Comments on: One surefire way to know who WON”T EVER get published…

By: Gio Clairval

Gio Clairval — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:20:31 +0000

Glenda, I don't know whether there are more unpublished writers out there because of the new cybertools. _Before_ the Internet revolution, I learnt that there were 900,000 people who scribbled with a publishing project in mind, just in France (out of 60 million people)!
But the second point surely enters the equation: wannabe writers are more vocal because of the cybertools, and because they can contact published authors in cyberspace.

By: glenda larke

glenda larke — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 07:23:45 +0000

Actually, Peter, that is pretty much what they were saying! My eyes were popping out of my head…

Rob, do you think this is really a new phenomenon, or it it just a matter of:

a) there are proportionately more writers out there c/f published authors or editors(because in this day and age it is mechanically easier to write that it was in typewriter days)

and b)it's easier for them to contact the people they target (and easier to abuse them too!)?

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:44:47 +0000

I want instant adoration and riches without any personal hard work and practice. If those selfish, published writers dont't give me the help I need I am going to throw a tantrum and spit invective until they submit!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:09:29 +0000

All too often the new breed of writer wants an easy ride, a fast way to the top. It ain't going to happen. But hey, what would I know – I have been called some remarkable things in the last few years because I refuse to edit someones book for free (yep I am often asked to edit books for free). My advice to new writers these days – there are people you can talk to about your career, I'm not one of them.

Robert N Stephenson

By: Glenda Larke

Glenda Larke — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:45:07 +0000

I always swore I'd have half a dozen kids who could supply free services to aging parents as a doctor, a dentist, a lawyer, a plumber, an IT specialist, an electrician…

What do I end up with? A musician and a research scientist. Sigh.

By: Satima Flavell

Satima Flavell — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:40:33 +0000

Most published authors go out of their way to help beginning writers by giving advice on their websites and blogs or offering workshops etc. To ask for more than that is ill-mannered, to say the least. Do you ask a doctor you meet socially to look at your bunions? Or invite a plumber to dinner and get him to fix the loo first?

I guess there are some who would, but thankfully I am not acquainted with any of them!