People sometimes ask me for advice on writing—and it always puts me into a state of confusion. What can I possibly say to them? They have such a glamorous image of the writer’s life. And what they mean by writing advice almost always boils down to: How can I get a taste of it. But this glamorous life is about as real to me as test driving the Millennium Falcon or winning the quidditch tournament at Hogwarts. I’ve never lived it. Sometimes they have very little interest in the writing part of being a writer. A dead giveaway is when they say: “I want to be a writer, but I don’t really know what to write about”—almost as if that’s a minor detail. That’s like wanting to get married, but skipping over all the vows and commitments. Let’s go straight to the gifts and partying. And the only part of writing I’m really familiar with is the Vows and Commitments. But I’m a big believer in those two things. A lot of happiness in life comes from delivering on them. But that story is rarely told—Hollywood studios don’t make movies about people quietly assuming and fulfilling their responsibities, They’re not fools. They know that the audience interested in such things is tiny. If you want to support my work, consider taking out a premium subscription—for just $6 per month (even less if you sign up for a year).That’s why I feel helpless when I get these queries. I do have advice for aspiring writers (see below). But it’s almost certainly not what they expect—or want. I recently got an email request of this sort. And I made my best effort at responding—honestly, accurately, and without pretense. I’m now sharing it with you. Is it good news or bad news? That depends on your perspective.
A Response to a Stranger Who Wants ‘Writing Advice’(This originated as a private email)I'm not sure that I'm a good person to answer your questions. I've had some success as a writer, but I followed a very unusual path to get to where I am today. I started writing for commercial publications when I was 16 years old, and I now finally have a sizable readership in my sixties. But, as you can see, it took me 50 years. I do know the following:
I know I'm not answering many of the questions you raised in your email—which are valid ones. But I have to say that I didn't really think much about them as I pursued my writing vocation. I still have a hard time thinking about it as a career. I think my writing would suffer if I did that. Channeling career ambitions and financial goals into my writing would also have made me deeply unhappy over the years. But by focusing instead on the intrinsic joy of creative expression, I always found sustenance in the writing life. That’s why I'm probably disqualified to give any writing career advice whatsoever. I don't know any shortcuts. to worldly success. I don't have any connections to share. I don’t have a smart plan to teach others. I’m disqualified in other ways. My formal writing credentials suck. I never got a degree in writing. I’ve never been to a writers’ conference—not as a student, not as a teacher, not as a visitor. I’ve never gone to an artist’s retreat. I’ve never even been to a cocktail party in a room full of writers. I probably would have felt out of place in those settings. Yes, I’ve done a few events over the years—and people clapped at the end of my talk—but very few. I haven’t done a live event in the last three years. If I depended on applause and acclaim for motivation, I’d have abandoned writing long ago, and stuck with live music gigs. I became a writer by writing. End of story. So what advice do I offer? Gift subscriptions to The Honest Broker are now available.I can only tell you to follow your bliss. And if you’re meant to be a writer, you probably already know that (or at least feel it). Instead of pursuing a career plan, I’d simply suggest that you seek motivation and enjoyment in the writing itself. Find a publisher if you can, and if not, self-publish. There’s no shame in self-publishing. I now prefer it to all other options. You seem to have concerns about Substack, because you are (in your words) “reluctant to sacrifice your potential readership” by using an alternative platform. I'm not sure I agree with that (or even understand it), but if you have a better path to finding readers, pursue it. I recently heard from someone who is building an audience by mailing random postcards to people. It’s easy to laugh at this, but it might be more satisfying than pitching projects to agents. I like the idea of doing things in fun and unconventional ways. The key thing is to tap into the ecstasy of creative expression. And then reach out and find a reader—make a connection—even just one reader is meaningful. (Consider the great writers of the past who put such care into their letters to friends. They weren’t discourage by reaching only a single reader.) And then do it again. Over time, this builds, maybe even into something resembling a career. Like that gardener in Kyoto, we have plenty of time. I fear that this isn't the answer you wanted. But, alas, it's the only one I can give. I don't know another route, only the one I took on my own journey. But being a writer is already a blessing from the moment you put that first word down on the page. Let me wish many blessings to you. You're currently a free subscriber to The Honest Broker. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
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I Give the Worst Writing Advice in the World
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I Give the Worst Writing Advice in the World
But I believe every word of it ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ...
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