Publishing Whisper Networks & How They Work

[@AlexaDonne]

Worth noting that I kind of left out: It's not so much one big whisper network, but the umbrella of a whisper network that covers a TON of smaller, private whisper networks. You get pulled into friend groups, some of which function as whisper networks. Many of the groups don't intersect, though information often travels between groups. Also apologies for a few choppy moments in the back half. I filmed with agent names but removed them in editing for my protection. The only former agent I'm able to name is Danielle Smith because all allegations were proven and she was run out of the industry.

[@mineamoran]

Had to stop the video just to comment: Alexa your eyeshadow is so

[@PhoenixCrown]

Umm that's immediately what I thought 5 seconds into the video. Love it!

[@emilyestelle7471]

@@PhoenixCrown I thought this too, then thought: Why am I so easily distracted???

[@asdfgh161001]

This is such an interesting topic! Whisper networks I'm pretty sure exist in every industry/community, I've seen it myself with one of my hobbies, where being in the know is essential to avoid drama and succeed

[@dinaatjuh]

yeah, this one is def not only about publishing but about human behaviour

[@z0mbienurse]

Non publishing question: What eyeshadow are you wearing? It's amazing

[@AlexaDonne]

It's Tina Yong's palette from BH Cosmetics!

[@annejia5382]

@@AlexaDonne woooooah tina yong 😏💓

[@katerinalongoria9750]

Alexa, I have a question. I recently heard an editor in an interview saying that sometimes they don't pick up books not because of the writing but because it is represented by a difficult to deal with agent. This brings a new concern to mind for me. It's a dream of mine to find representation one day. If that offer ever comes, I'm not likely to say no. How do you know if an agent has a bad rep with editors? I'm not on that side of the business how would I ever find that out? I know it's unlikely but it's scary to think you could do so much work only to be rejected not because of your quality but because of the agent representing you.

[@watergirl403]

Moral of the story: think before you tweet

[@katerinalongoria9750]

wow this was extremely eye opening and as someone who is hoping to start querying later this yr it is a little scary. I guess you kind of have to be in the network to get in the network... But wow. Just hoping that somehow along my journey that I can find a few trusted individuals who are willing to share important info like this so i can also protect myself and my work. thanks so much for sharing!!!

[@myrtavida]

Love this channel: infinitely grateful for the smart, fun, and practical advice... But can I also say that your eyeshadow game in this vid is freakin’ fierce!

[@esthermarieandujar]

Super interesting! Whisper Networks are in ever industry and it is almost a necessity. Thank you for always talking about the signs and what to look to avoid getting trapped.

[@raelynteaguewrites]

I knew exactly which publishers you were talking about. This is my first year querying (what a bizarre year to dip my feet in), and so all this coming to light has been a bit terrifying.

[@jojosworld8957]

Appreciate this video. It's a good way to start arming yourself with information. Your videos are where I've gotten so much knowledge and inspiration. Thank you, Alexa.

[@dinaatjuh]

Whoo the timing of this one is.. particular.. looking at the famous makeup youtubers.. you know who.........

[@ameenoahmad]

My God, the eye shadow is wonderful

[@ambertucker6792]

YOUR EYESHADOW!!! Gorgeous!

[@booksvsmovies]

I think one concern I have about publicly sharing industry information is that the general public doesn't understand how the industry functions. While I'm glad that these conversations were had with the #publishingpaidme discourse, I saw scores of people who just didn't understand how advances worked or even what they were and perpetuated misinformation to others that didn't further the discussion in a productive way.

[@AlexaDonne]

Yeah, same. A TON of people willfully misunderstood PublishingPaidMe and it was hella annoying. Really anytime someone with a tiny indie press was being pithy about a 10K advance from a Big 5 it's like, massive eyeroll. You cannot compare apples to oranges and assume any correlation. Data has to be evaluated within contexts. (It's why I don't think fully anon data works b/c you HAVE to know who the agent was, the editor, timing for sale, genre, etc.)

[@allir.8876]

Whisper networks also exist because people don’t want to give up their proximity to power. People are scared of the power publishing holds over them. That’s an abusive dynamic. This is part of the system that needs to change. We need to plan out what action steps we can take as querying writers and working authors to change our dynamic with publishing so whisper networks are less and less relied upon.

[@hollymarkel3951]

Thank you for your continued sharing of insights with the rest of the writing community. I know you have mentioned several times that you wouldn't name names in a disparaging light and I deeply appreciate and respect that. For those of us who haven't yet latched on to an agent, would you be willing to recommend a few of the better ones?

[@pavlisickaja2495]

Well I don't plan on publishing books but this was still very interesting!

[@Sarah-bf3el]

Hey Alexa, I’ve been following you for awhile and I LOVE your videos! I’ve found them very helpful in my own writing journey. I was wondering if you know anything about Webnovel/TenCent Literature? Btw, I agree with the other comments- your eyeshadow/makeup in this is GORGEOUS 😍

[@KatieMaddalena]

So many things to be careful about. How did you navigate all this when you started? Like before you got your own agent?

[@AScreenwritersJourney]

You have a degree in Journalism?! That's great! Totally off topic to your post: Do novelists write out numbers from 1-100? I'm editing my friend's novel before she sends it off to publishers/agents, and I have a background in journalism, too. We were taught that one through nine were written out, but I've seen it mentioned that in novels, 1-100 should be spelled out. Please confirm. Thanks so much!

[@AlexaDonne]

Depends on the publisher, but mine uses Chicago Style. But it's also not a huge thing to have it be "wrong"--copy edits will fix it!

[@cathyl3526]

Well, that was a wild ride.

[@DanicaChristin]

Thanks for making this super important video!!

[@nownzengifts3802]

Love your videos! Can you do a video about where/how to create your book covers? Thx

[@missmermade9331]

In traditional publishing you don't create your book covers yourself. It's up to your publisher. If you are interested in self-publishing, where you do everything yourself, though, maybe check out Jenna Moreci's channel. She self-published three of her books to date and talks about such things :)

[@ElliotfromOrlando]

Interestingly the redacted agent appears to have scrubbed himself from a lot of places. The archived Query Tracker screenshots detailing what he did appear to have disappeared, at least from my Google searching. Not surprising considering who his father is...

[@AlexaDonne]

YEP. I am at least heartened that by Googling "agent resigns from AAR" it comes up right at the top of Google, and I can hardly get in trouble for suggesting such search terms!

[@wattpadusergeek342]

Alexa Donne Haha! Love it 😝

[@jenniferrhaelaird_author]

Great video! 🦋

[@WillHollandstorytime]

This seems to be happening to the comic book industry too.

[@johnkobbie3835]

Love your channel

[@wattpadusergeek342]

All I want to do is tell stories. Why does human nature make people default to making everything such a struggle? Jeez. And it’s not just in publishing either. I’m a farmer and the same thing happens with malicious food brokers, which sucks double time when food is going unsold and spoiling in fields due to the Corona closures ☹️😢

[@ameenoahmad]

Thank you so much

[@archrival2059]

I don't think this was the same Whisper Network people are currently talking about.

[@theunwantedbookclub8823]

Whistleblowers take a huge risk revealing things like that, even under anonymity.

[@johnkobbie3835]

Alexa you are going to make me buy all your books.. Please don't just blow me a Kiss....

[@BionAvastar3000]

It REALLY is about who you know, huh?

[@johnkobbie3835]

I want you to whisper sweet nothings in my ear..

[@hunterhatfield7157]

The great limitation to PublishingPaidMe was sampling. Statistical sampling isn't something people want to worry about when they're getting some information they've never seen, but 100 tweets or even 300 may not be a good sample of what's actually happening out there, not just because of data size, but because the sorts of authors who participated is skewed, and the ones we hear about and remember are the abnormal ones that shock us. The tag probably did show that authors of colour have been treated as a niche genre based upon their ethnicity. I hope that changes. However, there is a reason that no research paper uses "what people happened to tweet about" as a research method. (My last sentence is overstated, but close enough. The sampling has to be carefully considered when it is.)

[@nhmooytis7058]

No offense but why do you wave your hands around? It’s distracting and after awhile irritating. Doesn’t seem spontaneous, who told you this enhances your message? I just listen now because watching you detracts from what you’re saying.

[@rfr2703]

It certainly enhances the message for me ... i love the visual cues and people who talk with their hands. Different strokes for different people huh.