Some Writers Deserve To Starve

[lathark]

Have just finished reading this book...before I colour the situation with my own take on it...

Has someone out there read this? What do you think, which of those brutal truths have you been run-down by, succumb to, got frustrated by, tried, or couldn't overcome by a different approach.

Which of the brutal truths did you find particularly interesting, relevant?

[GOLLUM]

Which book are you talking about????

Is the thread title the book tilte?

please explain..

[Lenny]

Amazon.com: Some Writers Deserve To Starve: 31 Brutal Truths about the Publishing Industry: Elaura Niles: Books

Looks like it, Gollum. I must admit to being confused at first, too.

It sounds like an interesting read, although more of a Library loan than a buy. Good title, I have to say - a definite read based on that alone!

[Lith]

Oh, it's a real book?

And me with my flippant "I've read that book too" response.

*puts book on library reserve...*

[lathark]

Sorry for the confusion folks.

Yes, Some Writers Deserve to Starve by Elaura Niles, is the title of the book.

The lady in question was a writing conference coordinator before pen'ing down her experiences and advice to writers. Having read it, in parts several times, I felt that it made a genuine contribution to anyone wanting to write and get published. I also felt that many of the 'brutal truths' would be of particular of interest to this community, as there are many aspiring witers here. It quickly gets to the heart of certain beliefs about writing, and dispels misconceptions about certain aspects of it.

It is written with a certain humour, and offers practical advice. It covers most of the subjects from approaching agents, to the dos and don'ts / pros and cons of the alternatives.

I was wandering what others thought about it, if they've read it, or was suggesting that a quick leaf through while next in a book shop, wouldn't hurt.

I'm just starting to get into this forum discussion thing.

Cheers

d add that find interesting and helpful if they knew

[kaneda]

lolol, I thought this was going to be a rant about writers who can't actually write! lol

Haven't read this, but it does sound interesting though.

[lathark]

Some great writers could still be on the benches, their master-piece hidden in dust-gathering draws, their coffee cup half-empty, while others, perhaps of a more proactive nature, have lesser works flying out the doors, their tea cup half-full.

Do you think this situation is [a] the norm, [b] unusual, [c] ridiculous.

[a] on the basis that is how it was, it is, and always will be.
[b] that inherent genius will always out, and win through sooner or later, preferrably before they starve
[c] that hard work always equates to porportional success

Some writers do equate that just because they have worked hard, that they should be appropriately compensated for their merits. The book suggests not, in the majority of cases.

[Michael01]

I'm betting it's the norm. Obviously good work does get published, but I've read some books that are horrible and a few that could use some work. I'm not talking about self-published books, either. So why did they get published? Got me...

[Lith]

More often than not, they got published because they asked (i.e., by sending their manuscript out instead of stuffing it in a drawer). And because their work was considered at least tolerably commercial- there's a lot out there that may be good, but if isn't likely to appeal to common tastes, it won't sell well, and therefore it's less likely to be published.

I got the book through the library- am perusing it now.

[Rosemary]

Really sounds like an interesting and helpful book Lathar. Will have a look in the local library for a copy or order it in.

Thank you for the link Lenny.

[lathark]

I found the book quite revealing, especially in view of the fact that it comes from a-man-on-the-ground, well woman, who has gone through the processs, and emerged, not unscathed, out the other side.

Some of the brutal-truths are, disturbing, in that, at theback of your mind, especially if you are pushing to be published, you find them out the hard way, and more importantly waste your time on them. Writing is hard enough without the waste of time.

This brings me to question, did J.K.Rowling do us all a favour by increasing the 'slush pile' by 10 to 20 fold?
The publishing industry did not go out and hire 10 to 20 times more readers, therefore, well you do the maths. I'm not saying that she has not increased the reading population, and increased the interest in reading in the real world, which is an outstanding thing, and to be lauded.

Also I mentioned Brutal-truths book as it is probably a got accompanyment to many how-to books out there. Hope you like it too, but do put up your favourite brutal truths as well, so we may commiserate, wail, or in other ways show that we deeply care, until that is Brutal truth #12 - I wonder if it's true?