Last night a drunk person learned that I have a book manuscript more or less finished, and she took it upon herself to remind me that I’m “nobody” and have no “angle” by which to sell the book to a publisher.
I didn’t need that reminder.
Writing is an uphill battle. It’s hard to get anywhere, when you do it. If someone tells you otherwise, and says he’s had an easy time of being successful, he’s probably not that successful, and he’s probably an arrogant prick and he’s trying to make you feel bad, and I’ve probably met him at a conference and been made to feel bad by him myself.
Indeed, it’s very hard to “make it” as a writer, but I’m aware of that and I don’t need strange drunk people to tell me about the odds against me at bars. If I wanted someone to tell me the odds, I’d build my own C-3PO.
I told some other people, after the naysayer left, that I wrote the Declaration of Independence, and then I felt better. But I regretted not adding something to it about the abolition of slavery.
Bobby,
Hang in there!
Few writers make it without having some publishers reject their works.
John Grisham could not get anyone to publish his first novel and he had it printed himself. He had copies in his car and would sign and give them away. Those books are now worth lots of money.
BS
I believe you will get published. I’ve seen your writing on your blog on a regular basis. It’s good. Really good. That is your angle. You’ve actually got talent and that is rare. I think there is such a difference between a good read, or “beach read,” and great writing. If I ever make it as a writer, I would hope I would be considered a great writer. Simple people, especially while intoxicated, can’t understand such complex things. Don’t listen to their mindless babble; it’s insulting to your current and future fans.
My dearly beloved husband is a professional writer who very much would like to get his fiction published. The sad fact is that most writing is in the non-fiction market. I will say, however, having had a job reading slush piles for a bit that most people who send in stuff to slush piles really can’t write worth a damn. Their basic skills, like grammar and language mechanics are sadly lacking such that you can’t tell whether or not their story is any good. You’ve a leg up on them already. Plus, keep the blog – you could always sell it, like Belle du Jour
Frankly I think you can replace the verb “writing” in your sentence [Writing is an uphill battle. It’s hard to get anywhere, when you do it.] with just about any honest profession, if not with life itself.
It is likely though that living on writing suffers from a generalized disaffection, be it because of the wealth of possible choices, or because of the lack of free time in our life.
my best wishes
A.