I'm always surprised at how many people are not only willing, but happily willing to discourage other people from writing. I guess it surprises me, because they've been there, they've faced the blank page, felt the hope of submitting, the stomach punch of rejection and possibly the joy of acceptance. How do you know how it feels and still pull the rug out from under someone else?

I just don't get it.

We all were beginners at some point. We've all had to learn our craft, learn the business, take the knocks and feel the rush. There is no written law anywhere that everyone has to start off somehow knowing not to make mistakes or write crap. We don't all start with a "clue."

So, why, when we reach some level of expertise/publication, do some feel the need to look sneeringly down at those still climbing behind them?

So what if "too many" books are getting published or submitted or clogging up the submission piles? Boo, freaking, hoo if my books have to compete with other books for readers/agents/editors attention.

Bring it!

I'd rather compete with everyone than win because someone didn't put their work out there in the first place. And what if the book that doesn't get submitted is a book I'd love to read?

I love finding a wondeful new book almost as much as I love writing one. :-)

Life is too short to feel negative or to be afraid. To not try and not encourage others to try, too.

IMHO, reading, writing and publishing AREN'T a zero sum game. When any writer crosses the publication line, it's a win for all writers, no matter where they are. It's a sign to hope in an industry that too often is not very hopeful.

I don't want to live in a world of Sneetches and "stars on thars" that separate us from each other. There's too much against us for us to be against each other. :-)
Perilously yours,
Pauline

eBooks Alive and Well? Why should you care?

Some of my lists are abuzz with a new blog at PW. It's called the eBook Report, authored by David Rothman of Teleread fame. It's good to know that reports of the demise of the eBook have been, and continue to be, premature. While some in eBook world view the interest of Big Publishing with suspicion, I find it encouraging. And it proves I was right. eBooks aren't going away. (grin)

Rothman asks the question of whether eBooks can be, or are, a sort of slush pile for big publishing, a chance for authors to strut their stuff and interest a big publisher in their work. Clearly, that's already happening, though some agents/editors seem reluctant to admit it. MaryJanice Davidson is the first name that springs to mind, but there are many others who have made the leap from small/ePress to NY.

With The Key doing so well at Fictionwise I suppose it is possible that I could attract NY's attention. It's hard to say, since I've been there, done that, and decided not to buy the tee shirt. Okay, if NY came calling with bags of money, of course I wouldn't say no. But back when I had a NY agent and had my shot at a NY publisher, I found I didn't like the strings attached. Call me crazy, but I couldn't see myself writing books I didn't want to write.

My agent at the time asked me, what genre do you want to write? You need to focus, get serious.

I gave it some thought and told her, I want to write MY genre and yeah, I'm serious about this, but it's not worth it if I don't also enjoy it.

We parted ways when a publisher made me an offer I found I had to refuse. Do I regret it?

Not really.

I wish the publisher had been willing to compromise, because I think it would have worked my way, but they didn't and I couldn't. If either of them ever think of me, they probably still think I'm crazy and they'd be right.

I couldn't NOT be crazy to be a writer. (grin)

But I'm still right.

How do I know?

Because the books they didn't want me to write are published, are doing well for me. If we hadn't parted company, I'd never have taken the leap to write The Key. And I'm really glad I didn't miss this book. It was crazy fun to write and even if everyone hates it (which thankfully no one has yet!) I love it and I loved writing it. That feeling is what keeps me writing.

If you read back through this blog, you'll find I say this a lot (probably because it works for me!), but if you don't enjoy what you're doing, if you're not loving the writing (or even hating it), if you're not passionate about all this, then why bother?

I'm really lucky that I get to do something I love and with it, I also get to read some wonderful books. I don't just love writing, I love eBooks. I love the choices I get as an author and as a reader. Because I get to write books NY isn't interested in, that means other authors get to do that, too. And I get to read those books. I may have to search around for them, but that's okay. They are worth it.

What hooked me into reading in the first place was delight...delight in the words, in the characters, and the stories, and as a reader, I'm still searching for that, still thrilled when I find it. Sometimes I find it in a NY book and thankfully there are tons of small press/eBooks out there that have it, too.

So I'm glad for every blog, every person who points readers to the off-the-beaten path places to find books. So, kudos to PW for starting the blog and to Rothman for taking up the challenge. :-)

Perilously yours,
Pauline