Blogger: Michelle Ule
Location: Sunny Santa Rosa
My favorite scene in the movie Shakespeare in Love is when the boatman is rowing the erstwhile William Shakespeare to Violet de Lessup’s house. Just as Will tries to jump onto the dock, the boatman detains him with the words, “I’m a writer myself.”
Will throws him a despairing look and dashes away.
I know the look and the feeling; it happens all the time to me.
How do you handle would-be writers?
In just my family the following folks have provided manuscripts: one brother-in-law, one outlaw and his mother, one father-in-law, another outlaw (he at least was published). I’ve read them all and judiciously commented, though after I completed a careful edit of my father-in-law’s expansive biography of Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe (whom he shows wrote the works of Shakespeare), he never discussed the book with me again.
Was that good or bad?
One sister-in-law is a fine writer and probably has a good manuscript in her; my businessman brother has suggested a couple of times he should write a book, and I can edit and sell it for him. Just the other day another sister-in-law suggested the same thing. And then I have all these clever nieces . . . “How hard can it be to write and sell a book, Aunt Michelle?”
Indeed.
After attending a church party during which several members of the congregation approached both Rachel and me about their manuscripts, we decided to make it a policy not to look at projects written by people we attend church with. It just gets too hard, particularly if you learn disquieting things about fellow worshipers and their imaginations.
We’ve always had a policy in the office that we don’t review projects of people we know. So, if you’re hoping for an “in” with me . . . you’re out of luck.
Whew. What a relief!
That doesn’t mean I’m sidestepping and avoiding would-be authors. I usually will listen to their pitch, make some suggestions, and recommend books I’ve read. I have the added problem of, ahem, being a writer myself, which also makes for some sticky situations. My visits to the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference often end up a little confusing as I switch hats back and forth–often without even realizing it–between writer and agency employee.
The truth is, I’m a sucker for a good story–no matter who wrote it. I love to hear about incongruous events and funny results. The interplay of words and ideas catches me, even when I’m not looking for a story. As a writer myself, I can’t help but pay attention when someone talks about his or her work.
On one of the writer’s loops I frequent, we’ve often discussed how to handle would-be authors. Most of us are polite and try to offer helpful suggestions. I recommend websites and blogs, books at the library and every so often, will volunteer to read a chapter or two.
You never know. They might actually be the real thing.
How do you handle people who tell you they want to write a book, or have actually written a manuscript?
haha – your post made me laugh. I get emails from friends – this guy/girl has a great story You should interview them and write about it. Those aren’t so bad – though if I don’t know anywhere I can place the article it gets difficult to say I’m not interested, because often they do have interesting stories to tell.
I don’t get asked to read manuscripts very often (ahem, but I don’t work at a literary agency) but I did have one person ask if I would ‘co-write’ a book with him. He was going to write the first draft – and then I would get to fix everything and sell it. Hmmm…
He hasn’t spoken to me since I declined. You’ve made me want to watch Shakespeare in Love again though. Thanks for the post.
I usually feel them out, looking for clues to see if they’ve done any kind of research into what it takes, kind of like an agent might. I don’t get into too deep a discussion until I see they’re serious about it, which is easy to discern.
As much as I’d like to, however, I can’t give a shred of optimistic advice concerning the endeavor. It truly can be a torturous and dismaying experience.
Hey, I have an idea… ask for a $750 reader’s fee… 🙂
I’ve actually had someone comment, “Wow! It was so easy for you! Tell ME how to write a book.”
Well, let’s see…it only took ME about 15-20 yrs, multiple revisions, writer’s conferences, numerous classes, not to mention the submission process. AND I’m still learning and awaiting publication.
I usually suggest that the person begin with a writing course of some kind and begin connecting with others who share his/her interest. Thanks, Michelle, for addressing the very thing we’re sometimes embarrassed to talk about.
I’ll usually look at it, and depending on how much the piece “borrows” from other writers will refer them to books by those authors. This helps them get a feel for how the masters do the stories they like to write, so they might pick up a trick or two or know what stories like theirs have already been done. Sometimes they truly aren’t aware of how much their work has been influenced or what they “borrow” because the masters have so completely changed the literary landscape that their style or subject matter has become the norm; so being novice writers they haven’t really broken free from the environment and culture they are part of.
At the very least, they’ll have something good to read in the style of what they like to write.
My family politely ignores the fact that I write, which keeps things pretty calm at home, though my mother-in-law wants me to edit her dissertation.
Because I’m unpublished I don’t get approached for advice on the process or teaching others to do it. I have been approached by visitors to my website to beta read or give reviews, and so far, the experience has not been good.
I want to help, but I’m trying to find a balance between being helpful and being sane.
I edited our former pastor’s dissertation as a favor. Unfortunately, I threw him when I suggested he rewrite an early sentence to make it more concise and clear. It was the thesis statement . . .
He took it well.
I guess I’m a little confused about this post. Are you talking about the people who just say it randomly or people that are seriously pursuing it?
It does seem like tons of people say they want to be a writer and that is something that makes me cautious in who I tell my aspirations to, simply because I don’t want to be cliche.
However, I seriously want to be a writer. I read craft books, take course, and write as much as I can, study some more, go back and do it again! Doesn’t everybody start there?
Ah, Savannah, if only folks were as thorough as you.
I spoke with someone on the phone the other day who wanted me–me?–to publish his book and had never heard the word “query” before.
I’m always amazed at queriers who don’t know anything about writing a book or the publishing process, who demand our attention and quick response to their “best selling idea that will make everyone lots of money.”
We always advise new or would-be writers to attend a writer’s conference and learn how the process works–including the writing and editing process–as well as how difficult the market is.
There are a lot of writers out there; many of whom have put their stories to paper.
Or, as my husband observes, “there are a lot more people who want to be read, than people who want to read.”
🙁
But what about books by friends you’ve made through writers conferences and groups?
Thanks Michelle, I see the difference! Some people say it without doing their die diligence
Thanks for another enjoyable post Michelle.
I seem to run into two groups of “I write too” people. The first group has a “really great idea” for a book or article, and they want me to write it. Usually accompanied by the suggestion that we’ll split the profits 50/50 😉
Then there are the hobby writers who eventually ask, “But what do you do as your real job?” I’m a full-time freelancer, so I definitely know how hard it is to make a living writing and editing, but I always find it funny when people ask about my “real job” . . . this is my real job.
I always try to keep a sense of humor, and direct the ones who are serious about their writing (like Savannah above) to the right resources.
Michelle, sticky situations indeed. Not many of my relatives aspire to write, but it seems 80% or so of the U.S. population has considered writing a book (although I suspect the bulk of those just think it would be cool to see their own name on a book cover).
For the few acquaintances who show some true potential of actually keeping their seat on a chair long enough to produce a few hundred pages of copy, I will gift copies of past Writer’s Digest or other items and, like you, steer them toward more ways to learn the ropes of publishing.
However, when people ask if I would critique their manuscript or simply read it and provide an endorsement… I’ve done it a couple times for closer friends, but I already sacrifice many of the things I would enjoy doing in order to scrape together spare minutes for writing. In general, I simply apologize and say, “I’m sorry; I would love to, but you just have no idea how many different things are demanding a piece of my time.”
Thanks for a fun post today!
In my day job, I publish two trade magazines. As soon as people hear the words “publish” and “magazine” they begin pitching their ideas. Over the years I have been asked to publish short stories, poetry, recipes, song lyrics, biographies, murder mysteries, and even seedy stories — in my trade magazines.
If their work is an obvious mis-match, I say, “You can’t publish THAT in a TRADE magazine,” in such a way as to halt all further queries.
If I have a possible interest in their work (which is seldom the case) or if they want feedback, I tell them to email me their article. They seldom do.
Editing is the sticky part. I edited a high school-age granddaughter’s piece once and TRIED to give some constructive ideas. Let’s just say that’s the only time she asked.
As for people from church who want to write a book “someday” and casual friends, I usually trot out my favorite one-size-fits-all phrase. “I didn’t know. That’s really interesting.” Then I follow it with a cop-out, “Well, it takes time and it’s a lot of hard work, so I wish you well.”
I agree with your post and your answer to sweet Savannah. I have a corollary, as it were, because part of what I do is ghostwriting. Generally, I write for broad-platform authors/speakers who don’t have time or (sometimes) ability to turn their messages into books.
But once people find out I tell others’ stories, they want to tell me theirs. One pastor announced from the pulpit, “If you have a story, Marti can turn it into a book for you.”
Yeah, umm, sure. Because we all know publishers BEG for memoirs from obscurity.
But I listen, because people and their stories matter. And sometimes I can offer them advice or point them toward a writer’s conference. When I see the gracious example of so many who know so much (as evidenced on this blog), I realize again the value of kind words.
Everybody has a story. But not every story should become a book.
I laughed a few times reading this. Luckily I’m not surrounded by local people begging me to read their books and provide my thoughts. I’ve done it twice–once for a friend of my son, who revised his book after I made some suggestions and sold it to an ePublisher. The other was for my pastor’s father, a working sports writer for the local paper.
I actually had someone contact me through one of my blogs recently and ask if I would critique her manuscript. I politely declined.
I think it’s great when someone has a dream to write. I don’t know that everyone is prepared for all it entails.
This is my problem with this issue: I, too, am a writer in need of connecting with others of like interests and in need of critique and suggestions. Who am I to say no to a critique request? I find it works well to find a writer’s web site and use the critique forums. You can then pursue more full critiques from those whose comments ring true to you.
You’re absolutely correct, Marti, everyone has a story. We like to tell people there many stories that need to be written, but they don’t necessarily need to be published.
(I probably have commented before that I’m a genealogist and while my family history, Pioneer Stock, is a terrific book in the Library of Congress, you only need to read it if you’re related to me . . . )
Lots of good ideas above. We often encourage writers to investigate local and on-line critique groups. Some people can’t afford writer’s conferences, but attending one indicates to us a writer who is serious about the craft–so serious they’re willing to put in time, trouble and money to learn more.
As to Janet’s question about friends from writer’s conferences, that’s a different situation. If I’ve met them through writer forums or conferences, I can assume they’re making efforts to learn about the industry and present themselves well. Someone else in the agency will read it, though.
I’ve also heard of serious writers hounded by friends who have offered to do a thorough one to five page critique in which they massacre the writing–in a positive, affirming way, of course. The would-be writer’s response to that critique indicates how much more time the experienced writer should give a project.
Most of the sticky situations, however, are the result of people just not understanding what’s involved, how busy you are, and what it really means to be a writer. I try to be nice to innocents. 🙂
I know what you’re saying, Michelle. It can get awkward when someone you love or respect hands you a perfectly awful manuscript and anxiously awaits your feedback. I have been introduced to writer-hopefuls at wedding receptions, the grocery store and in the airport. (My esteemed colleague, Janet, insists on working on manuscripts in the terminal and on the plane– in plain sight. A writer-hopeful can spot an agent or editor a mile away from that clue.)
I’m not in the Santa Rosa office so maybe that makes me a little bit of a maverick but I do represent friends and even represented one church member. For me, having been in the writing community so long, I am friends with many writers I would love to represent.
Some of my most exciting phone calls come from well-published authors who’ve been friends for a long time and decide, for one reason or another, I’m the perfect person to represent them. Love those calls!
I just wanted to set the record straight so some of my NY Times bestselling friends don’t think I’m unavailable. 🙂
This is such a tough spot I think all writers find themselves, Michelle!
I’m learning to say no and/or refer people to my website where I list my favorite sites, blogs, and books on the craft of writing. For now, the requests have decreased. Not sure if that’s because of my references or because people don’t want to bother the harried woman chasing two children. 🙂
I appreciate everyone’s responses here. Your experiences provide guidance for when I find myself in this situation. This kind of situation definitely seems tricky. I hope to handle it when gentleness and encouragement, as well. I know how much every bit of genuine encouragement has boosted my courage. Perhaps the level of detail within a response might change based on the how seriously the “would-be” writer is about writing.
Ahhhh, I always thought it was funny to hear writers complain about this… until last year when I guess enough people knew that I was seriously pursuing this writing thing that they started to come out of the woodwork! It is hard to know how to encourage and when they are just thinking, “Oh, I should write a book and get it published, should be easy!” when they can barely put two words together. And now, everyone is telling me I “have” to write a book about my situation with my daughter (she had a heart transplant and has been in the hospital for almost 10 months…) and a large majority of me rolls my eyes because of all the times I’ve heard it preached that “personal tragedy stories don’t sell!” There are a ton of moms out there that have nursed their babies back to health from heart defects to cancer to grossly premature birth. I think it is a misconception that is commonly had that when someone has to go through something we can’t imagine ourselves going through… the answer is to write a book.
That said, ya never know. Maybe someday I’ll write a book about it! HA!
This made me laugh out loud. It happens to us professional editors too. 🙂 I’ve been working on a similar blog post and plan to link to this one when I publish it!
Oh, this made me laugh. I had no idea how many people “wanted to write a book someday,” until I actually wrote a book. Oh wow. If I took up every reading request, it would be a full-time job.
All time fave…my daughter’s English teacher sent home his manuscript with my daughter, without asking me first, and wanted my opinion on it. Oh my goodness! He held my child’s grade in his hand – and I held his dream in mine. Sticky situation. Thankfully it was well written. Since it was a secular YA memoir, I gave him 2-3 story pointers and a bashful apology that I knew absolutely nothing about secular YA memoirs. Daughter got her A.
I usually ask a few questions to see how far they are in the process. I’ll suggest books & websites for most people, but if they appear serious and are forging down the path, I’ll read the first chapter or so. NOT the whole ms.
Since my novels are set in WWII, I also get dozens of emails from readers declaring my next book HAS to be about their father/grandfather/cousin’s WWII experiences. Sigh.