RE: how to get published - fact
Sean Draine (seandr@Exchange.Microsoft.com)
Thu, 30 Sep 1999 18:20:00 -0700
Camille:
"Yes ... but you have to be careful of the Tortured Artist syndrome."
Granted. That diagnosis should be made, however, based on having read
someone's work, not based on whether they've managed to convince some
stranger to publish their ms over the 56,953 others submitted that week.
"For God's sake, if you are one of these people, go and have your
manuscript assessed by one of the many services set up to do this
and accept the criticism. It's worth it in the long run."
Not sure if you're referring to me specifically, here. I do have several
publications, but they are all in scientific journals. I've no talent for
writing fiction, nor do I have any illusions about it.
-Sean
-----Original Message-----
From: Camille Scaysbrook [mailto:verona_beach@hotpop.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 30, 1999 5:08 PM
To: bananafish@lists.nyu.edu
Subject: Re: how to get published - fact
Sean Draine:
> > Robert Pirsig was turned down 121 times before Zen And The Art Of
> > Motorcycle Maintenance was reluctantly picked up by a small editor.
>
> > Yes, and John Kennedy Toole KILLED HIMSELF because of the depression he
> > suffered after A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES was rejected by nearly everyone.
>
> Thank you, Tim and HotbunsTwoHundred. These stories are the perfect
antidote
> to the smug, self-promoting 'advice' that one of our published
bananafishers
> has condescended to give. Whatever it was that he published, it surely
must
> be far superior in quality to either of these rejects.
Yes ... but you have to be careful of the Tortured Artist syndrome (and let
me also add I'm part of the publish-me rat race just like anyone else),
which goes something like this: `I have worked on this MS for five years. I
have revised it ten times. I have been rejected by twenty publishers.
Therefore I am a talented, undiscovered genius'. I have seen this happen to
otherwise fine artists who end up working in a complete vacuum, unable to
admit to themselves - unable to even judge anymore - that their work is
just not working, scorning or more regularly ignoring criticism and
soldiering on in the belief that some karma is afforded them by sheer
persistence. It really breaks my heart to see people like this. For God's
sake, if you are one of these people, go and have your manuscript assessed
by one of the many services set up to do this and accept the criticism.
It's worth it in the long run.
Camille
verona_beach@hotpop.com