Comments on: This Isn’t About Rita Hayworth

By: Luc Prévost

Luc Prévost — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 22:47:30 +0000

Just discovered your blog.
Got your RSS feed!

Talking about Madame Hayworth, I saw yesterday this amazing mashup/rewriting of a routine with Fred Astair.

But it might really be about the King…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ILbvtB_0pKk&t=15

By: Basilis

Basilis — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 12:01:01 +0000

Callie, please, keep adding questions!

By: Laura Stamps

Laura Stamps — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 23:44:38 +0000

This reminds me of my exagent. He thought he knew what women wanted in a cover for a romantic erotica novel. He rejected all the stock photos that later became some of my most popular covers. Why? Because he thought he knew what women wanted. How? He asked a few women friends who didn’t like or read romance or erotica. Are you laughing like yet? ~shakes my head~

The popularity of social media makes it so easy for authors to network with their target market and LISTEN to what these readers really want in a novel. When you know, give it to them. Yeah, it’s that easy.

Btw, I ended up using the Breach of Contract clause to end my relationship with that agent. Just too much blood loss in my career because he didn’t dig deep enough and do the research. Great post and much needed info no matter what business you’re in!

By: Tanja Crouch

Tanja Crouch — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 20:58:39 +0000

Thank you for a wonderful column. Having worked in the music or film business for over twenty years, I have been pitched a lot of projects that I often asked, “Why are/did you send this to me?”

When I was a publisher, I pitched Roy Orbison’s catalog, among others, for film placement and would often receive submissions from unknown writers wanting me to “purchase” their songs from them for possible placement–seriously!

Now that I work in post production, I have people call and send me songs to try and get into various projects–and I have nothing to do with music supervision. Some will still want to argue, “but you must know the person who does the music… can’t you pass my songs on to them?” Seriously?

I introduce a lot of friends to others I think they might want to work with–but a cold call from someone asking for a favor about something I have nothing to do with and then arguing about the fact is craziness.

I appreciate and enjoyed your article. I hope with my writing, I take care to make sure I know my audience.

By: Jerry Ellis

Jerry Ellis — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 20:22:36 +0000

Good reminders, Shawn! Trying to sell pearls and rubies to a coal company rarely pays off.

By: Kent Faver

Kent Faver — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:27:34 +0000

Well, that is good timing. I watched the last half of Shawshank for the 30th time a few nights ago. I then went on-line on Amazon to find the book, and couldn’t figure out why there was not much there! I then remembered it was from a short story and eventually found it thought I had no idea Rita was in the title.

The 237 info. is awesome, as is the post. Thanks!