Mediabistro’s daily media news feed this morning linked to a fascinating website from a company called Wanted Technologies that tracks supply versus demand for a number of occupations in various metropolitan areas. I’m a bit unclear on how accurate this might be for “writers and authors” since “technical writers” is a separate category—and hiring isn’t quite the same thing for book authors, at least, that it would be in most other professions. Nonetheless, if you’re looking to pick up and move to find work as a writer or author, your best bets are apparently the northeast, California (Bay Area or southern), Seattle (no surprise judging by our client list!), Chicago, Milwaukee, Atlanta, southern Florida, Texas, St. Louis and Kansas City.


And can any of our many clients in the Seattle area tell me why the demand for actors is so high there? Is it because the supply of actors is low because everyone in Seattle is a novelist?


-Lauren

Conrad v. Conrad

Okay, I'm a little late with this one but it cracked me up and I wanted to share.

-- Miriam

My new friend

Apparently, someone noticed the pile of queries by my window and wanted to offer me a hand -- or paw, as it were. How this little fella wound up on the window ledge on the ninth floor of a building, I'm not quite sure. He's visited me a few times now. What shall I name him?

-Michael

We're on Facebook!

For all of you Facebook fanatics, we've created a Facebook page for DGLM, which you can find here. We're cross-posting the blog, so if you live and breathe on Facebook, you don't need to leave to find out what we're thinking. We're still getting the hang of it, but do check it out. And if you have any suggestions, let us know!

Stumped again!

Hey, folks! We're again stumped by a cover in the New Yorker covers contest, and we're again too impatient to wait for the answer! (And by we, I mean me.) Can anyone tell us what #4 is? (And if you know all, go tell the New Yorker and maybe you'll win yourself a new book!)

-Lauren

UPDATE: The New Yorker has put me out of my misery! I'll link to rather than posting the answer, in case anyone wants to belatedly play along.

Books and buildings!

Is there a way in which my architectural history degree assists me in doing my job as a literary agent? Um…no. But two of my favorite things come together in this article about great library staircases in the United States. Off to figure out a good reason to stop by Caltech’s Astronomy library other than just to walk up and down the stairs…

-Jim

Thoughts on communication

It seems to me in these days of publishing’s troubled economy, that authors are suffering more than they should. I know editors are busier than ever as their numbers dwindle and they are asked to do more. But they seem to be forgetting one very important thing about our business. A publisher’s bottom line is directly affected by the quality of the material produced by their authors, and this work is dependent on the communication between editors and authors and the former’s valuable editorial feedback.

My clients often ask me -- after their book is sold and their contract signed -- when they will hear from their editors. Many don’t until they turn in their completed manuscript. I really think this is a shame as the lack of guidance can diminish the quality of the final book and ultimately the publisher’s bottom line.

My message is a very simple one here – editors need to make it their business to contact their authors immediately upon acquiring their books and be in touch throughout the writing process. These communications needn’t take a lot of time, but they will indicate interest and caring and I am certain they will also improve the quality of the final product.

- Jane