Sydney Wisdom of the Day: A Drop in the Water Bowl

Sydney:

Dear client,


Yes, you is right.  Sydney has made some little mistake in handling your money!  Maybe she forgot to send your share that royalty check, or those monies from that foreign-rights sale, or that low-dollar Hollywood option.  And maybe while she was at it, maybe she forgot to send along royalty statement or other paperwork that would give you some idea you was even owed money.  Thing is, some money that maybe should have gone to you didn't.


You caught me!  Mys bad!  Hey!  Mistakes are made!  


But it was not a big mistake.  Just a little check!  Maybe a hundred bucks.  Maybe a little more.  Maybe a little less.  Certainly not enough to worry your pretty little head over!  Just a drop!  Just a drop!


But you is just one client.  Sydney has many clients.  Hundreds clients!  A drop here.  A drop there.  It adds up!


Hmmm.  Sydney's water bowl is suddenly overflowing!  How did this happen?


Is good to be me!


PURRRRRRRRRR!  

Bad Agent Sydney wants to hear from YOU! Please leave your queries, questions, or comments! Perhaps Sydney's response will inspire a future post! While Bad Agent Sydney is not taking on new clients at this time, she is well aware that ALL WRITERS NEED CAT SUPERVISION!  Little known fact that this instinctive talent that ALL cats have!  Writers (and everyone want to be writer!), do to local shelter and ADOPT HOMELESS KITTY TODAY!  Use this LINK to find shelter near you!  GO!  AGENT SYDNEY SAYS!

If you found this post useful or fun, please be aware that Sydney has NEEDS! Toys. Catnip. TUNA! Support Sydney (and her people) by digging deep and sending a "thank-you" donantion her way. PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! (You cannot resist my hypnotic "pay up!" purr! PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Sydney Wisdom of the Day - I like to Mingle

Sydney:


Yesterday, person says to me, "Sydney, do you co-mingle your personal, business, and client funds?  I've heard this can lead to trouble."


You want to know what causes trouble?  CLIENTS!  Also people who ask snoopy questions!  (Snoopy as in intrusive, not Snoopy as in CARTOON DOG!)


But Sydney will answer anyway.  Sydney has no secrets.  None she will tell you about anyway.


Sydney does not co-mingle funds.  Sydney puts all funds in blender and hits LIQUEFY button!  All funds completely mixed into unidentifiable mess!


What?  You says you has payment coming?  Well sure, just look in here and point at it!  What?  Why you look so confused?  While you figure it out, Sydney will pour a big glass of assets for herself!  Oh!  You are too slow!  Blender empty now!


Doing this makes it much easier for Sydney to answer all financial questions and/or charges with her stock answer: "Huh?"


Is good to be me!


PURRRR! 

Bad Agent Sydney wants to hear from YOU! Please leave your queries, questions, or comments! Perhaps Sydney's response will inspire a future post! While Bad Agent Sydney is not taking on new clients at this time, she is well aware that ALL WRITERS NEED CAT SUPERVISION!  Little known fact that this instinctive talent that ALL cats have!  Writers (and everyone want to be writer!), do to local shelter and ADOPT HOMELESS KITTY TODAY!  Use this LINK to find shelter near you!  GO!  AGENT SYDNEY SAYS! If you found this post useful or fun, please be aware that Sydney has NEEDS! Toys. Catnip. TUNA! Support Sydney (and her people) by digging deep and sending a "thank-you" donantion her way. PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! (You cannot resist my hypnotic "pay up!" purr! PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Bad Agent Poetry

Sydney:


"Oh angry client on voice mail,
UR a kink in Sydney's tail,
O how I wish U'd go away,
I will NOT take your call today!"

Bad Agent Sydney wants to hear from YOU! Please leave your queries, questions, or comments! Perhaps Sydney's response will inspire a future post! While Bad Agent Sydney is not taking on new clients at this time, she is well aware that ALL WRITERS NEED CAT SUPERVISION!  Little known fact that this instinctive talent that ALL cats have!  Writers (and everyone want to be writer!), do to local shelter and ADOPT HOMELESS KITTY TODAY!  Use this LINK to find shelter near you!  GO!  AGENT SYDNEY SAYS! If you found this post useful or fun, please be aware that Sydney has NEEDS! Toys. Catnip. TUNA! Support Sydney (and her people) by digging deep and sending a "thank-you" donantion her way. PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! (You cannot resist my hypnotic "pay up!" purr! PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Sydney Wisdom of the Day: Theory of Relativity

Sydney:

Silly writers think that value of their manuscript (and by extension, themselves) is absolute.  It maybe be good, or it may be bad, or may be somewhere in-between, but whatever it is, it is, today, tomorrow, and the next.

Pssh!  Is all a bunch of cat-sand!  Value of manuscript can only be determined in the context of the here-and-now in Sydney's world!  

Now, you might might think this has to do with publishing market.  Vampire books is hot one day, maybe glut the next.  Good theory!  But this would mean that Sydney is keeping tabs on publishing market, and that is too much work.  No fun either, so she does not do.

No, it means that importance of every manuscript goes up and down relative to Sydney's workload.  If Sydney has Big Deal going that requires all her attention, every other manuscript in her office looks just a little bit more like crap.  

If Sydney has a big back-log of slush (and when does she not?), all looks like crap.  

If Sydney has too-many clients clamoring for her attention and approval (and since Sydney loves money, Sydney always has more clients than she can shake a catnip-mouse at) then everything in office start to get a certain stink about it.

What is funny is, people put so much value in Sydney's approval, when all this is TOTALLY BEYOND THE WRITER'S CONTROL!  All control is Sydney's in how many clients she takes on, how eagerly she seeks new clients, how she manages her time, and of course, how many naps she takes!  ALL POWER IS SYDNEY'S!

This is just one more more way that writers willingly hand over power over their lives and careers to Bad Agent Sydney, and not even know!

Is good to be me!

PURRRRRRRRRRR!

Bad Agent Sydney wants to hear from YOU! Please leave your queries, questions, or comments! Perhaps Sydney's response will inspire a future post! While Bad Agent Sydney is not taking on new clients at this time, she is well aware that ALL WRITERS NEED CAT SUPERVISION!  Little known fact that this instinctive talent that ALL cats have!  Writers (and everyone want to be writer!), do to local shelter and ADOPT HOMELESS KITTY TODAY!  Use this LINK to find shelter near you!  GO!  AGENT SYDNEY SAYS! If you found this post useful or fun, please be aware that Sydney has NEEDS! Toys. Catnip. TUNA! Support Sydney (and her people) by digging deep and sending a "thank-you" donantion her way. PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! (You cannot resist my hypnotic "pay up!" purr! PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Literary Agent Cocktail

Sydney:

Somebody has come up with recipe for a "Literary Agent Cocktail."  Seems like a real agent in that it is bitter, difficult, and over-complicated.  On the other hand, Sydney thinks that any drink can be improved by the addition of tuna juice.  In fact, any drink that has anything OTHER than tuna juice or fresh water is bad, and not in a good way, so that whole idea is out.


Just the same, maybe you will want to give it a try.  Here's the post on MediaBistro.com, with a link to the actual recipe.  Enjoy. LITERARY AGENT COCKTAIL.

 Bad Agent Sydney wants to hear from YOU! Please leave your queries, questions, or comments! Perhaps Sydney's response will inspire a future post! While Bad Agent Sydney is not taking on new clients at this time, she is well aware that ALL WRITERS NEED CAT SUPERVISION!  Little known fact that this instinctive talent that ALL cats have!  Writers (and everyone want to be writer!), do to local shelter and ADOPT HOMELESS KITTY TODAY!  Use this LINK to find shelter near you!  GO!  AGENT SYDNEY SAYS! If you found this post useful or fun, please be aware that Sydney has NEEDS! Toys. Catnip. TUNA! Support Sydney (and her people) by digging deep and sending a "thank-you" donantion her way. PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! (You cannot resist my hypnotic "pay up!" purr! PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Writer-cat photo contest winner, Sumo (and his writer person, Kay Kenyon)

Sydney:

Has been a while since Sydney posted writer-cat photo winner.  Too sad.  But life goes on, and is time for Sydney to get back on the horse.  (Okay, in Sydney's case, is more like "get back on the pillow.")  So Sydney goes looking through her files of entries and finds good one!


This is Sumo, cat-supervisor of writer Kay Kenyon.  Read about Kenyon-person at www.KayKenyon.com.  

But is Sumo's picture that wins Sydney over.  Look at this sweet face!  Reminds Sydney of her enforcer, Mr. Oz, if Mr. Oz were not a cruel and merciless agent of pain and chaos.


Also has blue eyes!  Look!  Pretty!


PRIZE TIME!  Treat for Sydney!  Hey, Kenyon, go gives Sumo treat!  You know that one he likes!  While you doing, we looks at your note!


Not only is Sumo good-looking cat, Kenyon-person says he is wise too!  Here is her letter: 

My overlord is Sumo. We met at the pound one summer day in 2001, and it's been undying devotion (on my part) ever since. He's taught me much about writing and napping. Here are some of his unforgettable principles:

Be inscrutable. Never tell what you're working on. You know, people just aren't that into you. Make 'em wait. Kill mice. Those little pattering feet of negative thoughts? Pounce and kill.  Race around the yard. Sitting at the keyboard will ruin your back and give you carpal tunnel or whatever. Stay in shape, people. Be arrogant. Never let 'em see you sweat. The business is tough enough without being pegged as a whiner. Sharpen your nails. Study your craft. Read how-to books, go to conferences. Stop whining.

Isn't he darling?

Hecks, yeah he is!  Big kitty-congrats to winner Sumo!  ALL WRITERS NEED CAT SUPERVISION!  See link at bottom of message to find shelter near you where CAT SUPERVISION IS WAITING!  GO!

PURRRRR!


(Hey, Sydney always welcomes new writer-cat photo entries!  Send picture (try to limit to one or two per entry) with text about stuff like how your cat came to supervise you, why they is so special, or how they supervise your writing!  Email here.  Be patient!  Sydney keeps file of entries, and picks her favorite each time!)

 Bad Agent Sydney wants to hear from YOU! Please leave your queries, questions, or comments! Perhaps Sydney's response will inspire a future post! While Bad Agent Sydney is not taking on new clients at this time, she is well aware that ALL WRITERS NEED CAT SUPERVISION!  Little known fact that this instinctive talent that ALL cats have!  Writers (and everyone want to be writer!), do to local shelter and ADOPT HOMELESS KITTY TODAY!  Use this LINK to find shelter near you!  GO!  AGENT SYDNEY SAYS! If you found this post useful or fun, please be aware that Sydney has NEEDS! Toys. Catnip. TUNA! Support Sydney (and her people) by digging deep and sending a "thank-you" donantion her way. PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! (You cannot resist my hypnotic "pay up!" purr! PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Sydney Wisdom of the Day: Client Reflux

Sydney:

A while back this writer, we'll call him "Chump," sent Sydney a manuscript, asking for representation.  Sydney sees how she could put special Sydney "touch" on it, but she had just thrown up on another writer's book, and didn't have it in her that day.  So she passed.


Now is six months later.  Chump writer is back!  So is Chump writer's book, looking just like last time Sydney saw it!  Only one thing different: writer submitted book themselves and have a 3-book offer from major publisher!  Now Chump wants Sydney to take them on as client and negotiate the deal!


Sydney's reaction is obvious: HECKS NO!!!!!


"But," you says, "Sydney, this is free money!  Almost no work, and you hate work!"


This is true, but there is one thing more important than money to Sydney...  Okay, tuna. TWO things more important than money to Sydney, and the second one is SYDNEY'S EGO!  How can stupid writer think they could sell manuscript without Sydney's "improvements?"  Then, to adds insults to injuries, Chump GOES AHEAD AND DOES IT!


Stupid publisher buys book that agent didn't "fix?"  This is crazy-talk, and Sydney is angry at them too.  No sending ANY clients manuscripts to them for long time!  (Not that Sydney ever sends up much of anything anyway...)


But still, Sydney thinks: FREE MONEY.  FREE MONEY THAT CAN BE USED TO BUY TUNA.  But what about Sydney's ego?


So Sydney has plan.  Agrees she will represent deal, but ONLY if SHE is allowed to revise books first.  (Ate some funny-colored cat-kibble from bottom of old bag this morning, and am ready to RUMBLE!)  Is perfect plan!  Goes down like this!


Publisher likes revised book better, or at least doesn't hate it so much to kill deal.  Sydney's wonderfulness vindicated!


-or (more likely) -


Publisher rejects revised book, Sydney drops them as client, Chump's reputation ruined, Chump punished, publisher punished!  Sydney rules as master-manipulator of publishing!  Yay, Sydney!  (Sure, loses free money, but is no worse off than doing nothing.)


You may think that Chump will never go for it, but you never know.  They was silly enough to come back to Sydney in the first place!


It is good to me me!


PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

 Bad Agent Sydney wants to hear from YOU! Please leave your queries, questions, or comments! Perhaps Sydney's response will inspire a future post! While Bad Agent Sydney is not taking on new clients at this time, she is well aware that ALL WRITERS NEED CAT SUPERVISION!  Little known fact that this instinctive talent that ALL cats have!  Writers (and everyone want to be writer!), do to local shelter and ADOPT HOMELESS KITTY TODAY!  Use this LINK to find shelter near you!  GO!  AGENT SYDNEY SAYS! If you found this post useful or fun, please be aware that Sydney has NEEDS! Toys. Catnip. TUNA! Support Sydney (and her people) by digging deep and sending a "thank-you" donantion her way. PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! (You cannot resist my hypnotic "pay up!" purr! PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!