Publishing Pulse for October 11, 2013

New At QueryTracker:

This week we've added two agents to our database and updated eight agent profiles. Because things change so quickly in this industry, please make sure you double-check every agent's website or Publisher's Marketplace page before sending your query.

If you're a QueryTracker premium member, then you can be notified whenever an agent or publisher profile is added or updated. If you're not a premium member, you can just check for yourself.

Publishing News:

Alice Munro has received the Nobel Prize for literature.

GoodReads has apologized to members whose reviews it deleted under their new policy and will be sending back the content of those deleted reviews to the reviewers (although they cannot be re-posted.) 

Around the Blogosphere:

via The Passive Voice, how no-inventory publishing changes everything for everybody.

How characters exert control.

If you've ever found yourself unable to sleep, consumed by curiosity as to what is the worst fairy tale ever, Elizabeth Scalia has the answer. Fortunately it's part of the Common Core curriculum, so our children won't be tormented by the same question. The post is worth reading just for the "newly suspicious palms."

Agents give an overview of new trends in YA. (Hint: avoid even a whiff of dystopia.)

The length of your book should fit the subject matter, audience, and genre.

NPR talks about first novels and the literary agents who fall in love with them.

Literary agents Jennifer Udden (of Donald Maass Literary Agency)  and Bridget Smith (Dunham Literary) have posted the first episode of their new podcast, Shipping And Handling. Look for it soon in iTunes, too!

Literary Quote of the Week:

 I want the reader to feel something is astonishing. Not the 'what happens,' but the way everything happens. -Alice Munro

Thanks for stopping by, and keep sending those queries!

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Jane Lebak is the author of The Wrong Enemy. She has four kids, three cats, two books in print, and one husband. She lives in the Swamp and spends her time either writing books or swatting mosquitos. At Seven Angels, Four Kids, One Family, she blogs about what happens when a distracted daydreamer and a gamer geek attempt to raise four kids. If you want to make her rich and famous, please contact the riveting Roseanne Wells of the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency.