Over the past couple of weeks I’ve had unsolicited advice from a couple of sources suggesting that my writing expectations are off. Aim low, they advise, and even then don’t expect much. That I already understand. It’s the next bit of advice that gets to me: Don’t write what you want to write. Write what sells. One way they suggest doing this is to become a ghost writer. People who have the profile to sell books but who can’t write often want someone with talent to tell their story and give them the credit. It is accepted wisdom that this is a standard way to break into writing. I don’t doubt that they’re right. Nobody’s heard of K. Marvin Bruce—he’s never been a major athlete, political figure, or entertainer. Why should they care what he has to say? (Never mind the creative part, or even the fact that he’s a nice guy.) Someone with billions of dollars we care about. We want their story. I’m frien...
Blog of a struggling writer.