I received an email the other day from a writer who had magazine articles and two novels published some years ago. She has been out of the writing loop for a while due to personal circumstances and finds herself intimidated by today's fast-changing publishing scene.
She asked, “Do you think I have any chance of having success now—it’s really intimidating.”
I know what she’s talking about—as much as change is a great ideal, the actual experience of it isn’t necessarily pleasant. But her comment got me thinking that with all of the attention on what has changed it’s also worthwhile stopping to consider what hasn’t changed:
- People will always love a story. They are the foundation of the kind of animal we are. Whatever form writing takes these days, it’s still a version of “Once upon a time…”
- To have commercial success you need either a new story (very rare) or a new way to tell an old story.
- People are drawn to energy and confidence. We need to reflect that in our writing and also in how we present ourselves to potential buyers, collaborators, and our readers.
- People love to be drawn into an experience. I think all good books are interactive by their very nature. They pull you into their world and if its done well you can’t help but have an emotional response and sometimes also an intellectual one.
- Supporting yourself from your art has always been a challenge. It requires creativity, determination and flexibility.
- People or governments can stop you from being published or from distributing your work, but as we saw with a young girl in an attic in Amsterdam, until you draw your last breath you have the power to write what's on your mind and in your heart.
- You can't know what the future will think of your writing. Anne Frank had no idea how many people would be inspired by her words. John Kennedy Toole died by his own hand never suspecting that "A Confederacy of Dunces" would become a best seller.
Based on what my correspondent told me about her writing history, I’m sure she’s a good story-teller. If she can imbue her writing with the timeless values and summon the energy and confidence to approach the things that are changing, she will find the opportunities in the midst of crises. So can we.
(A good guide to the writing methods that work well is "Your Writing Coach," published by Nicholas Brealey and available from Amazon and other book sellers.)
