"SlushPile Hell" is a new blog that's been receiving a number of mentions around the Internet lately. Subtitled "a grumpy literary agent wades through query fails," the blog presents a daily snippet of a query--complete with the grumpy agent's acerbic online riposte. Good for a daily laugh (and warning!).
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone, and for all of the American practicing writers out there, Happy July 4th!
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7 comments:
Oh my, that site is funny. I'm now a subscriber.
Thanks, Erika---It looks like a fun one. Have a safe weekend!
Thank you both for the comments!
Grumpy, acerbic and bitter. I think I'll skip it, since I do a pretty good job of discouraging myself as it is.
Hi Erika,
I'm not a regular reader of your blog, but I do get your newsletter, and enjoy passing it on to new writer friends. I checked out this new blog, and like the anonymous above, found it mean in spirit. I enjoy that your blog is a place of practical support and encouragement for new, fledgling writers, and my hope is that it remains that way.
My sense is that writers, like all human beings, respond well to constructive feedback/criticism. I can't imagine anything good (at least in the human sense) coming out of a blog that is gets its "laughs" from embarrassing others. (anonymously or not.)
And before someone reading this assumes anything about me, I am a well-published writer (I realize it's sad that I even have to state this as some way of justifying my opinion, but I worry that my comments will be dismissed without further thought). My hope is that as fellow writers, all struggling comrades on the path, we can have a good laugh that does not involve the public humiliation of others. Just my thoughts. Thanks for indulging me.
To the two anonymous posters: I'm sorry if you're offended. Perhaps this week's Friday Finds will suit you better!
I am going to post my opinion and guess what? I will do so and not be "anonymous."
My opinion is that the blog, SlushPile Hell, is unethical. And it serves to diminish the professional integrity of the blogger, who appears to be an actual literary agent. (S/he did not identify himself as a comedian or state the blog was a fictional parody for the purpose of humor).
And... it is not even funny. I know "funny." I am a stand-up comic (and a retired teacher). It is sarcastic and crosses a line. It's the work of an angry wannabe.
What's next? Teachers anonymously creating blogs and laughing at the compositions of students? Is that OK? What about college administrators? Is it acceptable for them to create blogs and make fun of the autobiographies in the applications? What about hairdressers? Should they create anonymous blogs and snicker about the appearances of their clients? That would be funny stuff, huh?
How do you think those query senders would feel if they saw parts of their queries ridiculed? You do not think they would be hurt and humiliated?
I am working on a longer piece about this issue. It will be posted at "marjorie-digest."
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