Proving that nothing on the internet ever dies, I had two separate conversations recently in which the name Miss Snark came up. Remember her? She was (allegedly) a literary agent who wrote an acid, often tongue-in-cheek blog where she discussed the publishing industry and dispensed advice to aspiring writers.
Miss Snark shuttered her blog nearly a year ago, her true identity still a secret. What's funny is that the two people I spoke to -- both informed, savvy folks -- each had the opposite story on the Snarky one. One said she was a rep at a small agency, while the other swore she wasn't an agent at all and the whole thing was a gag.
That got me curious. (As did the rumor that it was really two gay male agents at William Morris.) So, if anyone out there knows the truth, please spill. (You can email me if you don't want to leave a comment.) Or perhaps Miss Snark would like to out herself?
Update: Two correspondents have confirmed the identity of Miss Snark. I am not going to reveal that information because apparently she still wishes to remain anonymous and no point would be served by doing so. I can confirm, however, that she is a legitimate agent. So for all you aspiring writers out there, her advice is definitely worth paying attention to.
Can't offer any information, but she sounded legit to me. There have been a few cases where agents have called BS on someone masquerading online, because their advice was so far off the mark. Never heard that about MS.
Besides, why would someone go to all that trouble to masquerade as an agent? George Clooney, I could understand. But an agent? Might as well try to pass yourself off as an editor. Or worse, a reviewer.
Posted by: Bill Peschel | February 17, 2008 at 05:28 PM
I know who Miss Snark is, but I'm certainly not telling. That's her choice to make.
Posted by: Sandra Ruttan | February 17, 2008 at 06:07 PM
I am. You caught me, David.
Posted by: Cameron Hughes | February 17, 2008 at 06:12 PM
I don't believe either one of you.
Posted by: BT Walsh | February 17, 2008 at 07:01 PM
In view of Sandra's comment, it's pointless to theorize, but I thought she knew the business, though perhaps only from the chicklit perspective.
What made me dubious was the enormous amount of time she had on her hands to read and critique regularly hundreds of sample queries submitted by her readers.
Posted by: I.J.Parker | February 18, 2008 at 09:38 AM
Be careful what you're publicly confirming.
You don't want to be a blogger who makes grand statements and predictions, then gets proven wrong, and never admits they blew it.
Oh, wait, that's the other blogger.
Posted by: Guyot | February 18, 2008 at 11:44 AM
I know... And I hesitated to say anything for just that reason. I didn't want to play coy or taunt "I know something you don't know."
But I decided it was worth confirming that she is a real agent so that people can take her advice accordingly.
Posted by: David J. Montgomery | February 18, 2008 at 12:05 PM
My mind was blown by twin-induced sleep-deprivation during a large chunk of her reign, so I caught her in reruns.
I think she's great. I'd imagine if she wrote a writing how-to, it would stay on people's lists when they trade writing how-to recommendations instead of writing.
Posted by: Keith | February 18, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Whew! I'm so glad you cleared this up, David. Now people will believe me when I say I'm really NOT Ms. Snark.
I mean, hell - if I were - I'd know a lot more about this biz and would have been on the NYT list by now, right? :)
Posted by: Elaine Flinn | February 18, 2008 at 05:36 PM
Miss Snark was great and I asked her to write that how to book. She should have. Any she was a real agent. I know quite a few people who know her. And no, she was not two male agents at WM.
Posted by: M.J | February 18, 2008 at 08:52 PM
Miss snark was a true internet icon, I still remember some entries of her nasty blog.
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