tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post113611774909716651..comments2023-11-29T07:39:34.401+00:00Comments on Carla Nayland Historical Fiction: Agents and publishers reject Booker winnersCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901028520813891575noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-1137034676856318172006-01-12T02:57:00.000+00:002006-01-12T02:57:00.000+00:00I've seen it suggested many times that Agatha Chri...I've seen it suggested many times that Agatha Christie would never get published today. Here in the states, it has become almost cliche for books that were roundly rejected ten years ago to win National Book Awards when they finally get published. <BR/><BR/>I suppose that if I knew what kind of book would become a bestseller next year, I'd write it instead of agenting it, so maybe we shouldn't blame agents for missing the boat on this one.Mark Pettushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14650234232914657192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-1136317428875929822006-01-03T19:43:00.000+00:002006-01-03T19:43:00.000+00:00Bernita, VS Naipaul said something like that - the...Bernita, VS Naipaul said something like that - the world has moved on. It would be interesting to do it with something from the time that still sells, because then you'd know it was still to the taste of the reading public.<BR/>As it stands, this could be interpreted as (a) literary agents and publishers can't recognise good writing (the Sunday Times view); (b) Booker judges reward contemporary literary taste and fashion, rather than good writing; (c) agents and publishers are looking for stuff that sells and stuff that sold in the 70s wouldn't sell today because the reading public's tastes have changed; (d) agents and publishers are looking for stuff that sells and Booker status is irrelevant to sales potential; (e) agents and publishers are so awash in unsolicited material that they don't have time to read submissions. And no doubt more that I haven't thought of.<BR/><BR/>An experiment that can be interpreted that many ways has way too many variables and should have been better designed. But 2 January is a slow news day. And it probably got the Sunday Times onto every vaguely literary blog or publication or website in the world. I don't suppose they minded all that free publicity.Carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11901028520813891575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-1136228784571512862006-01-02T19:06:00.000+00:002006-01-02T19:06:00.000+00:00Think there's also a slight problem with the age o...Think there's also a slight problem with the age of the sample.<BR/>Tastes have changed in 30 years or agents/editors perception of tastes have changed or whatever.<BR/>And thank you, Carla for dropping by my blog and offering this dim poster a clue on "Clwyd".<BR/>It is so nice you have begun to blog too.Bernitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05264585685253812090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-1136218788711998922006-01-02T16:19:00.000+00:002006-01-02T16:19:00.000+00:00Elizabeth, thanks for commenting. No, I don't muc...Elizabeth, thanks for commenting. No, I don't much like the idea of reading fees either, though I do see his point.Carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11901028520813891575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-1136201527114240922006-01-02T11:32:00.000+00:002006-01-02T11:32:00.000+00:00Thanks for the link to the Grumpy Old Bookman essa...Thanks for the link to the Grumpy Old Bookman essay. Although I don't like his ideas about reading fees, I love the concept of being a "pro-am". I definitely see myself as working toward "pro-am" status.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com