Are you a green writer?
Literary agent Nathan Bransford posted Ten Commandments for a Happy Writer on his blog as part of his “week of positivity.”
I agree with all of them completely, except #8.
Park your jealousy at the door. Writing can turn ordinary people into raving lunatics when they start to believe that another author’s success is undeserved. Do not begrudge other writers their success. They’ve earned it. Even if they suck.
I am not a jealous person and let’s face it — I could be — I live in an affluent married suburb and I am neither affluent or married. If I was jealous, I would not have time for anything else. I’m not jealous of other writers who are successful because most of them have earned it and in my opinion there is room on the bookshelves for everyone, there are so many kinds of novels and non-fiction books that without a variety of genres and styles, someone would get left out of the reading loop — and I wouldn’t want that.
But has a writer really earned it if they — in the eloquent terminology of Mr. Bransford — SUCK? I don’t care about the celebrities or the Octomoms who get book deals. They’re NOT writers and I want more than my name on a book cover, I want to be a career writer/author.
But what about the authors who don’t write well — or the ones that stumble into publishing without any sweat or toil or angst?
Yep, I must admit that bugs me. Green with envy? Not really, because I don’t allow myself to be. In the end they’re not what I want to be — someone intimately involved in the world of writing and publishing; storytelling and building a readership. I don’t want to be known as The Accidental Author. I want to have earned it.
How about you?
I agree with you… it’s not so much about jealousy as it is frustration with an industry that oftentimes puts money above talent.
I guess I just wish that the art industries had more integrity than that.
I don’t begrudge the Accidental Authors their success. But it does frustrate me, knowing that there are probably many amazing novels that never get published because of bad timing or circumstances…or the publisher just doesn’t have another slot open this year because they gave away their slots to lesser books.
Unlike you, though, I think celebrity book deals are a total waste, and contribute to a negative in our society. If you have a cool life story to tell, sit with Katie Couric or go on Oprah. But books should be written by writers. I know why the books get made, (and hey, it’s work for a ghost writer, I suppose) but the idealist in me hates that there’s even a market for them.
I admit it – I do experience jealousy. I need to work on that problem.
Heather,
You know what’s funny, when I do experience a tinge of jealousy or anger, it’s not directed at the publishing industry but at the wannabe writers. Maybe I need to redirect.
Hmm.
Amy
Debbie,
It’s a rough road, that jealousy one. I have taken the approach of enjoying what my friends have and being happy they have it. I never deny I’d like some of it for myself, but I don’t begrudge anyone what they have…except occasionally those pesky writers who slide into something without effort.
And I’m going to work on that some more!!
Amy
Maybe I’m being naive (or “green” but not in the way you meant) but I dont know of any accidental authors or those who have become one without effort. How is that possible if in fact they wrote it?
And sucking at it is relative if people are reading what they wrote. (thanks to publishers I suppose) Idk, arent there always going to be people who don’t appreciate what someone else wrote? Isn’t it you that didn’t like EG’s “Eat, Pray, Love”? But look at her following and success.
Mindy,
You’re right that it’s effort to write. I guess I meant people who don’t struggle for their success or achieve it without going through regular channels. It takes years to be successful overnight — for most people. So I have to fight the demons that has me believe if you don’t go through the ringer, you shouldn’t publish a book.
Not that any of these overnight authors give a hoot what I think!
As for Elizabeth Gilbert, nope, I didn’t like the book but I do think she is a very good writer with a lot of skill and talent. What I didn’t like what her story. To me, there’s a difference, plus it bordered on being a self-help book and I abhor those! But again – that’s just me!
Time spent being jealous of another is time not spent writing. Publishers are in business. It’s commerce pure and simple. When money is involved integrity suffers. Modern publishing has no standard of excellence anymore and consequently you will rarely find good literature on the best seller list. Oh, it’s there, but you have to mine for it. In the current marketplace you have to pander to the wants of the masses and many times those wants have been corrupted by pop culture and Hollywood. There is a shift happening and it will be interesting to see the new face of publishing emerge. After this economic upheaval, everything decadent and superficial will swept away.
Of course, these are just the opinions of this peasant.
So far I haven’t been jealous of other writers, but I think that’s primarily because I haven’t started querying yet. A friend signed with an agent last week and I’m genuinely thrilled for her. But, I do recognize that could change when I’m crying over rejections.
That said, the accidental authors irk me too.
Val,
You’re right of course, which is why I push any bad feelings aside. I always acknowledge them – but they only hurt me – no one else. Not worth my time or energy.
Melanie,
I’ve realized just reading these comments that since I am someone who plays by the rules, drives the speed limit, obeys laws, follows directions — when someone does not — it drives me batty. And that’s what I mean about The Accidental Authors. I am wholeheartedly happy that books are selling and people are still buying and reading. I guess if I were King (or Queen) I’d just want everyone to have paid their dues and taken the same path. Yeah, right. I should write Fantasy, huh?
Amy
Like you, I really try to keep the envy in check. But when another blogger, whom I considered a mediocre writer at best, got this huge multi-book deal….I was a little green. And when the book did not meet with rave reviews, I was, ashamedly, somewhat gratified.
That was kind of a wakeup call for me. She, while perhaps not the best writer, worked hard to get her book published. She wrote one, first of all, which is more than I can say. She queried, she networked, she schmoozed.
So…yeah. Is there a point? I don’t know. It’s hard not to feel envy sometimes, but you gotta give credit where credit is due.
I don’t entertain the green monster in the writing arena. Those lucky saps who fall into a publishing contract without paying proper dues AND have a crummy book will be a flash in the pan like so many others. And like you said, I’d prefer to be a career writer and do it the “right” way. Others’ undeserved good luck doesn’t diminish my own future possibilities.
Amy, I’m the same way!