Revision: A Pop Quiz

TRUE OR FALSE: True or false:  Writers lie with abandon about how much they revise. True or false: Some writers say they are revising when, if you ask me, what they are doing is playing with their food. True or false: Most writers, at first glance, resist editorial advice even as they yearn for it. [...]

Life Used To Be So Hard

I did something really radical over this long holiday weekend: I took off. And I read for pleasure. Pleasure. No manuscripts.  Just. What. I. Wanted. To. Read. I read Nicholson Baker’s The Anthologist, which my best friend from graduate school gave me. If you give a fig about poetry, don’t miss this book. It’s dishy [...]

Am I Blue?

When I was struggling with depression in my twenties, there was nothing I hated more than hearing people wish one another a happy holiday. In the first place, it was fairly certain that I would wind up in emotional tatters during some part of the holiday weekend with my family. And second, the isolation of [...]

Tonight You’re Mine Completely

The great paradox of my life as an agent is that I am able to walk through fire for my clients while I can barely ask for anything for myself.  I have clients who can’t ask for what they need. I try to fish them out of the water and pump their stomachs. I have some who [...]

I’m Just a Love Machine

Dear Betsy, I start most workdays by reading the latest post on your blog, particularly apt given that I work in publishing. I am however a young fledgling (aka editorial assistant) and lately I’ve been wondering how you and others have bridged the gap between editorial assistant and editor. Where I work there is a [...]

The Ten Commandments of Collaboration

1) Thou shalt not censor. Both partners need to feel completely free to float ideas no matter how idiotic. 2) Thou shalt control thine ego. No crying, whining, bullying or icing. No temper tantrums, passive aggressive maneuvers, or diva moves. No pouting, sulking, or “innocent” jabs. 3) Thou shalt be on the same page. More [...]

I Hate Myself For Loving You

Okay — I’m not going to pretend that I’m not thoroughly moved by the hilarious and painful responses that have flooded my inbox all day. Were you to have seen me anywhere today, at the butcher, the gym, Executive Cleaners, St. Dunkin’s, you would have seen a girl with her head in a prayer-like position reading her [...]

You Light Up My Life

When my husband finished his first book, he gave it to a friend to read. When our friend finished the book, he called and said, “Well, it must be good to find out you’re not Shakespeare.” What exactly did he mean? Is anyone  in danger of thinking he is Shakespeare? Was it supposed to be a [...]

Ugly Betty

Sorry if this is off topic, but unbeknownst to me there has been quite a bit of ink spilled about Betty Draper, Don’s Klaus Barbie wife on the brilliant television show Mad Men. Just today a big defense of Betty appears in that little blog trying to get established which I’ll link to here in [...]

So Tired, Tired of Waiting, Tired of Waiting For You

We’ve all been there, waiting for someone to read our work. A friend, a classmate, a teacher, a producer, an editor, an agent, a critic. The worst part, possibly worse than the verdict, is not knowing when it will arrive. A day, a week , a month, longer, like never. How well do you cope [...]