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Landon Donovan, Stricker, USA
I know what you are thinking, she has lost her mind. Surprisingly I haven’t. Being interested in the World Cup soccer matches, especially when the USA was playing in the Sweet 16, gave me the opportunity to get my material in front of Angela James. She is the managing editor of Carina Press, Harlequin’s new digital first publisher.
Angela was speaking at the Southern Magic Romance Writers meeting in Birmingham, Alabama a few weeks ago. I was on the front row in the hopes of getting all the insight I could on how to get Carina Press to notice me. Part of my game plan for 2010 was to send in a manuscript to a digital publisher, and have it accepted.
Before Angela started speaking about the press, she asked if anyone was following the World Cup. I raised my hand, not too high, not sure what to expect. Angela told me she would critique ten pages of my first chapter for keeping her updated on the game. Add two pages for each time I let her know if the other side scored and five if the USA scored. I could do that.
I knew days earlier that the USA would be playing their big game at the same time I was going to be at the meeting. I was upset about missing the game but had to set my priorities. I had already instructed my son to let me know how the USA was doing every ten minutes, by text. Thankfully, I’d learned how to text a few weeks before.
I texted my son and told him to forget the ten minutes idea and to let me know what was happening right then. By the time Angela finished speaking, the USA had lost, (we both were very sad), but I had earned twenty pages of critique. That helped with the sad, for me anyway.
Moral of the story: Editors are human and you never know what will be the thing that helps put your work in front of one of them. By the time you read this, I should’ve sent in those twenty pages. Soccer helped my work have a chance, but my story now has to be good enough to keep an editor interested.
Have you had any similar opportunities that help get your work in front of an editor?
by Susan Carlisle
21 comments
Hi Susan: I can’t say I’ve had anything like that happen with my writing, but it was fun watching it happen for you at the meeting with Angela!
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Hi Susan,
That was a fun day…enjoyed you interrupting her. Let’s see…nope, can’t think of a single thing. I know I got a chance to talk with an editor once when I picked her up at the airport and she asked what I was writing, but that’s about it. (She didn’t ask for a partial since I don’t write her stuff)
And, Debbie, what are you doing up at 1:23am when we’re leaving for Atlanta first thing in the morning? (g)
Sandy
Susan,
How wonderful!!
Glad you raised your hand, huh?
It’s nice to know they’re human. I get so nervous talking to them (but it doesn’t have to be editors or agents. I get nervous speaking to just about anyone in those situations)
But I like it when editors/agents smile…not just any old smile, but a warm, I’m not gonna bite and I’d really like to hear your pitch smile. That’s so much better than the, I’m tired, overworked and here because my boss wants me to be here so give me your pitch, but I don’t like vampires so I’m probably not going to ask for anything, but I’ll grin so that I don’t look too annoyed smile.
I’ve had one of those before…very frightning.
Oh, and the World Cup? LOVED IT!!!
Great post!
Have a very nice morning,
Tamara
Uh, that would be ORLANDO, Sandy
Good thing you’ve got me along to navigate, LOL.
Debbie,
Maybe you will have were surprise moment while you are at Nationals. Good luck with your pitches. Remeber those editors and agents are human.
I LOVE this, Susan! I can soooo see you doing that. Wish I had been there in person to witness the interruptions.
These are the stories that give me hope. Thanks for sharing it!
Tami
P.S. Crossing my fingers that she likes your pages!!!!
Sandy,
I’ve driven agents to the airport also and I did have one say I can send her some of my stuff. We I start shopping for a agent I’m going to do it.
Tamara,
All you have to remember is that they, like you, enjoy things out side of writing. We all have other parts to our lives. The first editor I ever spoke to was about my oldest age. Afterward I wondered why I got so untight about meeting her.
That’s great Susan. I know absolutely nothing about sports so that wouldn’t have worked for me. The closest I ever got to a soccer game was when I went to do a photo shoot at the soccer stadium in Wales. There wasn’t a game on at the time and I got to sit in the royal box. I didn’t follow the World Cup games though.
I wish you luck. I also find that editors and agents are just people and they really are very nice. That doesn’t stop me from being nervous in front of them. They almost always ask you to send something.
Marilyn
Tami,
I’ve not heard back yet. I don’t know if that is good or bad or she is just busy. I wish that she was overwhelmed by my greatest.
Marilyn,
I’m interested in sports but not consumed by them. I watch enough to know what is going on. My guys are interested so I try to know enough to talk to them about it. Now, I do keep up with Auburn football. That is my number one love.
Susan – What a great story. I’ve heard wonderful things about Angela and think she’ll be remembered for sure after that. Congrats on being brave to raise your hand and on the ball to get the extra pages.
This is an awesome story, Susan! Good luck with the pages. : )
Dianna,
I thought it made Angela really down to earth, approachable. I would love to work with her.
Awesome Susan. That’s like winning the lottery in a writers world isn’t it? Humm, wait, maybe it is more like winning 1000 free tickets… winning the lottery will be when she wants to see the rest! Good luck!
Wow, Susan. That’s an amazing story. Guess I need to pay more attention when hubby is talking about sports. And to go to more of those workshops.
I’m so excited for you. Keep us posted about what happens with that critique. Don’t worry about not hearing back. The longer they take, the more likely they’re interested.
Pamela,
You are right, it was like winning the lottery.
Linsey,
The neat thing was I was already paying attention to the World Cup. All those hours I was wasting watching paid off.
This is so funny, Susan. I’ve used sports as a conversation opener many times. This is a great story! I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she’s absolutely loving the story!
Anna