Comments on: Death of the Novelist #1 http://benleto.com/blog/1175/death-of-the-novelist-1/ The literary struggle of a lazy part-time genius Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:11:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ben http://benleto.com/blog/1175/death-of-the-novelist-1/comment-page-1/#comment-24572 Ben Sun, 16 May 2010 19:13:26 +0000 http://benleto.com/blog/?p=1175#comment-24572 Thanks, Nicster. My frustration with how publishing works, as both a writer and how I've seen it work firsthand, ran pretty deep and was a fine source of depression when I saw how literature was inevitably headed and the sort of people who are already taking over the industry. I'd like to think I'll get the drive and hunger back to write again one day. It used to come so easily - now it's just gone. One should always write for themselves. Trying to get published pretty much killed off my interest and enthusiasm completely. Thanks, Nicster. My frustration with how publishing works, as both a writer and how I’ve seen it work firsthand, ran pretty deep and was a fine source of depression when I saw how literature was inevitably headed and the sort of people who are already taking over the industry. I’d like to think I’ll get the drive and hunger back to write again one day. It used to come so easily – now it’s just gone.

One should always write for themselves. Trying to get published pretty much killed off my interest and enthusiasm completely.

]]> By: Nicol http://benleto.com/blog/1175/death-of-the-novelist-1/comment-page-1/#comment-24568 Nicol Sun, 16 May 2010 17:40:52 +0000 http://benleto.com/blog/?p=1175#comment-24568 I don't think you should give up. You are one of the most beautifully creative people I know - perhaps the way to look at it is that these publishers are unable to fully comprehend creativity outside the linear structure of publishing text. (That's an adaptation of wise words from my dad - the wisest man I know). Sod them. What do they know? They'll give Jordan a publishing deal for Chrissakes!! I don’t think you should give up. You are one of the most beautifully creative people I know – perhaps the way to look at it is that these publishers are unable to fully comprehend creativity outside the linear structure of publishing text. (That’s an adaptation of wise words from my dad – the wisest man I know). Sod them. What do they know? They’ll give Jordan a publishing deal for Chrissakes!!

]]> By: Ben http://benleto.com/blog/1175/death-of-the-novelist-1/comment-page-1/#comment-20043 Ben Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:07:39 +0000 http://benleto.com/blog/?p=1175#comment-20043 It wasn't until Travelling, Ziv and LLG left their respective comments that it even occurred to me that this response was indeed quite rude. Usually we trodden-on folk are pleasantly surprised by any response at all. As has been continually maintained on this blog, and not just by myself, it would be a happier world for us scribblers if more publishers and agents gave deeper thought where their fabled many lunches came from as LLG indeed does, rather than just see those authors unlucky enough to not arrive as an attachment to an already respected name as an inconvenience to get through before home time. Thanks for commenting, Saltation, though I will forgive you just this once for mentioning She Who Shall Not Be Spoken Of. The article linked to in <a href="http://benleto.com/blog/1034/web-20-and-the-writer/" rel="nofollow">this former post</a> details the very problems you mention with modern publishing, whilst <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8147632.stm" rel="nofollow">this one</a> demonstrates expertly everything I despise about it. It wasn’t until Travelling, Ziv and LLG left their respective comments that it even occurred to me that this response was indeed quite rude. Usually we trodden-on folk are pleasantly surprised by any response at all. As has been continually maintained on this blog, and not just by myself, it would be a happier world for us scribblers if more publishers and agents gave deeper thought where their fabled many lunches came from as LLG indeed does, rather than just see those authors unlucky enough to not arrive as an attachment to an already respected name as an inconvenience to get through before home time.

Thanks for commenting, Saltation, though I will forgive you just this once for mentioning She Who Shall Not Be Spoken Of. The article linked to in this former post details the very problems you mention with modern publishing, whilst this one demonstrates expertly everything I despise about it.

]]> By: Saltation http://benleto.com/blog/1175/death-of-the-novelist-1/comment-page-1/#comment-20041 Saltation Tue, 21 Jul 2009 21:50:12 +0000 http://benleto.com/blog/?p=1175#comment-20041 pfeh. the publishing gateway is a lottery. 2 glorious examples: * several times in the last decade or so, people have submitted anonymously various classics or recent major award winners, to a wide range of publishers. in each case, they've been turned down by all; usually summarily but occasionally with accidentally hilarious comments about the unreadability of the work. * rowling's Harry Potter (you know, that marginally popular book) was rejected by ALL publishers, including bloomsbury. it was pure chance the bloomsbury guy was tired and hassled late one night and fobbed off a needy child at home with the manuscript, and only later buckled to her insistent ranting demands that he publish it. pfeh.

the publishing gateway is a lottery.

2 glorious examples:
* several times in the last decade or so, people have submitted anonymously various classics or recent major award winners, to a wide range of publishers. in each case, they’ve been turned down by all; usually summarily but occasionally with accidentally hilarious comments about the unreadability of the work.

* rowling’s Harry Potter (you know, that marginally popular book) was rejected by ALL publishers, including bloomsbury. it was pure chance the bloomsbury guy was tired and hassled late one night and fobbed off a needy child at home with the manuscript, and only later buckled to her insistent ranting demands that he publish it.

]]> By: Jane Doe http://benleto.com/blog/1175/death-of-the-novelist-1/comment-page-1/#comment-19950 Jane Doe Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:38:48 +0000 http://benleto.com/blog/?p=1175#comment-19950 Just when I thought rejection couldn't get worse! Just when I thought rejection couldn’t get worse!

]]> By: Liberty London Girl http://benleto.com/blog/1175/death-of-the-novelist-1/comment-page-1/#comment-19943 Liberty London Girl Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:57:46 +0000 http://benleto.com/blog/?p=1175#comment-19943 Fucking hell that's offensive. (wld just like to point out that as a commissioning ed on magazines I replied to EVERY SINGLE article pitch I received good or bad with a proper email). Christ it doesn't take that long. Even if you make a template you can still personalise it with a few key phrases so that the hack/author doesn't feel like complete merde. LLGxx Fucking hell that’s offensive. (wld just like to point out that as a commissioning ed on magazines I replied to EVERY SINGLE article pitch I received good or bad with a proper email). Christ it doesn’t take that long. Even if you make a template you can still personalise it with a few key phrases so that the hack/author doesn’t feel like complete merde. LLGxx

]]> By: Ziv Catbee http://benleto.com/blog/1175/death-of-the-novelist-1/comment-page-1/#comment-19721 Ziv Catbee Sat, 06 Jun 2009 11:09:54 +0000 http://benleto.com/blog/?p=1175#comment-19721 :( That's incredible rude of them! If they want to have writers to publish, they shouldn't send out letters like that. :( That’s incredible rude of them! If they want to have writers to publish, they shouldn’t send out letters like that.

]]> By: Travelling but not in love http://benleto.com/blog/1175/death-of-the-novelist-1/comment-page-1/#comment-19716 Travelling but not in love Fri, 05 Jun 2009 08:13:48 +0000 http://benleto.com/blog/?p=1175#comment-19716 it's just fucking rude is what it is. it’s just fucking rude is what it is.

]]> By: Ben http://benleto.com/blog/1175/death-of-the-novelist-1/comment-page-1/#comment-19713 Ben Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:42:22 +0000 http://benleto.com/blog/?p=1175#comment-19713 Thanks, Ray. I suppose we're expected to be grateful that they let us know at all! I think a great many people in publishing (though by no means all) really do forget that without those inconvenient creatures pestering them day in, day out to look at their indulgent scribblings, there would be no publishing at all. Thanks, Ray. I suppose we’re expected to be grateful that they let us know at all! I think a great many people in publishing (though by no means all) really do forget that without those inconvenient creatures pestering them day in, day out to look at their indulgent scribblings, there would be no publishing at all.

]]> By: Ray http://benleto.com/blog/1175/death-of-the-novelist-1/comment-page-1/#comment-19712 Ray Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:17:39 +0000 http://benleto.com/blog/?p=1175#comment-19712 I can't decide which is worse, the dismissive "No Thanks" or the empty name space. Nevertheless, this is a great post. I can’t decide which is worse, the dismissive “No Thanks” or the empty name space. Nevertheless, this is a great post.

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