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Writers’ advice, or not as the case may be...
I am going to have a good bash at the do-gooders in the writing industry, this includes the established writers and agents who constantly bang on about what it takes to write a good book. Firstly they will tell you that 'In order to write a good book, you need a really good idea'. Well thank you very bloody much for that fascinating piece of information, I think I'll go away now and write a best selling novel; to paraphrase the late Tommy Cooper, "Jus’ Like that!"
In an industry that is rife with the latest biographies of the young and useless, facile and vacant, I find it rich that established writers continue to extol the hope of a life following your heart is available if only you have a good idea for a book. Most authors who have become successful often forget the problems they faced when they were starting out new and fresh to the industry. But, as with everyone who has managed to claw their way to the top, most have lost sight of the reasons why they did it, only focusing on the obvious and not helping those that may hold the key to a tired industry. Invariably they all offer the same patronising advice to any new hungry minds that not only have the write stuff, (Pun intended) but also have what it takes to influence a new generation of would be writers.
Writing is an art form all its own, with subtle nuances, that can either make something interesting or consign it to the bin. Every writer will tell you that as he crafts something, he needs both encouragement and also the backup from an editor who will see beyond the muddle that is a first draft. In each one of us I believe there is a story that is waiting to breath, but not everyone is capable of turning the muddle of thoughts in their head into a coherent idea, let alone a good book.
A good idea is one thing, stretching that further so that it makes something you want to read takes more than just a talent for writing, it takes passion, something the ghost writers sadly lack for the subject they are paid to write about. It's more than just telling a story, anyone can do that, but to turn it into something that makes you want to see further into the experiences of imaginary people, takes more, far more.
The problem with the industry at the moment is that it refuses to take the time to see what is good and what is not. If you were to look at all the current crop of biographies, famous people who were given massive telephone figure pay outs to write their story, how many have succeeded?
Even more bizarre is the fact that the industry is currently suffering from a glut of pulp that does little for the literary world, except maybe give it a bad name. The industry still believes that by backing these celebrity books, they will possible stumble upon the next big winner, which will gain them the riches they so want.
Another problem is the Agents, these are self appointed critics, claiming to stand for what is good and what is not, supposedly shielding the publisher from the evils of the word processor generation and giving the author the best deal in the industry. In most cases these are people who will look no further than the author’s name before deciding on whether or no they have written something of value. To cap it all they claim to be too busy to read all the entries and so most authors who would have something that would sell fall by the way side.
I defy any established author to write a book, send it in under a completely different name with no connections and get it accepted first time, then take it to the same agents who refused it and see if they now think it’s wonderful when they know who it is really by.
Then there is the problem of rogue companies who are looking for a way to make a quick buck out of those who are too focused on their world to see what is really going on. The industry has done little to help address the problem, only saying the same old rubbish to would be authors, keep your eyes open and make sure you understand what you are getting yourself into. These words are all well and good, but they don't call them con-men for nothing.
I don’t have any more answers than the next person on what it takes to get the book written, edited, published and successful, but I can tell you that if you follow your heart and believe in it enough and for the right reasons, it will happen. Perseverance and determination are more important in the fight you face, as runners who do marathons might say, "Just over one more hurdle and then I'll see the finish line."
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