tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post5527670673242278208..comments2023-09-29T09:18:38.933-04:00Comments on Bent on Books: Meet Mandy, the author (and her agent) who never gave upJenny Benthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12744171500436166262noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-20111193633743202262011-05-15T16:56:02.831-04:002011-05-15T16:56:02.831-04:00Thank you Jenny and Mandy! This is so inspiring, a...Thank you Jenny and Mandy! This is so inspiring, and proves that the only way you'll lose is if you LET yourself by giving up.<br /><br />Mandy, way to hang in and kudos to your wonderful agent for encouraging and believing in you. Those are the best kinds of agents to have! ;)Anita Grace Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01797870961916148616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-54330125434681653002010-06-11T15:46:41.137-04:002010-06-11T15:46:41.137-04:00What an inspirational post! I loved it.What an inspirational post! I loved it.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12399082789777816445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-58517082754901024482009-12-31T15:56:49.116-05:002009-12-31T15:56:49.116-05:00This is a very inspiring story. Thanks for sharing...This is a very inspiring story. Thanks for sharing it!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05948612132999105083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-55665372966894619132009-12-28T15:55:12.366-05:002009-12-28T15:55:12.366-05:00Mandy what an inspiring story. It's totally se...Mandy what an inspiring story. It's totally set me up for 2010. Like you, I'm not giving up!Sally Clementshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00126442284080778860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-27319593128926745262009-12-26T12:04:43.374-05:002009-12-26T12:04:43.374-05:00Hi Danceluvr,
I understand how it might be discou...Hi Danceluvr,<br /><br />I understand how it might be discouraging to think an agent or editor isn't going to love what you've created as-is, or at least very close to what is. You should know that no one is going to force you to make any changes-- it is *ALWAYS* your choice, even after you are contracted, what you are going to change and what you aren't willing to change. Sometimes that choice means walking away from an agent or a deal, and sometimes it means simply finding a new way to address what the agent/editor sees as a problem.<br /><br />The bottom line is that these people are professionals, and they know what works, and they see something in your book that they want to spend time bringing out. In my case, there were a lot of flaws in my story. You don't see them until you grow as a writer and are able to look back on early drafts. My character's story arc and growth just was't sufficient in early drafts, and her character as a whole was really a mish-mash of traits that didn't fit together right. Their feedback really, truly made for a much better story. <br /><br />THere are some people who don't like/want to revise, and that's fine. Don't do it. But please remember that publishing as a whole is a business, and they are requesting these revisions becuase they want your book to be a success. You are the writer and it will always be your choice, you just have to choose what sort of balance between art and business makes sense to you. <br /><br />And, in case I wasn't clear-- I've never done revisions that didn't result in a book I was even MORE proud of in the end.Mandy Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10151064231631734405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-14178547489973058442009-12-26T01:49:31.297-05:002009-12-26T01:49:31.297-05:00Mandy,
I've been hearing a lot about your new...Mandy,<br /><br />I've been hearing a lot about your newest book, and in positive terms. Congratulations on its launch date.<br /><br />I'm wondering about some of your remarks, especially in regard to revisions. It sounds like you had to rework the piece several times, even starting completely over at one point.<br /><br />I'm confused about the latter. How was your original text so much different from the final version? You mentioned dropping the ages of your characters to the teen years, but apparently that wasn't the only thing you needed to "fix" to get it published.<br /><br />This tale, while encouraging to us non-published authors, scares me. If no one likes the book I've written, with the characters I've created, what's the point? You're writing the book an agent or editor would write if s/he could, not what you've thought up.danceluvrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16357250951481805093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-78773858024788638952009-12-19T20:25:30.941-05:002009-12-19T20:25:30.941-05:00I sent the link to this post to two of my critique...I sent the link to this post to two of my critique buds. They are both wonderful writers, both hanging in there through rejections while continuing to work so hard. I see their frustration and disappointment, though, each time another rejection comes in, and I feel it for them, too. I hoped this would inspire them, and it did! Thanks, Mandy! And thank you marvelous Jenny B. for having Mandy post.Jennifer Archerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15620692454770703140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-54838401936897359002009-12-18T10:22:35.871-05:002009-12-18T10:22:35.871-05:00Congratulations on your success and persistence! Y...Congratulations on your success and persistence! You are inspiring! :)Jillian Gregoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13574734118336733502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-19040100146912135532009-12-15T19:07:14.172-05:002009-12-15T19:07:14.172-05:00I kind of teared up reading this. Not going to lie...I kind of teared up reading this. Not going to lie. You are an inspiration, Mandy. Thank you so much.Kristin Briana Ottshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07251586024788449128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-29951103056687800932009-12-15T10:46:51.371-05:002009-12-15T10:46:51.371-05:00Thank you for your honesty and bravery! Great post...Thank you for your honesty and bravery! Great post!Loretta Nyhanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02680385300130233511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-39353875571201865542009-12-15T09:23:43.416-05:002009-12-15T09:23:43.416-05:00Your penultimate paragraph says it all for me!
Co...Your penultimate paragraph says it all for me!<br /><br />Congratulations and good luck on all your future projects.Marisa Birnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17945909737147497606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-36399163186639850742009-12-12T14:05:16.297-05:002009-12-12T14:05:16.297-05:00Can I just say that is the awesomest thing I have ...Can I just say that is the awesomest thing I have read in a really, REALLY long time? That is all.Gretchenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09327185025020171674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-86325516776068962702009-12-12T10:57:48.044-05:002009-12-12T10:57:48.044-05:00Whoa, I needed this today too, so thank you for th...Whoa, I needed this today too, so thank you for that amazing, encouraging story. And I am definitely going to go and check out all those posts!Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-50135025155820101442009-12-12T08:47:26.190-05:002009-12-12T08:47:26.190-05:00That's an amazing story--thanks so much for sh...That's an amazing story--thanks so much for sharing.WendyCinNYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15548500219172368038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-53910281785582085852009-12-12T08:04:42.359-05:002009-12-12T08:04:42.359-05:00With the negative floating around cyberspace - thi...With the negative floating around cyberspace - this was a great pick-me-up for me. :)Amy Sue Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13854920309673361956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-39187597650900953572009-12-11T20:52:28.645-05:002009-12-11T20:52:28.645-05:00Thanks Mandy for sharing your story. It's trul...Thanks Mandy for sharing your story. It's truly amazing. I really enjoyed Prada and Pred. I'm a huge Jane Austen fan! Looking forward to reading more of your work.Christina Farleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03459203755170266842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-37207375010507644732009-12-11T17:23:15.373-05:002009-12-11T17:23:15.373-05:00Aww, yay! I love that she opened up the "desp...Aww, yay! I love that she opened up the "despair" posts, because I agree: people need to know that stuff, to see that you can get past it. I try to be mostly positive on my blog, but every now and then it's hard to stay encouraged and motivated, and I need to release. The blog-love I get from my readers is wonderful. And sometimes I wonder if I should lock those posts up after the feelings pass, but I think I'll take a page from Mandy's book and keep them open.<br /><br />Great post. Thanks for sharing this story, and congrats!<br /><br />(Here via YALitChat, fyi.)Kristanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04771013578685419826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-65702012991109195882009-12-11T13:27:40.251-05:002009-12-11T13:27:40.251-05:00What a great post. Almost brought tears to my eyes...What a great post. Almost brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for it, Mandy & Jenny!SJDuvallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10598176076288051750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-63493438243333136462009-12-11T11:34:13.410-05:002009-12-11T11:34:13.410-05:00It was worth it. What a positive message. Way to h...It was worth it. What a positive message. Way to hang in there and thanks for the great write-up about it!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.workfromhomeindia.biz" rel="nofollow"> Work from home India </a>sanjeethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04043304632873778108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-22208188956361035462009-12-11T11:02:22.814-05:002009-12-11T11:02:22.814-05:00Perfectly put, Mandy:
The difference between a ...Perfectly put, <b> Mandy:</b><br /><br /><i> The difference between a published author and an unpublished one is one day. </i>GhostFolk.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10942600698461250382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-87381983797591178922009-12-11T10:34:38.043-05:002009-12-11T10:34:38.043-05:00Awesome post, Mandy!! Go, you!Awesome post, Mandy!! Go, you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-72761564060393069282009-12-11T07:35:11.062-05:002009-12-11T07:35:11.062-05:00YAYYYYYYY beautiful post, Mandy! I couldn't be...YAYYYYYYY beautiful post, Mandy! I couldn't be any happier for you. :DRhonda Helmshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11855833088957182413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-6633973371929818172009-12-11T00:24:25.307-05:002009-12-11T00:24:25.307-05:00Thanks so much for sharing your story Mandy! I'...Thanks so much for sharing your story Mandy! I've read your posts about it on the BlueBoards, but it was great to get this reminder today. Congratulations on your first deal and the four projects in the works!srublehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09258955808195282768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-1604056577221339812009-12-10T23:49:03.713-05:002009-12-10T23:49:03.713-05:00This was a great, inspiring post. Thank you.This was a great, inspiring post. Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570843285923755385.post-50853500750411843522009-12-10T21:06:07.105-05:002009-12-10T21:06:07.105-05:00Thank you for that inspirational post! One day...I...Thank you for that inspirational post! One day...I'm looking forward to that one day!Sherrie Petersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11670339498152684137noreply@blogger.com