In the last blog post, I raised the question as to why my
first novel was written for the Mystery genre, when my love of reading – which
ideally, for the writer, should be the same – leaned toward fantasy.
In the midst of confusion, while caught up in a burning
cauldron – I’m feeling quite dramatic today – of internal and external turmoil,
I had the wherewithal to seek out, find, and join a local writers group. The
complicated process was simple, really. I called the Tulsa Library, and the
nice lady I spoke to, gave me the contact information for the Tulsa
NightWriters, a group I still belong to.
As fate would have it, – I’m experiencing an epidemic of
clichés too – after attending a few monthly meetings, I discovered that a
select cadre of fiction lovers within the club were in the habit of gathering
once a week, to read and critique each other’s work. I inquired about the
nature of this group within a group and before long I, too, became a member of
the quasi secret society of writers.
As it turned out, the secret society leaned toward the
conservative side of writing and, therefore, did not readily take to my
fantastical ramblings. They told me I should abandon the short-story, for there
was no money to be made there, and embrace the long form of a novel. They also
suggested, perhaps a bit more subtly, that I consider a style of a more salable
nature.
Needless to say, I was crushed. Writers, especially those
new to the occupation, or should I say obsession, do not take kindly to
criticism. Some of them might not show it, choosing to take it quietly, but
trust me, they take it personally. When someone expresses a negative opinion of
something you’ve worked so hard to create – whether it’s warranted or not – it’s akin to them
walking up to you on the street and telling you that your children are ugly.
Don’t let me put too sharp a point on this. Learning to take
constructive criticism is a necessary and essential part of the writing
process. And like I said, I’m feeling dramatic today. The help and criticism
I’ve received from editors, publishers, and fellow-writers have been both
appreciated and invaluable.
And now: actually with the next post; for the rest of the
story.
With the help of my publisher, I’m putting together a
program we are calling: Bob’s Reader List. With the list, I hope to offer true
value to those who subscribe. Check it out by clicking the link below:
