tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post6688125572760819501..comments2023-09-16T15:03:34.579+07:00Comments on Adam Heine: The Offer I Turned DownAdam Heinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-71472854474971929942012-01-05T20:52:54.793+07:002012-01-05T20:52:54.793+07:00I really love your matrix on good offer/sketchy of...I really love your matrix on good offer/sketchy offer and am copying it down to remember.<br /><br />Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-91073396442885812422011-12-27T22:10:48.334+07:002011-12-27T22:10:48.334+07:00John Steinbeck Family Defrauded by Writer Beware™ ...John Steinbeck Family Defrauded by Writer Beware™ & SFWA Attorney: The 2007 Scam that Writer Beware™ Didn’t Report . . . Why?<br /><br />http://thewriteagenda.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/john-steinbeck-family-defrauded-by-writer-beware-sfwa-attorney-the-2007-scam-that-writer-beware-didnt-report-why/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-44158975375759660352011-12-23T07:04:17.882+07:002011-12-23T07:04:17.882+07:00That is sketchy, marilynn. Thanks for sharing!That is sketchy, marilynn. Thanks for sharing!Adam Heinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-38891297027523871072011-12-23T03:28:47.641+07:002011-12-23T03:28:47.641+07:00My tale is even worse. I returned a Twitter follow...My tale is even worse. I returned a Twitter follow request, and the person tweeted back that he liked my work, from the excerpt on my web site, I guess, and wanted to see a chapter. I sent it, and shortly after that, I mean an hour or two, he wrote that he wanted to publish me. I asked if he didn't want to see the rest of the mss, and he said no. That they did things differently. I checked his publishing house on Amazon and found that, while they had published several books, most of the listings were short stories. His house was so new that there was nothing on P&E.<br /><br />A friend advised me not to walk away but to run. Seemed like good advice, so I took it.<br /><br />tmarilynnhttp://marilynn.larew.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-82342657660251452262011-12-22T23:29:45.775+07:002011-12-22T23:29:45.775+07:00I think after all the querying & waiting, it w...I think after all the querying & waiting, it would be exceedingly difficult to turn down any offer, but your gut is the best detector of what is right, of what you should really do. And as hard as it is to listen to those feelings, you know in your heart, if not your head, that you've done the right thing. <br /><br />(How cool, Janet Reid commented!)Nancy Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05735642863696266005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-46602268110174859602011-12-22T15:02:45.741+07:002011-12-22T15:02:45.741+07:00"Did ... did Anonymous Commenter really cite ...<i>"Did ... did Anonymous Commenter really cite 'The Write Agenda' when saying Predators & Editors is not a credible source?"</i><br /><br />Yeah, I think the key word there is "agenda."<br /><br />Also, I get the feeling Anon didn't actually read the post (and he certainly hasn't read <a href="http://www.adamheine.com/2011/10/why-arent-you-linking-yet.html" rel="nofollow">this one</a>).Adam Heinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-10358866317179794192011-12-22T14:50:05.415+07:002011-12-22T14:50:05.415+07:00Did ... did Anonymous Commenter really cite 'T...Did ... did Anonymous Commenter really cite 'The Write Agenda' when saying Predators & Editors is not a credible source? Oh dear. (If anyone doesn't know why this is funny, the Internet will tell you.)<br /><br />And ah man, I'm so glad that you passed, because talk about red flags. I once talked a friend into doing the exact same thing, and for a while the friend was angry at me for advising caution. Turned out for the best, though it was more along the lines of "The Slow No" instead of sketchy behaviour.<br /><br />Congrats again!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-32651014196432657522011-12-22T13:50:55.884+07:002011-12-22T13:50:55.884+07:00Thanks for this post, Adam. With so much informati...Thanks for this post, Adam. With so much information available on agents and agencies, it surprises me when I hear stories like this, especially from someone I know and respect. It's a good reminder to be careful. They must have looked legit.Myrna Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-86672633275982594052011-12-22T13:39:15.348+07:002011-12-22T13:39:15.348+07:00Congratulations on getting an agent! One of the be...Congratulations on getting an agent! One of the best feelings ever, I must say. And good for you for sticking with your gut. That agent definitely sounds sketchy, but Erin Murphy Literary is great! Congrats again and hopefully a speedy sale will follow!Liesl Shurtliffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09064620851881036609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-55812492975555471152011-12-22T10:25:54.779+07:002011-12-22T10:25:54.779+07:00You played your hand smart. That's very impor...You played your hand smart. That's very important in the industry.<br /><br />There are tales of woe and misery from writers so anxious for an agent, ANY agent that they took the very first one who offered without questions or anything. You pried and you tried to be open minded. Had you not have checked P&E, I have a feeling you still would have passed. The constant blind hand off and lack of answering your questions or talking to you about your writing career was enough to give them a big No Thank You.Angela Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324366495151363782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-89300879840660232622011-12-22T05:54:10.693+07:002011-12-22T05:54:10.693+07:00P&E is a very reliable source for this type of...P&E is a very reliable source for this type of information. As is Absolute Write. You can never do too much research, in my opinion. <br /><br />http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226501Cindihttp://coastalediting.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-49066445436492196692011-12-22T05:36:33.548+07:002011-12-22T05:36:33.548+07:00Congrats on signing with an agent! W00T! And congr...Congrats on signing with an agent! W00T! And congrats too on knowing what not to accept! :D<br />YAYAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00482654021641010175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-38169259603251401192011-12-22T02:57:29.845+07:002011-12-22T02:57:29.845+07:00Doing research and talking to other clients is so ...Doing research and talking to other clients is so so important. It's better to have no agent than a bad one.Nicole Zoltackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07464800543376449290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-85035915339695533842011-12-22T02:30:01.982+07:002011-12-22T02:30:01.982+07:00I think it's so important to pay attention to ...I think it's so important to pay attention to those red flags! My experience was with a fabulous agent, but she wasn't a fabulous agent for <i>me.</i> Since then, I've been glad a million times over that I didn't just jump at the chance to take anyone, and listened to those red flags. In the end, it works out SO MUCH BETTER!<br /><br />Congrats again on getting the agent that IS perfect!Peggy Eddlemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10241451940725996650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-57112333939345996652011-12-22T02:05:31.162+07:002011-12-22T02:05:31.162+07:00I am currently unagented. My first book (Blood and...I am currently unagented. My first book (Blood and Bullets) comes out 2/7/12 from Kensington as the first in a 3 book deal. <br /><br />I wanted an agent. I queried heavily. I had CONTRACT IN HAND and still got passed on. It was bizarre.<br /><br />But since then I have secured a second contract for three e-novellas from Kensington, had a short story published that is being made into an independant short film next spring, and am lining up a jam-packed summer of conventioneering. <br /><br />I still want an agent, but now I am not going to take just anyone.James R. Tuck Dark Urban Fantasy Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12517791916776187294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-58803552527901433392011-12-22T01:39:54.655+07:002011-12-22T01:39:54.655+07:00Thanks for a great post, Adam. A lot of excellent ...Thanks for a great post, Adam. A lot of excellent advice here for writers.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.writerbeware.com/" rel="nofollow">Writer Beware</a> collects advisories and complaints about agents (and others); if you run across a red-flag agent, please let us know.Victoria Strausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11993325726575944136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-30349426537593672902011-12-22T01:06:07.059+07:002011-12-22T01:06:07.059+07:00I did a very similar blog post not long ago. I tot...I did a very similar blog post not long ago. I totally agree. The vagueness, the failure to keep phone appointments, the "oh, yes, you need to revise" and "I'll send you some notes on that," which never happened, all turned me off. Since then I've discovered the agency has filed for bankruptcy and is involved in some lawsuits that make my skin crawl. Always trust your business instincts. Great post!Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-26655203485984669492011-12-22T00:39:41.702+07:002011-12-22T00:39:41.702+07:00Preditors & Editors is not necessarily credibl...Preditors & Editors is not necessarily credible or the best source for this information:<br /><br />http://thewriteagenda.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/cretella-v-david-l-kuzminski-preditors-and-editors/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-56218249723338122812011-12-22T00:39:18.797+07:002011-12-22T00:39:18.797+07:00Yes, this sounds definitely fishy. Good job walkin...Yes, this sounds definitely fishy. Good job walking away. <br /><br />Wow, and did THE Janet Reid just comment on your post?! That's big time, Adam!!A.L. Sonnichsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11358456786727534289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-84135745167800936692011-12-22T00:36:50.341+07:002011-12-22T00:36:50.341+07:00I missed your big news! Congratulations! I think...I missed your big news! Congratulations! I think were super smart not to take that first offer. I've seen several friends deal with shady agents and wow, it's not cool. It sounds like you got a wonderful agent in the end. I'll look forward to seeing where you go from here!Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00861022355718378425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-44458999106159617932011-12-22T00:28:08.980+07:002011-12-22T00:28:08.980+07:00good post. Excellent advice.good post. Excellent advice.Janet Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-15837264008799205802011-12-22T00:05:05.908+07:002011-12-22T00:05:05.908+07:00I've been learning so much from the querying p...I've been learning so much from the querying process and have my own bumps and bruises to go on. I love that your agent makes time for you. that's a huge one! <br />Well done. I love your series of posts. Good luck!Bonnie R. Paulsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02099325696949990504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-37518343718734724232011-12-21T23:52:19.407+07:002011-12-21T23:52:19.407+07:00I'm SO glad you had a level head about you in ...I'm SO glad you had a level head about you in this process, Adam. From what you've talked about, this really has sketchy written all over it. And that's putting it nicely. <br /><br />It is hard when you've been working so long to have that courage and say no, but like Krista said—no agent is better than a bad one. I know that's easy to say, but I've seen the truth of it several times now that I've been around enough. Thanks for putting this out there.Natalie Whipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-54610788132039415392011-12-21T22:54:00.110+07:002011-12-21T22:54:00.110+07:00Thanks for sharing this cautionary tale, Adam. (So...Thanks for sharing this cautionary tale, Adam. (Sorry, I just had to throw the phrase "cautionary tale" in here somewhere:) ) Like you said, it's easy for querying to drive a writer to desperation, but no agent is one hundred times better than a bad one.<br /><br />I used to query everyone under the sun, but I try to be more circumspect now. The litmus test I use is, "If this agent actually offered and I ended up posting his or her name and agency on my blog, am I going to feel embarrassed about that?" If the answer is even remotely close to yes, then I just don't query that agent.Krista Van Dolzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08830193414560232842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-25934091768439334602011-12-21T22:14:17.083+07:002011-12-21T22:14:17.083+07:00ohman. that's scary! and i don't know if...ohman. that's scary! and i don't know if i were in your situation that i'd recognize all those signs! thanks for the informative post, man.vic caswell https://www.blogger.com/profile/01218698236837610704noreply@blogger.com