Thank you for sending me OPEN-EYED SNEEZE by Jessica Martin. Martin is a smart, insightful, and engaging writer. Most importantly, she is a joy to read. Her descriptions of her life post college and her family were refreshing, funny, and blissfully not entitled. While I enjoyed reading this manuscript, I worry that post-college job and life anxiety is a commonly explored topic and it might be hard to generate publicity. So, I think this topic isn’t right for Dutton. That being said, I really enjoyed the read so I would love to see anything that Martin does next.
Pretty nice.
Well, even though everyone passed on that first round, I'm feeling pretty good about it. Here are the highlights:
*The number of people who have read my book has nearly doubled! (from about 7 to 14. cough).
*While the first round of editors wanted nothing to do with it, they didn't hate it. Sort of the publishing version of, "It's not you, it's me." Only, I suppose that's not entirely accurate. More of a, "Well, it's kind of you. Who are we kidding? It's you. But let's still be friends. Like later on... maybe."
*The whole process is slow, but exciting.
Waiting to hear about the fate of your book is like being a guest at a surprise party. If you've never had the pleasure, it's actually a lot of fun waiting for the birthday boy or girl to arrive. You're mostly giddy, and a little nervous, because you're never quite sure how they're going to react. However, you soon realize how much downtime there is waiting for them. Someone shouts, "She's here! Everyone behind the couch!" and your heart beats a little faster and you try to fight a ridiculous smile, only to learn 30-seconds later that it's just another straggling guest. It's a lot of misdirected highs until after about 45-minutes of crouching behind a couch in the dark you start to think, OK, I'm gonna go grab a drink and some cheese. Tell me when she gets here.
I haven't reached that point. And to be honest, I don't think I ever will. I'm still a sucker for all of this, so whenever I get an email from Penn, I get a little excited, as if someone at the party has just dimmed the lights and yelled, "Places!"
8 comments:
Um, all Publishers think your name is Martin. Dumbies.
Surprise parties make me nervie. Members Debs SP, and she was most happy to see me and cried. ahh, its fun when just your presence is present enough for someone.
LYLAS (bc you are)
Ness, you seriously need to get some sleep.
And yes, Deb's reaction was caught on film, so it's kind of hard to forget the huuuuge brush off I got as she ran crying into your arms.
It's fine, I'm over it, it's cool.
Maybe your book isn't "dumbed down" enough for the American public. I'm sure if you edit some parts of the book to add some explosions or gun battles, that will appeal to these market-oriented editors. ;')
Oh The Places Open-Eyed Sneeze Will Go...
I read today that Dr. Seuss was turned down by at least 28 publishing companies before he sold his first book.
His books have gone on to sell 222 million copies.
Am I suggesting sprinkling in some superfluous rhymes and colorful breakfasts into your manuscript? Not necessarily, but it might not hurt...
one blog, two blog, we blog, you blog
your blog is blog the blog best blog
(alright alright that line was weak-
i'm not exactly a poetry geek)
of all these entries writ by you, some're imagined, some are true
some include the blank stare fad
why? usually cause of your dad
some are funny, some are sad
hardly ever are they bad
oh me! oh my!
oh me! oh my!
what funny, rando things go by
when you are tall, like j.l.m.;
each entry is indeed a gem
how do you think of them?
i can't say.
but i bet your book WILL be published someday.
they may be saying 'no thanks' now,
but seriously, i promise, indeed, i vow:
you're too funny to not be read
they're clearly not quite right in the head.
So, there's that, eat shit, publishers
and give this girl a contract NOW... ya heard?
and here i've clearly made a case
for me to be allowed to freaking call you jessieface!
I was going to write that exact same poem, but Meredith beat me to it. (Jerk.) Great rejection letter!!! Keep up the brilliant writing!
This is going to be your life very soon..I can feel it:
Shop assistant: Hello, can I help you?
Vivian: I was in here yesterday, you wouldn't wait on me.
Shop assistant: Oh.
Vivian: You people work on commission, right?
Shop assistant: Yeah.
Vivian: Big mistake. Big. Huge. I have to go shopping now.
this ain't a buffet, kit!
get to work, brina. if I had your job I'd send out a BYOB gala invite. done and done. easy as pie. good luck and i'll talk to you in 2 weeks.
Yessica- That really can't be the problem. The working title was "Vampires, Boy Wizards, Explosions, And Gun Battles: A life after college." and the feedback was REALLY bad for that.
What sells in Iceland?
Mark David! Thanks for the kind and helpful comment! I tried the whole rhyming thing but got stuck on a chapter called "The Sixth Orange."
Also, it might interest you to know that you were the only audible voice on a message left on my phone last (?) weekend.
This is a transcript of said message:
BLAAAAAHHH
YAAAYYYY
BLAAAHHH
WOOOOOO
Hi Jessica, it's Mark.
RAAAAAUUUGHHH.
YAAAYYY
Meredith. Flim. Flam. Floom.
I can't even begin to describe how much i just enjoyed that. I'm crying. Freaking HILARIOUS.
"Your blog is blog the blog best blog" might be the best thing I've ever read in my entire life. Without exaggeration.
Love your brain/face/poem.
Post a Comment