Purpleaster’s frustrations
(Purpleaster has been reading me for like a zillion years, I think. Right BJ?)
Some of what she said (much edited):
I often feel like as a reader, the commercial process of book publishing is sucking out the personality of the writer, and making the books into a common mold, that sucks the individuality out of the books (i.e. the ick-factor of the whole word “momoir” ugh.). I like the story of Dawn, not the story “Two moms: a mother comes to term with the meaning of open adoption” (or whatever gibberish your real story gets transformed into in the publishing world). .. They become stuffed into some niche. … But, as a reader, I fear that authenticity is being sucked out of books by the publishing process, and they’re slowly killing themselves off. …
I definitely think the publishing world is changing because of the internet and I think it’ll be interesting to see what it changes into. I think writers who can stay on top of that will do better than writers who are firm luddites.
Trying to figure out how to make my writing life work professionally can get pretty challenging but the more I learn about it (stuff like this or this or this) the more prepared I feel to tackle it.
There are lots of good reasons to write a book but none of them is “to earn a living.” From what I can tell, most authors make money doing other things, too. They get grants and fellowships; they teach; they promote themselves; they give workshops; they freelance. These are the ones who make a living from their writing — the rest of ‘em have dayjobs. That is the nature of the beast. It’s hard to make money on a book.
A book does other things for you — it gives you an air of authority about the topic or as a writer; it opens other avenues of opportunity; it lets you (hopefully) nail bigger assignments in your target markets; it sometimes brings those target markets to you.
I want those things and I want to write a book I can be proud of. There are obstacles, obviously, and not all of them are in my control. I can’t help it if an agent dislikes the topic of open adoption or if another one doesn’t want to represent books that end up parenting shelves. I can’t help it that the booksellers will put the book there even if I think it ought to go someplace else. (For the record, I feel absolutely neutral about it being shelved in parenting.) But. I can know these things and plan accordingly. I can know and accept that the publishing world has these limitations and figure out how to work around them or work with them.
Frankly, that part of interests me, too.
At an interview for one of my clients they asked why I liked marketing communications. I told him, “Well, I like manipulating people.” Then I blushed and he laughed. I don’t mean manipulating people with lies but I do mean manipulating people with words to give them my insight, my feelings, my world view. (Or in the case of marketing communications the insight, feelings and world view of my clients.) This is fun wordplay. By the same token, once you know the rules of the publishing world you can either rail against ‘em or knuckle down knowing the rules. Me, I’d rather knuckle down.
Yes, the publishing world is too steeped in stereotypes and too worried about the bottom line and too hung up on genres and elevator speeches and the quick and easy sell. Yes, they manufacture bestsellers (read this fascinating article for more on that) leaving the rest of the booklist out shivering in the cold. Yes, yes, yes. So what? It’s a business.
I want to write a book anyway. If not this book, some other book. (But I really want to write this book.)
I’ve been working on my “what’s next” plan re., marketing this book idea and now what I really need to do is write. (I’m at the fleshing out notes stage.) So that’s what I’ll do but I’ll keep casting here and there as the mood hits.
On the plus side of the equation
Got my fifth agent rejection (nice and personal) and the good thing is that I figure the agents who say no are saying no for the same reason a publisher would say no. So it gives me a chance to consider that feedback and use it as I figure out what to do next. I do think I need to focus on getting more of it written since the best feedback I’ve had is from the agent who was most interested (and who said I need to do this).
This last agent said she’d recently been shopping another adoption “momoir” (argh! that term!) and it didn’t sell. I wish I knew who that writer was so we could commiserate! But hearing that term? Makes me think I need to write more to show this isn’t pure memoir. (Like — “here is my story.”) I need to work on some of the more investigative parts of the book to show this. And also because doing that really scares me. Just thinking about it scares me! So it must be done.
Do you want my picture password?
If you do, just ask. I have yet to say no to anyone. I just want to control who looks at ‘em because I had issue with people swiping them or hotlinking. Keeping them behind a password means they won’t show up on google searches and that anyone wondering through my blog will have to make an effort to browse. But if you read her and want it I’ll be happy to share. (You can also friend me on facebook because I have pics there but on myspace, there aren’t any of the kids’ faces. I don’t like myspace all that much.)
It’s 10am and I’m already halfway through my must-do work for the day. Is this because I’m super-quick? Or because I’m low on work? A combination of the two, my friends. I am speedy but I also only have two jobs to get done today and I already put one to bed.
Thank you for the comments and emails in support of my book efforts; they are very appreciated! My plan as of now is to print out the table of contents and stare at it for awhile to see what I want to write in it. I may hit up another agent on my list but I think I want to write another chapter first. Way back when I had an agent approach me after reading an article I wrote (and it was one logic board disaster and a couple of email systems ago so I’ve lost her contact info) so it makes sense to try to place something from the book and see if it scares up interest. No rush. I’m working on ZEN CAREER MINDING. Seems like urgency and fear aren’t the terrific motivators I’d thought they might be.
Agent news
I’ve been on the hunt for an agent but not talking about it here because I didn’t think any agent would appreciate being live-blogged but I’m going to go ahead and talk about it now.
I got the names of several agents through editor/writer friends and decided to just run through the list. I’ve made it through four now and think I’ll stop. This was the feedback:
- First agent had no comment about the proposal but said a couple of snide things about open adoption. Obviously she passed on the project.
- Second agent LOVED the project, thought it was terrific but also thought it would end up on parenting shelves and this is not really what he represents. He was very encouraging and gave me the names of four other agents who have represented complementary projects. Note: these weren’t referrals but still, his response made me happy.
- Third agent sent a form rejection.
- Fourth agent wrote me several times over the course of the last month or so expressing excitement over the project and letting me know that it’d gotten over each hurdle. Last response came on Monday: they really love the proposal and think it has legs. BUT. It’s a memoir. They think I need to write the whole book before they can pitch it. If I’m willing to do that, I should get back to them. (In other words, there’s no guarantee that writing the whole book will get them as my agent but it will help.)
And this is probably true. I probably do need to write the whole book. Yes, people get book deals on a narrative, memoir-ish book without writing the whole book first but it’s a harder sell.
I’m processing this need to write the whole book. I was wringing my hands about it when I got the letter. (Ok, actually I was crying.) I don’t exactly have a lot of spare time to write a book because of this whole need to pay the bills thing but then who does? I know a lot of writers and most of them are writing books they don’t have time to write. I mean, it’s not impossible. And it might be fun. So I’m feeling better about it.
I figure I’ll work on the book and maybe look for markets to place some of the chapters as I go. I’m thinking smaller lit magazines to cement a stronger creative nonfiction reputation. I want a respectable career that lasts. I can always make money writing about socks for fashion purveyors so I’m less worried about trying to make money in my creative writing life. Yes, it’d be nice but for the kind of career I want, it’s not really about money.
I thought about going to the next name on the list of agents I’ve still got sitting here but I’m going to try this on now. I’m going to try writing some more. It makes me alternately excited and exhausted to think about it. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Twiddling my thumbs
Well, not quite. But I’m waiting to hear back from a boss-type person with some details I need for rewrites for work so I’m stopping by here while I wait. That’s called multitasking. See? Not a moment wasted!
I’m getting more edits back from my sample chapter and yes, the readers are saying very similar things. At least generally. I take it as a good sign that they’re all pretty much seeing the same weaknesses and that means I can work on those areas instead of burning the whole manuscript and renouncing my writerly intentions. (Not that I would but you know what I mean.)
I’m getting a little further on the chapter outline but am hampered by fear/insecurity about my ability to write a WHOLE ENTIRE BOOK of meaningful prose. Fortunately I’m an old hand at dealing with fear/insecurity so I muddle on through anyway. Because as sad as I’ll be if my plans crash and burn, I’ll be way more sad if I never even give it a shot. Plus seems like my failures tend to point me towards more successes, you know? I’m like one of those wind-up toys that bounce into walls. I go, “Yowch, guess I better turn around and try heading this other way for awhile.”
Now I have to get back to work. Stop distracting me with all of your blogging! Sheesh! You know I have no willpower!