Writing update...

[johnpalmer]

So, I got my first rejection letter from an agent, and it was actually kind-of nice. I mean, keep in mind that *no one* has any reason to say *anything* nice to you when picking up an item from the slush pile, so if they say *anything*, it's a damn good sign. And they said the book shows promise, and that it's clear my heart is in this.

Then I got my second letter, and it's more or less what I expected. Former President Carter is never going to see my request... damn it all.

I honestly think that, if I could sit down with him for fifteen minutes, and outline what I have to say, and why I think it's so important, I could convince him.

So... does anyone know anyone famous who might want to write an introduction? Anyone have an inside line to Howard Dean, maybe? I think if he did the introduction, it would piss off enough conservatives that they'd buy the book to ridicule it. I could try both Kerry and Edwards, and the Clintons, but I have a feeling that at least three of the four of them will have the same vetting process that Mr. Carter has, and my request will never see the light of day. (Hell, the same holds for Dean, most likely. I exclude Edwards from the category only because he's not in office at the moment.)

In the meantime, does anyone know how to set up a blog in an area likely to receive attention? No offense to livejournal, and all, but it's not exactly seen as blog central.

And now, I'm off to find my next agent for my next rejection.

Comments

very off topic

[glinda-w.livejournal.com]

so you're home safe?

pet the Chibi-cat for me, and say hi to the more aloof Skitty...

--g

Re: very off topic

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

Yep, home safe... and thanks for remembering to ask, just in case!

(Skitty says "Hi", BTW. Well, Skitty actually says "Oh, there's your bladder!" using paw signals, so I'm interpreting that slightly, but I think the feeling is there :-).

Blog Central

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

Don't most of the Big Blogs (at the moment I'm thinking Instapundit) have their own URLs? Livejournal has a mechanism whereby you can embed your journal in a webpage, I think, or when whereby you can point your URL to your livejournal without its humble residence in the land where "Two Million Teenaged Girls Cried Out in Anguish and Were Silent" when LJ went down that time.

My sense of the blogosphere -- in the pundit/guerrilla journalist sense -- is that one gets up the ladder by linking to others and by finding folks interested in linking to you. Some of the S2 styles allow you to put a list of links on your blog, although I have not yet explored that feature, having no real reason to do so.

Re: Blog Central

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

That's not a bad idea; I want my own domain, anyway, and, if nothing else, I ought to be able to hide it in a frame, or something. (Damn, but I should have started studying web design a long timem ago!)

Re: Blog Central

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

You've got one of the best as a sweetie. A more productive use of a weekend afternoon than sitting there playing your online games (she says judgmentally).

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Just a bit of advice, John. Sometimes you'll find it easier to land a publisher than an agent. I got my first acceptance directly from Ace, then used _that_ and an introduction from another writer to hook an agent. You might try running the two streams in parallel rather than in series....

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

You have a point... my reason for seeking an agent is primarily to push for heavier marketing, and to make sure the book goes to publishers who want to publish political stuff, and who know things like "Yes, they *did* publish John Kerry's latest, but that's because they do that for all Presidential candidates. They won't buy anything left of Rush Limmbaugh, otherwise."

I think I'll set end of July for my time of seeking a publisher in addition to an agent. (If nothing else, it avoids some of the problems of simultaneous submissions... both an agent and a publisher could be looking at it with no conflict.)

[ztrooper.livejournal.com]

Well, hey, at least you're getting something other than boilerplate form letters. Keep swinging!

As for famous people... I find fame is overrated. I have met some genuinely kind and courteous people, and have wished more than a few times to be able to get to know them outside of the professional world, but, such opportunities are rare indeed.

Fame seems to put more obstacles in place than to open more opportunities, at least when it comes to dealing with Joe Average citizen...

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

Nod. Fame is only for marketing for me, right now. Jimmy Carter would have been a good, famous name to catch the eye of people, especially with my title and cover image. (I'm hoping for a simple waving American flag, and the title is "For The Dream".)

And you're right about fame being risky. I'm really nervous about what could happen if my book hits my expectations. Suddenly, I have to be careful about what I say, because I'm speaking (in the book) as the voice of sensible, strong compassion. Such people are supposed to fart perfume and be ever kindly to even the most annoying "number one fans"... and I'm awfully human.

[teddywolf.livejournal.com]

I'd say skip most of the pols. Ask Jon Stewart to write the foreward. He may well say No, but mebbe not; and if he likes it you might get a spot on The Daily Show to promote the book too.

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

That's not a bad idea. The biggest reason I'd like Dean is that I'd like to give him my message, and have him help push the message (without any reference to the book). The Clintons are probably a bad idea (and I'd have a harder time reaching them than reaching Carter, probably).

But anyone famous (like Jon Stewart, or Al Franken) with an audience would be even better than a famous politician.

[malaechi.livejournal.com]

Maybe Al Franken or Jeanine Garafolo? You might look at Arianna Huffington's blog area.. Air America may have a blog section as well...

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

I'll look around; those are some good ideas. Thanks!