Caroline Starr Rose

picture book and middle-grade author

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How Do Others View Your Writing?

18 Comments

In a world where success is counted in tangible things (income and recognition being the biggies), outsiders sometimes view the journey toward publication as confusing, demoralizing, or even illegitimate.

In what other field is there such a thing as a positive rejection?

There are many who support our efforts, but there are some who either view the process as suspicious or our attempts as meaningless (because surely, by now, if that book was any good, it would have sold).

What interesting responses you’ve gotten from those who learn you’re pursuing publication?

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Filed Under: publication, the writing life, this and that

Comments

  1. TerryLynnJohnson says

    February 22, 2010 at 2:00 pm

    I find generally people don’t see a difference between self publishing and traditional. There are quite a few in my town of self-published authors, so when I mention my book is coming out, I get comments like, oh, so-and-so wrote one too.
    and so I blog to to connect with other writers.

    Reply
  2. Tara says

    February 22, 2010 at 2:58 pm

    Thus far I’v been very lucky. Everyone I’ve told has been nothing but supportive. My close friends don’t get what’s involved at all, but they are supportive–a little too supportive at times. As soon as I mention being done with an edit they ask if I’ve sent out all my queries already. If only…

    Reply
  3. pauling says

    February 22, 2010 at 3:07 pm

    Most people don’t get it, and I’m glad my family doesn’t ask a lot because it’s hard to talk about the road to publication with people who don’t understand the process. I save it for my writer friends.

    Reply
  4. Lily Cate says

    February 22, 2010 at 3:11 pm

    I think a lot of my close friends and family are intensely curious. They really want to see how its done, and I get asked questions now like I’m some kind of expert. That, or they seem to shrug it off as another one of my weird pursuits.

    Reply
  5. Piedmont Writer says

    February 22, 2010 at 3:23 pm

    I usually get a raised eyebrow and an “Oh, isn’t that nice.” Writing for publication is so far removed from what I used to do for a living, no one understands why I would have seemingly given up a fantastic “day job” for what I’m doing now. Needless to say, I don’t tell too many people.

    Reply
  6. Jody Hedlund says

    February 22, 2010 at 3:48 pm

    I think most people who are “outside” the writing industry don’t really understand anything about the publication process. Even wannabes who love writing, but haven’t done their homework, tend to have a rosy picture of what it’s like. Recently I’ve been getting questions like, “Oh I’m a writer too, and how did you get published?” (As if there’s a three-step program!) I try to remain positive and encourage them to seek out agent blogs and start familarizing themselves with the industry.

    Reply
  7. Anna says

    February 22, 2010 at 3:48 pm

    As others have said, most people don’t really get the writing process. I have friends and family who are generally supportive, but their eyes kind of glaze over if I try to explain any of the details. Luckily, my husband is super supportive, and I have some wonderful writing friends (online and in real life) who I can commiserate with. Thank goodness for fellow writers!

    Reply
  8. Shannon O'Donnell says

    February 22, 2010 at 4:00 pm

    Mostly people seem excited about it, but some (including my own father) think it’s just a little game I’m playing and one day I’ll decide to be a grown-up.

    Reply
  9. Bethany Mattingly says

    February 22, 2010 at 4:14 pm

    Most people I tell have a very…interesting reaction which is why I don’t normally say anything. I’ve always had a book in my face and loved school growing up so, my family was not as surprised as some of my friends. Most of my friends don’t get it because I already have to write so many papers for the classes I’m taking, they wonder why I’d give myself more “homework.”

    Reply
  10. Karen Strong says

    February 22, 2010 at 4:43 pm

    Love reading these comments. Interesting.

    I try not to talk about my writers with “non-writers.” Most of my friends are logical and work in science or technology and are use to “deliverables” and project plans.

    So when I do talk about my writing — they can’t quite understand why since I have a draft that I don’t just turn it in — “they’re just words.”

    Yeah right. If only if it were that easy, LOL.

    Reply
  11. Elle Strauss says

    February 22, 2010 at 5:15 pm

    when I first started writing, I was so zealous I told everyone. Then when the process got long and I realized I had a lot to learn as a writer, I stopped telling people. Only a few close friends really new. Now that I’ve gotten to the agent stage, I’m telling people again. The problem with that, I know, is that they will think I should have a book coming out in the next few months, right?

    Reply
  12. Jill Kemerer says

    February 22, 2010 at 6:51 pm

    I don’t mind (to often!) admitting I’m not published when the topic comes up, but it’s amazing to me how many people desire to write a book. More often than not, when I say I’m a writer, the other person expresses that they too would like to write a book. I think it’s pretty cool!

    Reply
  13. Julie says

    February 22, 2010 at 10:36 pm

    Most is positive but fairly ignorant “So are you going to get that published?” As if it were between buying a new couch or keeping the old.

    “Well I’d like to . . .someday, maybe.” And do you have any idea how difficult that actually is – I want to say, but I don’t.

    Reply
  14. Jemi Fraser says

    February 23, 2010 at 12:24 am

    And this is why the only “real life” people who will know I write before I get published are the people in my house. Not worth the time & trouble to explain 🙂

    Reply
  15. Rowenna says

    February 23, 2010 at 12:27 am

    I’ve been lucky to have only very supportive responses. But I’ve also been very selective in who I tell. So it’s been a bit of a false positive in that way–I only share with those I trust the most! Of course, they tend to oversimplify the process and I feel I’m disappointing them each time we chat and I’m not published yet. You have to be on the inside to understand how excruciatingly slow everything is!

    Reply
  16. Anna says

    February 23, 2010 at 2:21 pm

    Some people think it’s a cute thing I do, not a real profession. (frustrating) Some people seem genuinely impressed by it. Some ask me why I don’t self-publish and get on with it. I’m learning that the most important thing is how I view my career as a writer, how I am going to discipline myself and how I am going to accept rejection and success.

    Reply
  17. Daisy Whitney says

    February 26, 2010 at 7:38 pm

    When I first queried 3 years ago I actually got some positive feedback in rejections from agents. Some gave suggestions and those were helpful to finally landing an agent.

    Reply
  18. kanishk says

    February 27, 2010 at 2:25 am

    I’m glad my family doesn’t ask a lot because it’s hard to talk about the road to publication with people who don’t understand the process. I save it for my writer friends.

    Work from home India

    Reply

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