The writer tao lin just published a sprawling essay about why he lost a book deal with Kevin Sampsell at Future Tense Books, generating over fifty comments that range from obscene to thought-provoking. Check it out:
"jay leno's boss goes to jay leno and says, 'you need to use less curse words, use more political jokes, and smile more so that we will get more viewers and make more money'
"jay leno says, 'okay'
"if it is not used to get money then what could you tell the person; what is the reason, really, for change?
"'you need to use less... etc., so that i will like you better and other people will like you better'?"
You know that I'm a bigger fan of experimental web storytelling than your average blogger, but I think he went way overboard. However, the whole point of tao lin's essay is that he doesn't expect to support himself with his writings and that he doesn't write for his critics.
Instead of arguing, I came up with three very simple rules for people who do want to support themselves as writers in this madcap age of web publishing...
1- Whatever it is you wrote, it's too long. You must edit like crazy.
2- If you respect a publisher/publication enough to submit your material there, then you should respect the opinions of those editors.
3- Never, ever mount a public attack against an editor who turns you down. That's like shooting yourself in the foot to fix a paper cut.
I know you want to add something. What do you think?
Three excellent points. Well done!
Posted by: Jeffrey Yamaguchi | July 21, 2006 8:30 AM | Permalink to Comment