Writing Lessons #1
Some things I learned this week:
1. Literary agents (good ones) are very busy people with high entry standards
2. Lots of people are writing books
3. Getting published is the exception not the norm
4. 35000 words is still much too short for a mainstream novel
5. The internet has too much inconsistent advice
6. I am very impatient where my dreams are concerned
7. Sustaining self belief is tough
8. Edith Wharton is a fabulous author
So despite initial enthusiasm and confidence, I’m bracing myself for 3 imminent rejections (assuming I even get a response) and wondering whether Last Days needs a rethink or perhaps something else.
You’ve made me think I should not even try. I do wish you well, though. I have dreams of a novel but I believe I should just stick to poems. After all, I am running out of years!
Since when is anything worth having easy? Running out of years or not, you’re never two old to tackle your dreams – it may be harder, but then we oldies are more focused – the ticking of seconds tends to do that.
How long are mainstream novels?
There have been many very successful shorter books, published in alternative formats. Stories told in a “letters from and to” the characters format. And many shorter “novellas” have been published. Steve Martin’s “Shopgirl” jumps to mind, but I suppose one might argue he got published because he’s Steve Martin, not because his book was fantastic.
I love the format of your book for the internet, though. It’s great as a “page-a-day” diary. I wonder if Amazon’s Kindle customers might enjoy it, especially if sold with a gimmick like only releasing a page a day to be read?
I hope you are able to find someone to publish it somewhere. I know so many folks would love it.
Thanks LegalMist. I will give it a good go at this length before considering changing it. I like the Kindle idea. I’ll check it out. Mainstream novels seem to begin at 50-60000 words from what I’ve read.
Ahh yes, it’s true that there are some serious hoops and obstacles to go through in order to reach your dreams. There are lots of people with great talent, who after giving it a go (or not) will decide that the end goal may not be worth it. I’m not trying to dissuade you at all – it’s just that sometimes it’s the end goal that is unclear to a person – we all assume it is one thing (get published) when it may not be. All I’m saying is be happy with what you spend your time doing every day and if getting published is one of those things, then by all means, keep at it! Good luck MV!
Thanks Daisy. I also find that goals change as you achieve them. One is never satisfied with one’s lot unfortunately. I think being published is about independent verification that you are something as a writer. The dream beyond that is to give up the boring old day job and sit in Starbucks with a laptop between 9-5pm!
You already have independent verification that you are something as a writer from all the folks who have read Last Days and told others about it. Do you really need further verification, and at what level will it mean you’ve gotten there? You get published, and you sell a few thousand? You sell tens of thousands? When will you have arrived?
I love your latest post which says it all for me:
“I don’t really have an idea where this is going, but that is part of the fun of writing a fictional blog: it, like life, is unpredictable.”
You’re having fun with it – I think that’s what really matters because I think you have ‘arrived’ when you are simply doing what you love to do.
Although sitting at Starbucks with a laptop may sound fun, I can almost guarantee you some writers (who’s job is to sit in starbucks and writes) likely have days/weeks/months where they dread it as they live through a very real writer’s block. Sigh. Enuff said.
Daisy
To be honest I’ve not really thought too much about why I write or want to get published and you’ve given me much food for thought, Daisy.
As for Last Days, the website gets 10 hits a day if I’m lucky… not exactly fame, is it?