, she considers the sometimes delicate and glossed-over intricacies of building a friendship with an author, and more specifically the humorous pitfalls that come with the obligations of being a friend to an author. Ultimately, Melanie boils it all down to this one mantra: You don’t have to read my book to be my friend. I’m content to put aside all the serious stuff that’s crossed our computer screens recently, especially when given the chance to read something that reminds me that these days it needs to be less about squabbling over numbers and more about building good relationships. I’m not entirely sure when I turned into Mr. Rogers. It concerns me a little. But just go with me on this one.

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