Serious Writers
March 3rd, 2008 by Kathleen Bolton
It’s been awhile since I’ve read a book about the craft of writing (avoidance, or maybe something darker at work. Like laziness), but a writer friend allowed me to borrow a book she said she’d been chuckling over since she bought it: Pat Walsh’s 78 Reasons Why Your Book May Never Be Published, & 14 Reasons Why It Just Might.
Walsh, a founding editor at the literary publishing house MacAdam/Cage, had stored up an immense backlog of pet-peeves during his years slogging through half-baked submissions and badly-written manuscripts, and he unleashes his acerbic wit to give wannabe writers a clop upside the head. He’s funny and brutal and a realist about the industry. (I’m trying to ferret this guy out for an interview–wish me luck).
Those of us who have been at the game for some time recognize the timelessness of Walsh’s advice. So for those battle-scarred veterans of the rejection treadmill, Walsh says nothing new–he just says it funnier and without touchy-feely b.s. Gems such as: “Some writers refuse to revise until they have a book contract or an agent. To them, I offer the sage advice of philosopher St. Thomas Aquinas, or was it Pee-Wee Herman: See ya! Wouldn’t wanna be ya!”
On agents: “Agents often reject writers with the I’m not taking on any new clients right now or My list is full schitck, but it is a brush off.”
“You think you’re a natural.”
“You do not have style.”
Damn.
Hey, it’s a tough business. And Walsh is imparting some hard truths about the industry.
He also holds out hope for those of us who have weathered the rejection storms and keep trying to improve our craft. He calls us serious writers–the ones they’ve been trying hard to find among the crappy queries and mountainous slush piles. Serious writers “care about their craft and treat their craft as a matter of great import. These are the people who will find respect from readers and a market over the long haul. The reason we are so skeptical of first-time writers is that they often do not appear to be serious.”
Seriousity [sic] according to Walsh means, among other things:
- Avoiding slopping mistakes that make rejecting you easy
- Separating yourself from those who do not do the necessary work or are looking for shortcuts
- Keeping your wits about you when your efforts aren’t working
- Learning how to refine your presentation in order to get the reaction you want
These are only a few hallmarks of the serious writer, btw. Walsh includes many more.
So ask yourself: are you a serious writer?
Are you ready for this industry?
I thought so. Me too.
Sounds like a book well worth perusing. Thanks for the review, Kath!
Oh, God. Now I have to read another book on the craft of writing. (Thanks for the recommendation. I love them.)
Ah, just as I am going through the process of querying agents….much of what Walsh writes rings absolutely true.
As I query agents on my first novel, I am revising chapters of my second novel. Just as I believe I’ve completed one chapter, upon re-reading it, I find more to correct.
It’s discouraging to receive a rejection letter without real comment, but when I’m in the novel, revising it and making it better, I remain hopeful that this time the effort will lead to the ‘yes’ we all desire.
Thank you for the thoughtful review of this book.
-Suzanne
jd, what I love about Walsh’s book is that you can dip in and dip out easily, because the “lessons” are short and sweet. So it doesn’t have to be read in consecutive days.
Suzanne, good luck with your search and keep on keeping on. Everyone here feels your pain. ;-0
Can I just say that I get a thrill out of reading “Walsh’s book” every time I see that? LOL!