We are quite possibly the only writer in the greater Los Angeles area without the screenwriting gene (we were tested, and it’s definitely missing). But does that reduce temptation when something like Bravo’s Situation: Comedy comes up? Of course not. We can experience twisting jealousy and seething envy as well as the next person. Probably […]
Articles from August 2004
Yes, You — The Funny One
August 19th, 2004 · 2 Comments
File Under: Square Pegs
Agent Quickie
August 18th, 2004 · Comments Off on Agent Quickie
We know our readers are literary agent junkies. And, yes, we mean that in the very best way. Gawker as part of its continuing interview series has posted a 5×5 interview with (assistant) literary agent, Ginger Clark of Writer’s House. She wants query letters to be proofread before they’re mailed. Talk about demanding. The key […]
File Under: Agents
Bold Ideas, Bold Agency
August 18th, 2004 · 3 Comments
We have been thinking quite a bit about big literary agencies versus small. There is something to be said for an agent who makes the scene, literarily and otherwise. If you’re looking for that kind of excitement (and we must admit to a certain thrill), then Vigliano Associates may be your dream agency. MediaBistro gets […]
File Under: Agents
Self-Promotion Has Always Been An Olympian Hurdle
August 18th, 2004 · Comments Off on Self-Promotion Has Always Been An Olympian Hurdle
Since we’re inherently lazy, meaning we can’t be bothered to do any fact-checking, we are going to believe every word of Tony Perrottet’s essay on the Olympics and literature. He makes perfect sense to us. Especially because we can close our eyes and imagine a fiery, intense, sweaty poetry rumble. And we can imagine old […]
File Under: Square Pegs · Tools and Craft
Happy Ending for Books
August 18th, 2004 · Comments Off on Happy Ending for Books
A month or so ago, we mentioned that Half-Price Books had acquired a treasure warehouse full of rare books from Penguin. While we openly questioned Penguin’s business acumen at the time, we’re pleased that these rare books are being handled with care. If only our mother (yes, we’re still talking about the Ray Bradbury incident; […]
File Under: Publishers and Editors
In Which We Offer Our Unsolicited Opinion
August 17th, 2004 · 18 Comments
We believe the recent changes at Harlequin, both from a product and editorial perspective, will turn out to be very good for the company and its authors. The first step to solving a problem is admitting it exists — and the company has done that. The second step is changing the way everyone thinks. That […]
File Under: Publishers and Editors
The Scoop: AMB Literary Management
August 17th, 2004 · 4 Comments
Never let it be said that we don’t work hard for you. We get up early (relatively speaking), scan dozens of news items (give or take), and seek out the best information we can (time permitting; otherwise, we just punt). And we pay attention to what you want. Mostly. Since Amy Moore-Benson started her own […]
File Under: Agents
Norma Khouri Update
August 17th, 2004 · Comments Off on Norma Khouri Update
We have willfully ignored the the fact that Pamela Anderson “wrote” a book (though we applaud her for admitting the extent of her authorial input) in favor of the twists and turns of the Norma Khouri affair. In the beginning, we wanted to believe Khouri. Then things grew murky, and we had to admit perhaps […]
File Under: Square Pegs
Edgy, Innovative, Extraordinary
August 17th, 2004 · Comments Off on Edgy, Innovative, Extraordinary
Ah cliché — where would we be without it? No, seriously, where would we be? Sweating over posts because we can’t think of anything clever to say. It’s not that we lack imagination, it’s simply that sometimes there are no words. Thus we fall back on, yes, the tried and true. Any regular consumer of […]
File Under: Square Pegs
Where Is That 27-Hour Day When You Need It?
August 17th, 2004 · Comments Off on Where Is That 27-Hour Day When You Need It?
Just the other night, our friend Jim was complaining that he had fewer hours in a day than most people. We, being difficult and annoying, questioned him closely until our cross-examination revealed that Jim, indeed, has fewer hours in the day than most people. It’s simply a matter of defining hours as “time to spend […]
File Under: Square Pegs