Comments on: Best Part of Being an Agent: Matchmaker, Matchmaker. . . http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/the-best-part-of-being-an-agent-matchmaker-matchmaker/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:47:47 +0000 hourly 1 By: Kathleen Popa http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/the-best-part-of-being-an-agent-matchmaker-matchmaker/comment-page-1/#comment-1020 Kathleen Popa Fri, 17 Jul 2009 02:34:08 +0000 http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/?p=1614#comment-1020 Wendy and Janet, you ladies are outrageously good at what you do. Thank you, thank you for introducing me to this talented, wise, loving group of women. Mount Hermon was definitely more fun than we should have had. It felt like our own updated band of Inklings, only I'm not sure Lewis and Tolkien and their ilk would have been ready for some of these girls. Certainly not for Bonnie. Or Patti... I love the way you are ready to try new things. I'm so blessed to be in your fold. Wendy and Janet, you ladies are outrageously good at what you do. Thank you, thank you for introducing me to this talented, wise, loving group of women. Mount Hermon was definitely more fun than we should have had. It felt like our own updated band of Inklings, only I’m not sure Lewis and Tolkien and their ilk would have been ready for some of these girls. Certainly not for Bonnie. Or Patti…

I love the way you are ready to try new things. I’m so blessed to be in your fold.

]]> By: Bonnie Grove http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/the-best-part-of-being-an-agent-matchmaker-matchmaker/comment-page-1/#comment-1019 Bonnie Grove Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:45:31 +0000 http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/?p=1614#comment-1019 You couldn't be more correct when you said the Novel Matters women at Mount Hermon "had more fun than any group of writers should be allowed to have." My ribs still ache a bit from all the laughter. The women who comprise Novel Matters have been one of the greatest gifts of my writing life (the first would be having Wendy as my agent - can't express how important a job she does and how well. She is beloved and respected everywhere). I don't know if you can find six more grateful writers than the Novel Matters gang. I've found the friendship and mentoring I prayed for! In fact all my greatest joys about the writing journey have been relational ones. Wendy matched me with my publisher and it has been a wonderful relationship with everyone at Cook - they've been so kind to me, and together we've built a team I can trust and believe in. Group hug! :) You couldn’t be more correct when you said the Novel Matters women at Mount Hermon “had more fun than any group of writers should be allowed to have.”
My ribs still ache a bit from all the laughter. The women who comprise Novel Matters have been one of the greatest gifts of my writing life (the first would be having Wendy as my agent – can’t express how important a job she does and how well. She is beloved and respected everywhere). I don’t know if you can find six more grateful writers than the Novel Matters gang. I’ve found the friendship and mentoring I prayed for!

In fact all my greatest joys about the writing journey have been relational ones. Wendy matched me with my publisher and it has been a wonderful relationship with everyone at Cook – they’ve been so kind to me, and together we’ve built a team I can trust and believe in.

Group hug! :)

]]> By: Sharon K. Souza http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/the-best-part-of-being-an-agent-matchmaker-matchmaker/comment-page-1/#comment-1018 Sharon K. Souza Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:27:29 +0000 http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/?p=1614#comment-1018 Wendy, the experiment paid off in spades, and I know I speak for all of us at Novel Matters when I say how deeply we've connected on so many levels. We aren't just blog collaborators and fellow writers now, we're friends. We're a sounding board for each other's projects, we're prayer partners, we cover for one another in a pinch -- and we're loving every minute. Our time together at Mt. Hermon was remarkable, and our conference calls ... they're hilarious. You and Janet were inspired on this, as you are in so many ways. Wendy, the experiment paid off in spades, and I know I speak for all of us at Novel Matters when I say how deeply we’ve connected on so many levels. We aren’t just blog collaborators and fellow writers now, we’re friends. We’re a sounding board for each other’s projects, we’re prayer partners, we cover for one another in a pinch — and we’re loving every minute. Our time together at Mt. Hermon was remarkable, and our conference calls … they’re hilarious. You and Janet were inspired on this, as you are in so many ways.

]]> By: Patti Hill http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/the-best-part-of-being-an-agent-matchmaker-matchmaker/comment-page-1/#comment-1017 Patti Hill Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:41:53 +0000 http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/?p=1614#comment-1017 Just can't thank you enough for matching the Novel Matters girls. We are more than friends who happen to write. We are sisters of the most tender kind. Only three of us made it to ICRS, and it felt like we'd left an arm or a leg at home. Also, I saw Wendy and Janet scurrying about the ICRS floor, and you've never seen too women more intent on the goal at hand. They are WORKING for us. Thanks, lovely ladies! Just can’t thank you enough for matching the Novel Matters girls. We are more than friends who happen to write. We are sisters of the most tender kind. Only three of us made it to ICRS, and it felt like we’d left an arm or a leg at home.

Also, I saw Wendy and Janet scurrying about the ICRS floor, and you’ve never seen too women more intent on the goal at hand. They are WORKING for us. Thanks, lovely ladies!

]]> By: Latayne C Scott http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/the-best-part-of-being-an-agent-matchmaker-matchmaker/comment-page-1/#comment-1016 Latayne C Scott Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:34:29 +0000 http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/?p=1614#comment-1016 Wendy, you and Janet gave me one of the greatest gifts of my life. (The greatest of course was the gift of salvation, followed by the bittersweet gift of the trial of Mormonism which ties with the gift of my extraordinary family.) But next in line, along with and associated with the gift of writing, is the companionship and love of my fellow writers at NovelMatters. I tell them with tears in my eyes that the privilege of having peers like them is one of my life's greatest treasures. Thank you so much, oh matchmaker agents Wendy and Janet. Latayne C Scott www.latayne.com Wendy, you and Janet gave me one of the greatest gifts of my life. (The greatest of course was the gift of salvation, followed by the bittersweet gift of the trial of Mormonism which ties with the gift of my extraordinary family.)

But next in line, along with and associated with the gift of writing, is the companionship and love of my fellow writers at NovelMatters. I tell them with tears in my eyes that the privilege of having peers like them is one of my life’s greatest treasures. Thank you so much, oh matchmaker agents Wendy and Janet.

Latayne C Scott
http://www.latayne.com

]]> By: Debbie Thomas http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/the-best-part-of-being-an-agent-matchmaker-matchmaker/comment-page-1/#comment-1015 Debbie Thomas Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:27:41 +0000 http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/?p=1614#comment-1015 Working with children every day, I know that the way to a parent's heart is to love their children. That is the best part of writing for me, when I find someone who loves my 'children' like I do. Making characters so real that people miss them, cry for them or grab me by the lapel and demand to know whether or not they get married in the end (this happened in church one day). We all know what it's like to miss our characters when we're done, and it's rewarding to know that others do, too. Working with children every day, I know that the way to a parent’s heart is to love their children. That is the best part of writing for me, when I find someone who loves my ‘children’ like I do. Making characters so real that people miss them, cry for them or grab me by the lapel and demand to know whether or not they get married in the end (this happened in church one day). We all know what it’s like to miss our characters when we’re done, and it’s rewarding to know that others do, too.

]]> By: Genny http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/the-best-part-of-being-an-agent-matchmaker-matchmaker/comment-page-1/#comment-1014 Genny Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:58:24 +0000 http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/?p=1614#comment-1014 I'm going to head on over and check out Novel Matters. Sounds like a great blog. I love how you talk about matchmaking and the importance of relationship. I think sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the pursuit of making 1, 2, 3 happen: write, get agent, get contract. But there is so much that goes on in between and I can see how important it is to match the right people/books/publishers. As far as writing and reading, I think my favorite part is getting lost in it...in the characters, the story, the potential ability to impact others positively. Thanks for this post! I’m going to head on over and check out Novel Matters. Sounds like a great blog.

I love how you talk about matchmaking and the importance of relationship. I think sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of making 1, 2, 3 happen: write, get agent, get contract. But there is so much that goes on in between and I can see how important it is to match the right people/books/publishers.

As far as writing and reading, I think my favorite part is getting lost in it…in the characters, the story, the potential ability to impact others positively. Thanks for this post!

]]> By: Lori Benton http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/the-best-part-of-being-an-agent-matchmaker-matchmaker/comment-page-1/#comment-1006 Lori Benton Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:26:16 +0000 http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/?p=1614#comment-1006 One of the best moments for me is early in a project, that moment when a character first speaks to me, and I hear her voice so clearly, and it feels like I'm simply taking dictation. It can happen anytime, anywhere. I just better be prepared (lipstick and a napkin will do in a pinch). Any time in the writing process when this happens is good, but that first time is exhilarating. I tend to walk about looking dazed for a while, afterward. One of the best moments for me is early in a project, that moment when a character first speaks to me, and I hear her voice so clearly, and it feels like I’m simply taking dictation. It can happen anytime, anywhere. I just better be prepared (lipstick and a napkin will do in a pinch). Any time in the writing process when this happens is good, but that first time is exhilarating. I tend to walk about looking dazed for a while, afterward.

]]> By: Janet http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/the-best-part-of-being-an-agent-matchmaker-matchmaker/comment-page-1/#comment-1005 Janet Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:06:26 +0000 http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/?p=1614#comment-1005 One of the best things that has happened to me as an unpublished writer was when I was working on the first round of revisions. At one point I started reading ahead and sat up for hours, swept away by my own story. I couldn't sleep that night, I was so excited. I could hardly believe that it was me who had written it. One of the best things that has happened to me as an unpublished writer was when I was working on the first round of revisions. At one point I started reading ahead and sat up for hours, swept away by my own story. I couldn’t sleep that night, I was so excited. I could hardly believe that it was me who had written it.

]]> By: Lynn Dean http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/the-best-part-of-being-an-agent-matchmaker-matchmaker/comment-page-1/#comment-1008 Lynn Dean Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:39:43 +0000 http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/?p=1614#comment-1008 Writing has given me a tiny insight into God's heart. On a very small scale, I know what it's like to "create" a character and then have them act in ways I don't want them to. Then I have to figure a way to get them out of their mess. I've also enjoyed learning that no hero is perfect, and no villian is entirely reprehensible. Even the best characters have issues they need God to overcome, and even the worst have a backstory that stirs my heart to compassion for their dilemma. And I love it when my characters "talk" to me. My other favorite thing about writing is sharing it. Outside my crit partners, I have a few close friends and family members who just read and let me know if the story holds their interest. When they beg for another chapter, I know I'm doing something right. Writing has given me a tiny insight into God’s heart. On a very small scale, I know what it’s like to “create” a character and then have them act in ways I don’t want them to. Then I have to figure a way to get them out of their mess. I’ve also enjoyed learning that no hero is perfect, and no villian is entirely reprehensible. Even the best characters have issues they need God to overcome, and even the worst have a backstory that stirs my heart to compassion for their dilemma. And I love it when my characters “talk” to me.

My other favorite thing about writing is sharing it. Outside my crit partners, I have a few close friends and family members who just read and let me know if the story holds their interest. When they beg for another chapter, I know I’m doing something right.

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