What Books Help Us Grow As Writers?
October 18, 2010
There are many, many books that will help you learn and grow as a writer.
There are many non-fiction books about the craft and business of writing that will help you learn many aspects of this business. And there are many fiction books in several genres that will help you see the variety of styles and voices out there.
I could recommend all sorts of these types of books but I’m not going to recommend the usual list of suspects (see my good reads for several titles that may be of interest to you).
Instead I’m going to talk about an autobiography I read recently. It’s called My Life in France by Julia Child.
In her book Julia Child talks about the creation and publication of her first book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
As with most writers she had rejections and setbacks for a variety of reasons which you should read for yourself. As a writer these stories are enlightening.
The most important part of her story is her attitude, dedication and determination that led to her success. Here’s someone who came to France with no cooking skills, who attended a renowned cooking school where women were not accepted, and who ended up selling a cookbook that still influences North American chefs today. I’d suggest without Julia Child the Food Network would not exist. She taught generations of home cooks how to cook.
Now why is this important to us fiction writers?
Julia Child had a quality you will not find in craft books about writing that made her success assured. She had an inner passion, drive and an incredible work ethic that we all need to emulate. She also had integrity at a level sadly lacking in much of the entertainment business today.
Money was not her sole motivation. She loved food and wanted to show her fellow Americans (and by extension us Canadians) that making good food from scratch was healthier and easier than they ever thought.
I feel that as writers we can learn so much from people like Julia Child and encourage you to read this book and other autobiography’s of successful people.
There’s much to learn from others who are more successful than yourself.
Am I an employee of a literary agent?
October 6, 2010
Anyone who knows me knows my professional training has been mentored by Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Katherine Rusch. Dean has done a series of posts on his blog about literary agents and the myths surrounding publishing. Professional writer Laura Resnick has contributed a great deal to these blogs with her comments. As a precursor to reading my comments I encourage you to follow the link to Dean’s site and read some if not all of the articles and ask questions if you don’t understand something.
The amount of education about the publishing business in these blogs is the equivalent of a masters class and all for free.
Now, my view.
Agents are a segment of the publishing industry that does not need to exist. If you chart the flow of writer/story to publisher to reader the agent is not needed in this at all and they are very likely on the decline for many reasons, not the least of which is the explosion of the internet.
Now, what does this mean for writers? This means writers will have to take control of their business. This sounds strange when you consider every selling author is a small business. The problem stems from writers going into this business not understanding where art ends and business begins. It also sounds strange when you consider agents are also a business that you hire to represent you. For some reason that I, who has owned a small business, can’t fathom some writers seem to think they work for agents.
Writers produce the product, writers are paid by publishers, agents take a commission for services rendered to writers so why would any writer think they work for someone they’re paying?
You can like people that work for you and most agents are good people who love stories. But as with anyone who works for you, you may have to fire them if they don’t do what you are paying them for.
There’s a lot more I could say but let’s start with the basics to determine who you work for: you pay agents and publishers pay you.
I’ll make more observations in future blogs. For now check out Dean’s blog and consider the ideas I’ve put forward for your consideration
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Check it out at Good Reads
October 2, 2010
Hungry for Your Love: An Anthology of Zombie Romance by Lori Perkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Fantastic book. A wonderful group of stories that take the zombie myth in a whole new direction.