TT: ‘Letters’ From A Writer
During one of my visits to the Divas forum, I saw a fabulous post from an author named Fae Sutherland and asked her if I could post it here. I love it! As writers, I think we’ve all faced the same thing a time or two…
If you’re a writer, let us know what similar experiences you’ve had! 
~Jane
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Dear Friend #1,
When you say, “I want to publish a story but have no idea how to go about doing that.” I want to facedesk. Instead I offer a couple of links to writers forums and agent/editor blogs and encourage you to research it and learn the business. When you respond that someone else pointed you to this awesome publishing company that only charges 500 pounds to publish your book, and that you won’t be needing my links/advice, I want to smack you. Instead, I’ll just let reality do the smacking for me.
Very little love,
Fae
Dear Friend #2,
When you email me and inform me you intend to “add sex” to your mystery/horror shorts so that you can then get published because obviously all that sells is smut, I want to ask what on earth makes you think I want to hear about it. I also want to ask why you think slapping a sex scene or two in a story is going to be your magic ticket to publication. Also? Denigrating the genre in which I write is both insulting and unnecessary. Good luck with tarting up your stories, but I’ll tell you now that if they weren’t publishable without sex, they won’t be with it either.
Not much love at all,
Fae
Dear Friend #3,
When you asked me to read your story and give you my blunt, honest opinion, I reluctantly agreed. I like you and I like to help if I can. However, when you email me 13,000 words lacking most punctuation, no capitalization, improper paragraph and POV breaks, mostly dialogue, and then tell me that it’s not done, you have yet to fill in the bare bones etc…I have to wonder what exactly you want me to critique here. Here’s my advice…do not ask for crit on something you haven’t even finished. Do not ask for crit on something you haven’t self-edited. Do not use me as a workhorse to tell you where to punctuate and capitalize and other such basic things. You claim to be an English teacher. This makes me very, very sad for our youth.
No love,
Fae
Dear friends in general,
Publishing is hard. It’s work. It’s not easy and the chances of making it to any level of success are as slim as your chances of winning the lottery. I appreciate that hearing about my releases and my working to finish a book aimed for agents is exciting and makes you want to do the same. That’s great, I wish you the best. But please stop assuming that just because someone you know, me, has gotten a pinky toe in the door means it’s easy or something. It’s insulting, to assume that “Well, if *you* did it so can I.” Maybe you can. But you’re a fool if you think it’s all easy peasy.
Please stop treating my career as if it were as simple as applying at the Quicky Stop. I have a big enough ego and am enough of a bitch to tell you to piss off, that I got here because I’m *good* and because I bust my a** for every little success. Either start busting yours or GTFO. Jesus, I’m not anywhere near most other authors in terms of success, but I’ve written a dozen books and stories that have or are going to be published. You’d think you’d at least respect the fact that *maybe* I know WTF I’m talking about. Just a little. Jeez.
Peeved,
Fae
_______
Thanks, Fae, for allowing me to post this today!
You can read more about Fae and her books by visiting her website at http://chasethedream.net/ and her blog at http://iniquityden.blogspot.com/
~Jane
Tags: Fae Sutherland, Letters, TT
Go Fae! Thanks for posting that Jane. Some good insight there, it certainly gives you a nudge to push yourself even harder
Amen, sister!
Hey Danielle! I laughed when I read those ‘letters’ because I so understand what she’s talking about. It can be frustrating when people think a writing career is easy to achieve, huh?:)
Exactly, Jacquie!
As a published and award-winning writer (albeit in another field), let me assure you that we’re not all like the “friends” mentioned above. Some of us work hard on our manuscripts, rewriting drafts and polishing the final one to the best of our ability. This includes correcting grammatical errors, misspellings, and errant punctuation. Personally, I never give my CP a first draft.
We also research our markets, buy the Writer’s Market, attend workshops and conferences (when able to), and read books in the genre we’re interested in publishing in. While we might tell a favorite writer how she’s influenced us, we would never expect that writer to let us ride in on her proverbial coattails. While someone may get us in the door, we have to prove ourselves with the quality of our work.
One of the lessons I’ve learned from screenwriting is to never write what is popular now because no one can predict the box office. The idea is to write what we love because we want to. And getting a screenplay optioned or sold is just as difficult a process as getting a book published. That is an industry where one needs a reference or two.
As for those writers who think that this occupation is easy, well no, it isn’t. (And I’m preaching to the choir here.) I can understand your frustration and I empathize with you, but again, not all of us assume that this is some easy-peasy job. (I read that phrase somewhere and just can’t remember where. If it was here, my apologies! *grin*) And those who think it is will soon find out different.
But here’s the good news. Those same “friends” will probably quit the writing biz because it’s so difficult. Once they’re gone, the rest of us will still be working toward our goal. Hopefully, we’ll join your ranks one day with published works of our own. (Okay, okay, we might be a step below, but we promise to do our best!)
Sorry for the long post. Let me just add that, while I haven’t experienced what Fae Sutherland and others have regarding writing/publishing, I have dealt with people who expect me to fix their computer problems when they don’t even do such simple maintenance as defrag their hard drives. But that’s a whole different topic.
Take care!