Comments on: Meg Cabot on how to get an agent http://robinbrande.com/writing/meg-cabot-on-how-to-get-an-agent Writing, reading, and other vital matters Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:54:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: Elizabeth http://robinbrande.com/writing/meg-cabot-on-how-to-get-an-agent/comment-page-1#comment-13794 Elizabeth Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:34:08 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/?p=1137#comment-13794 I'm good with that. I just didn't want to be the rules to which Patrick is the exception...I never want to be boring like that. I’m good with that. I just didn’t want to be the rules to which Patrick is the exception…I never want to be boring like that.

]]> By: robin http://robinbrande.com/writing/meg-cabot-on-how-to-get-an-agent/comment-page-1#comment-13793 robin Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:10:21 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/?p=1137#comment-13793 Elizabeth, you are the thought-provoking conversation-starter. Where would we be without you? Elizabeth, you are the thought-provoking conversation-starter. Where would we be without you?

]]> By: Elizabeth http://robinbrande.com/writing/meg-cabot-on-how-to-get-an-agent/comment-page-1#comment-13792 Elizabeth Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:53:47 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/?p=1137#comment-13792 If Patrick's the exception to every rule, what am I? I can't be forever remembered for chocolate milk...not enough pizzazz. If Patrick’s the exception to every rule, what am I? I can’t be forever remembered for chocolate milk…not enough pizzazz.

]]> By: The Exceptional Patrick http://robinbrande.com/writing/meg-cabot-on-how-to-get-an-agent/comment-page-1#comment-13791 The Exceptional Patrick Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:05:54 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/?p=1137#comment-13791 I like it! I like it!

]]> By: robin http://robinbrande.com/writing/meg-cabot-on-how-to-get-an-agent/comment-page-1#comment-13790 robin Wed, 11 Feb 2009 01:25:32 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/?p=1137#comment-13790 Patrick, you should wear a sign that says, "The exception to every rule." And thank goodness for you. Patrick, you should wear a sign that says, “The exception to every rule.” And thank goodness for you.

]]> By: Patrick - proud member of the zombie hierarchy http://robinbrande.com/writing/meg-cabot-on-how-to-get-an-agent/comment-page-1#comment-13789 Patrick - proud member of the zombie hierarchy Wed, 11 Feb 2009 01:12:31 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/?p=1137#comment-13789 Whenever I think of Elizabeth, I'll always think of the chocolate milk incident. I was really looking forward to that glass of chocolate milk -- before the <i>incident</i>. Seriously, never mix pirates, llamas, chocolate milk and a recent library school grad. It's just an incident waiting to happen. I knew that, but figured there shouldn't be a problem, since how often are there recent library school grads around? Whenever I think of Elizabeth, I’ll always think of the chocolate milk incident.

I was really looking forward to that glass of chocolate milk — before the incident.

Seriously, never mix pirates, llamas, chocolate milk and a recent library school grad. It’s just an incident waiting to happen. I knew that, but figured there shouldn’t be a problem, since how often are there recent library school grads around?

]]> By: robin http://robinbrande.com/writing/meg-cabot-on-how-to-get-an-agent/comment-page-1#comment-13788 robin Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:42:24 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/?p=1137#comment-13788 Oh, and the chocolate milk story also reminds me that people are always way more into their own nervousness and issues than they're into yours. What was mortifying for Elizabeth was a forgettable detail for everyone else. I know we can all think of hundreds (thousands) of embarrassing moments in our lives, but do you really think anyone else remembers those moments as vividly as you do? Or even remembers them at all? Doubtful. Oh, and the chocolate milk story also reminds me that people are always way more into their own nervousness and issues than they’re into yours. What was mortifying for Elizabeth was a forgettable detail for everyone else.

I know we can all think of hundreds (thousands) of embarrassing moments in our lives, but do you really think anyone else remembers those moments as vividly as you do? Or even remembers them at all? Doubtful.

]]> By: robin http://robinbrande.com/writing/meg-cabot-on-how-to-get-an-agent/comment-page-1#comment-13787 robin Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:39:28 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/?p=1137#comment-13787 Elizabeth, that's a great story! And another great illustration of why it's the people who don't quit too early who eventually "make it." I once heard from a short story magazine editor that that's what used to frustrate him: the same author would send him new stories every month or two, and even though the editor had to reject them for various reasons, he could see that the work was getting better. And so just when he was thinking, "The next one will be it!" the author gave up and stopped sending him stories. Boooo. And this didn't happen just once, but with many authors over several years. Lesson? Be one of the authors (or librarians) who keeps trying, keeps working at your skills, keeps pressing onward. Because there will be a lot of dropouts along the way, and you don't have to be one of them. Reminds me of one of my favorite mottos: 100% of the novels that were published were finished first. And the addendum to that motto is that 100% of those novels kept getting sent out to agents and editors until they were accepted. So be like Elizabeth. And don't worry about the chocolate milk. Elizabeth, that’s a great story! And another great illustration of why it’s the people who don’t quit too early who eventually “make it.” I once heard from a short story magazine editor that that’s what used to frustrate him: the same author would send him new stories every month or two, and even though the editor had to reject them for various reasons, he could see that the work was getting better. And so just when he was thinking, “The next one will be it!” the author gave up and stopped sending him stories. Boooo.

And this didn’t happen just once, but with many authors over several years. Lesson? Be one of the authors (or librarians) who keeps trying, keeps working at your skills, keeps pressing onward. Because there will be a lot of dropouts along the way, and you don’t have to be one of them.

Reminds me of one of my favorite mottos: 100% of the novels that were published were finished first. And the addendum to that motto is that 100% of those novels kept getting sent out to agents and editors until they were accepted.

So be like Elizabeth. And don’t worry about the chocolate milk.

]]> By: Elizabeth http://robinbrande.com/writing/meg-cabot-on-how-to-get-an-agent/comment-page-1#comment-13786 Elizabeth Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:32:08 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/?p=1137#comment-13786 Thanks for sharing this, Robin. I guess it's all about tenacity whatever business you're in. I really related to the bit about going back to the beginning of the book and starting over because four years ago, when the library where I currently work had just opened, I applied here for a part-time position (I had just graduated from library school). The interview was a disaster involving chocolate milk, and I didn't get the position. Two years later, having been laid off from my then-job without hope of recall, I found out that this library was hiring again, and this time it was a full-time position. But, I remembered the chocolate milk and disaster of the previous interview (and so, I assumed, would they), so I had no intention of applying for this position. Long story short, I decided to apply anyway and got the position. I've been here for two years now. Did they remember the chocolate milk? Not exactly, but a few weeks ago when the topic of my first interview here came up in a conversation with my best friend (who was on that interview panel before I knew her), she said she remembered that I didn't take my suit jacket off at any point during the interview--and we had a good laugh when I explained it was because my shirt was soaked with chocolate milk. She then declared me absoulutely indestructible. Must stop babbling now. My anti-spam word for the day is "toast," and I think it really refers to the makeup of my brain at this point. Thanks for sharing this, Robin. I guess it’s all about tenacity whatever business you’re in. I really related to the bit about going back to the beginning of the book and starting over because four years ago, when the library where I currently work had just opened, I applied here for a part-time position (I had just graduated from library school). The interview was a disaster involving chocolate milk, and I didn’t get the position. Two years later, having been laid off from my then-job without hope of recall, I found out that this library was hiring again, and this time it was a full-time position. But, I remembered the chocolate milk and disaster of the previous interview (and so, I assumed, would they), so I had no intention of applying for this position. Long story short, I decided to apply anyway and got the position. I’ve been here for two years now.

Did they remember the chocolate milk? Not exactly, but a few weeks ago when the topic of my first interview here came up in a conversation with my best friend (who was on that interview panel before I knew her), she said she remembered that I didn’t take my suit jacket off at any point during the interview–and we had a good laugh when I explained it was because my shirt was soaked with chocolate milk. She then declared me absoulutely indestructible.

Must stop babbling now. My anti-spam word for the day is “toast,” and I think it really refers to the makeup of my brain at this point.

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