An editor once told me, “sometimes the story of the author is more important than the book.” Of course, he meant that for sales, the story of the author may be more compelling than the book itself.
Many authors’ stories are fascinating. Today it may be less so, since anyone with a keyboard and wifi access can style him- or herself as a writer. Looking at Amazon and their number of self-published books, I wonder about the compelling stories.
I read authors’ biographies from time to time. Some are fairly conventional “so-and-so always wanted to be a writer, etc.” but many are not. People like Edgar Allan Poe and Edgar Rice Burroughs struggled with personal demons all their lives.
Experience comes through in stories.
My best advice to authentic writers is not to major in English. If you major in English you may learn how to publish and how to craft conventional stories. My advice: major in life experience.
Without saying too much, my own life has been highly unconventional. Much of this is masked, intentionally, by the pseudonym I use. There’s only so much a writer is willing to reveal. To survive and be able to write, that in itself should attract a publisher.
If it doesn’t, welcome to the world of Poe and Burroughs.
Burroughs, the inventor of Tarzan, often had difficulty finding publishers. He established his own press and published his own books. Even Mark Twain sometimes paid to have his works printed.
What it comes down to, I guess, is that a writer, as self-critical as s/he may be, must believe in her- or himself. Society will certainly do one no favors in that regard. We are our own believers. Our stories are more than our stories.
Life is too valuable not to learn a think or two along the way. Don’t be afraid to try. When it comes down to the end of the day, you may be the best selling point for your book.
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