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ENTRY

Advice for first-time writers (Barry Gifford and me)
June 30, 2008

I bought the July/August issue of Poets and Writers from the magazine rack not (solely) because of the cover shot of Marilyn Monroe in beachwear reading Joyce's Ulysses. The photo editor obviously picked the 1955 shot to illustrate the theme of the issue: Summer Reading. No, I picked up this issue (mostly) because of an interview with the newly hired editor at Nan A. Talese (Doubleday/Random House), the publisher of The Fourth Treasure. Janet Silver, a long time editor at Houghton Mifflin leaving after a messy acquisition, talked about her career and new position, and offered advice for beginning authors.

Her advice was both concrete and abstract, dealing with MFA programs, reading the classics, tired plots and number of dream scenes in a book. But I'll let you read the specifics. In another section of the issue, several authors publishing their first book were interviewed. Most were asked the question "What advice would you give for first-time authors?" Now by "first-time authors" I assume the interviewer meant writers who have yet to publish their first work. The advice ranged from disregarding the "buzz of the publishing biz" to "read for language" to "keep going."

As I read the advice, I realized I followed none of the advice except "keep going." It wasn't that I necessarily disagreed with their advice, it was just not how I became a writer. I took only one creative writing class taught by a uninspiring but well-meaning professor teaching his last few courses before retiring. I've read maybe three books considered classics. I had a tin ear for language. I just wrote the kind of books I liked to read. So what kind of advice would I give to an unpublished writer?

I really don't know. The way I went about becoming a writer wasn't very smart. At least not very efficient. I wrote six novels over fourteen years before I got one published. I still write two or three novels to come out with a good one. Yet, despite my flailing around, I've had some success: a third novel being published soon, translations in six languages. But honestly looking back I have no idea how it has happened. The only way I think I could answer the advice question is to not do what I did, or to do exactly what I did. In other words, I believe you will find your own way.

Here's where Barry Gifford comes in. Shortly before I finally published my first novel (although I had published a short story or two by then), I entered a writing contest for unpublished writers. The prize was to spend half an hour with novelist, poet, and screenplay writer Barry Gifford. He's best known for his novel Wild at Heart which was turned into a David Lynch film with Nicholas Cage and Laura Dern. I submitted three chapters and a synopsis of a novel about a sumo wrestler turned private detective (it's okay to laugh). It was my fourth or fifth effort at a novel. Surprisingly I was one of the winners.

I made out a list of questions, I can't remember exactly what they were now but were like: Do you work from an outline? I met with Barry in a library conference room. He shook my hand and said he was feeling a little jet lagged having just returned from Japan and was also suffering from a strained back from the flight. A Japanese film company flew him to Japan to work on a project. First class all the way, he said with a wry smile. Then he gave me a disclaimer that he wasn't an academically trained writer, that he'd never taught a writing course, and that he really didn't know if he could offer any valid advice on writing or getting published.

That said, he went on, your entry was the only I thought worthwhile. It had character, action, and a purpose. Just keep doing it, he said. The rest of the half hour slid by easily, as we talked about Japanese food and drink, the authors we liked, and, I seem to recall, nothing else about writing. I never asked any of my prepared questions, but of course I didn't need to.

#

© 2013

COMMENTS

Number of comments: 6
click here to add a comment

Jo Reed
Mr. Gifford probably said the same thing to all the other winners! So encouragement helps? And I'd like to hear about about this sumo wrestler turned detective.

Todd
I wrote four or five novels with the character, never got a publisher interested. Must be too weird. I do think encouragement helps if well-founded for the beginning writer. I plan to talk about criticism in a later post.

Lee Witte
I struggle with listening to and taking advice. Sometimes I soak it in, other times I just reject it. I gues it depends on the context and person giving the advice.

Jo Reed
Lee, so give us some specifics please! WHat kind of advice is good, what kind is rejected?

Lee Witte
I have a couple of people I respect for their opinions about my writing, I mean the words/sentences. Others I look for advice about the story, the plot/characters. I also have to know what kind of fiction and/or authors they like to read. If their preferences don't match what I'm writing then I find it hard to accept their advice.

Jo Reed
Thanks, Lee. Lately, I've been in the reject-all-advice mood.

ARCHIVE

date (comments)

Review: Paprika
April 21, 2013 (3)

Review: A Straight Road With 99 Curves
March 30, 2013 (1)

Gripping writing
Feb. 28, 2013 (2)

Review: Salvation of a Saint
January 19, 2013 (2)

2012 in review
December 30, 2012 (2)

Review: Ninja
September 30, 2012 (2)

Review: My Postwar Life
August 21, 2012 (1)

New interview with Colin Marshall
July 15, 2012 (3)

Book events
April 25, 2012 (2)

Subduction
March 14, 2012 (8)

Review: A Room Where the Star Spangled Banner Cannot Be Heard
January 14, 2012 (1)

Review: Plainsong
December 20, 2011 (3)

Review: The Devil's Disciple
November 29, 2011 (2)

Haruki Murakami
October 5, 2011 (2)

Busyness and demons
September 25, 2011 (2)

Characters: The Bully
July 30, 2011 (3)

Review: Manazuru
June 28, 2011 (2)

Deadlines!
June 24, 2011 (2)

Review: Butterfly's Sisters
May 18, 2011 (1)

Review: Isle of Dreams
April 20, 2011 (2)

Cades Award for Literature press release
April 12, 2011 (2)

Japan and other news
March 29, 2011 (1)

Borders bankruptcy
February 17, 2011 (2)

2010 review
December 17, 2010 (6)

Congratulations Mario Vargas Llosa
October 7, 2010 (2)

OH! wins best book award
September 23, 2010 (2)

Review: Kissing the Mask
August 22, 2010 (1)

Jonathan Lethem: Writing at the margins
July 12, 2010 (2)

Review: Love in Translation
June 22, 2010 (3)

Jose Saramago
June 18, 2010 (0)

Marketplace of Ideas interview
June 11, 2010 (2)

Imagining Memory
May 6, 2010 (1)

Upcoming Los Angeles events
April 7, 2010 (2)

Time and energy
March 30, 2010 (2)

Review: Botchan
February 28, 2010 (2)

J.D. Salinger
January 28, 2010 (1)

2009 Reviewed
December 31, 2009 (5)

Review: The Word Book
December 12, 2009 (1)

Chaat and Chat event with OH!
November 6, 2009 (2)

Home at last
November 2, 2009 (2)

Los Angeles events
October 17, 2009 (1)

Poets and poetry
October 7, 2009 (1)

Time + place
September 24, 2009 (1)

The future of books
September 23, 2009 (1)

October book tour
September 6, 2009 (1)

Blogging at Powell's Books
August 28, 2009 (2)

The evolution of an idea
August 3, 2009 (1)

The Poetics of Motoori Norinaga: A Hermeneutical Journey
July 9, 2009 (2)

Tour debrief
July 2, 2009 (3)

Book tour events
May 18, 2009 (3)

Simply in the mood
April 24, 2009 (2)

Book tour
April 8, 2009 (6)

The Necessary Book
March 2, 2009 (2)

"Murder Makes the Magazine"
February 7, 2009 (3)

John Updike
January 27, 2009 (2)

2008 misc. (good news, bad news)
January 1, 2009 (3)

Publishing woes and query letters
December 13, 2008 (4)

Punctuation compunction
November 16, 2008 (3)

The Fountain of Youth (and other Ideas)
October 10, 2008 (2)

David Foster Wallace
September 14, 2008 (2)

Ending it all
September 12, 2008 (2)

The mystery of plotting, the plotting of mysteries
August 29, 2008 (3)

Blocking out the block
August 20, 2008 (3)

"What kind of books do you write?"
August 8, 2008 (2)

Theory of Satisfaction: Part 4
July 21, 2008 (3)

Show and tell
July 14, 2008 (3)

Theory of Satisfaction: Part 3
July 7, 2008 (7)

Advice for first-time writers (Barry Gifford and me)
June 30, 2008 (6)

Theory of Satisfaction: Part 2
June 18, 2008 (3)

To be or not to be
June 10, 2008 (6)

Theory of Satisfaction: Part 1
June 3, 2008 (6)

Virtual unreality
May 31, 2008 (4)

The purpose of this blog
May 21, 2008 (5)

Todd Shimoda's Writer's Blog home \| current \| forthcoming \| past \| contact
ENTRY Advice for first-time writers (Barry Gifford and me) June 30, 2008 I bought the July/August issue of Poets and Writers from the magazine rack not (solely) because of the cover shot of Marilyn Monroe in beachwear reading Joyce's Ulysses. The photo editor obviously picked the 1955 shot to illustrate the theme of the issue: Summer Reading. No, I picked up this issue (mostly) because of an interview with the newly hired editor at Nan A. Talese (Doubleday/Random House), the publisher of The Fourth Treasure. Janet Silver, a long time editor at Houghton Mifflin leaving after a messy acquisition, talked about her career and new position, and offered advice for beginning authors. Her advice was both concrete and abstract, dealing with MFA programs, reading the classics, tired plots and number of dream scenes in a book. But I'll let you read the specifics. In another section of the issue, several authors publishing their first book were interviewed. Most were asked the question "What advice would you give for first-time authors?" Now by "first-time authors" I assume the interviewer meant writers who have yet to publish their first work. The advice ranged from disregarding the "buzz of the publishing biz" to "read for language" to "keep going." As I read the advice, I realized I followed none of the advice except "keep going." It wasn't that I necessarily disagreed with their advice, it was just not how I became a writer. I took only one creative writing class taught by a uninspiring but well-meaning professor teaching his last few courses before retiring. I've read maybe three books considered classics. I had a tin ear for language. I just wrote the kind of books I liked to read. So what kind of advice would I give to an unpublished writer? I really don't know. The way I went about becoming a writer wasn't very smart. At least not very efficient. I wrote six novels over fourteen years before I got one published. I still write two or three novels to come out with a good one. Yet, despite my flailing around, I've had some success: a third novel being published soon, translations in six languages. But honestly looking back I have no idea how it has happened. The only way I think I could answer the advice question is to not do what I did, or to do exactly what I did. In other words, I believe you will find your own way. Here's where Barry Gifford comes in. Shortly before I finally published my first novel (although I had published a short story or two by then), I entered a writing contest for unpublished writers. The prize was to spend half an hour with novelist, poet, and screenplay writer Barry Gifford. He's best known for his novel Wild at Heart which was turned into a David Lynch film with Nicholas Cage and Laura Dern. I submitted three chapters and a synopsis of a novel about a sumo wrestler turned private detective (it's okay to laugh). It was my fourth or fifth effort at a novel. Surprisingly I was one of the winners. I made out a list of questions, I can't remember exactly what they were now but were like: Do you work from an outline? I met with Barry in a library conference room. He shook my hand and said he was feeling a little jet lagged having just returned from Japan and was also suffering from a strained back from the flight. A Japanese film company flew him to Japan to work on a project. First class all the way, he said with a wry smile. Then he gave me a disclaimer that he wasn't an academically trained writer, that he'd never taught a writing course, and that he really didn't know if he could offer any valid advice on writing or getting published. That said, he went on, your entry was the only I thought worthwhile. It had character, action, and a purpose. Just keep doing it, he said. The rest of the half hour slid by easily, as we talked about Japanese food and drink, the authors we liked, and, I seem to recall, nothing else about writing. I never asked any of my prepared questions, but of course I didn't need to. # © 2013	COMMENTS Number of comments: 6 click here to add a comment Jo Reed Mr. Gifford probably said the same thing to all the other winners! So encouragement helps? And I'd like to hear about about this sumo wrestler turned detective. Todd I wrote four or five novels with the character, never got a publisher interested. Must be too weird. I do think encouragement helps if well-founded for the beginning writer. I plan to talk about criticism in a later post. Lee Witte I struggle with listening to and taking advice. Sometimes I soak it in, other times I just reject it. I gues it depends on the context and person giving the advice. Jo Reed Lee, so give us some specifics please! WHat kind of advice is good, what kind is rejected? Lee Witte I have a couple of people I respect for their opinions about my writing, I mean the words/sentences. Others I look for advice about the story, the plot/characters. I also have to know what kind of fiction and/or authors they like to read. If their preferences don't match what I'm writing then I find it hard to accept their advice. Jo Reed Thanks, Lee. Lately, I've been in the reject-all-advice mood.	ARCHIVE date (comments) Review: Paprika April 21, 2013 (3) Review: A Straight Road With 99 Curves March 30, 2013 (1) Gripping writing Feb. 28, 2013 (2) Review: Salvation of a Saint January 19, 2013 (2) 2012 in review December 30, 2012 (2) Review: Ninja September 30, 2012 (2) Review: My Postwar Life August 21, 2012 (1) New interview with Colin Marshall July 15, 2012 (3) Book events April 25, 2012 (2) Subduction March 14, 2012 (8) Review: A Room Where the Star Spangled Banner Cannot Be Heard January 14, 2012 (1) Review: Plainsong December 20, 2011 (3) Review: The Devil's Disciple November 29, 2011 (2) Haruki Murakami October 5, 2011 (2) Busyness and demons September 25, 2011 (2) Characters: The Bully July 30, 2011 (3) Review: Manazuru June 28, 2011 (2) Deadlines! June 24, 2011 (2) Review: Butterfly's Sisters May 18, 2011 (1) Review: Isle of Dreams April 20, 2011 (2) Cades Award for Literature press release April 12, 2011 (2) Japan and other news March 29, 2011 (1) Borders bankruptcy February 17, 2011 (2) 2010 review December 17, 2010 (6) Congratulations Mario Vargas Llosa October 7, 2010 (2) OH! wins best book award September 23, 2010 (2) Review: Kissing the Mask August 22, 2010 (1) Jonathan Lethem: Writing at the margins July 12, 2010 (2) Review: Love in Translation June 22, 2010 (3) Jose Saramago June 18, 2010 (0) Marketplace of Ideas interview June 11, 2010 (2) Imagining Memory May 6, 2010 (1) Upcoming Los Angeles events April 7, 2010 (2) Time and energy March 30, 2010 (2) Review: Botchan February 28, 2010 (2) J.D. Salinger January 28, 2010 (1) 2009 Reviewed December 31, 2009 (5) Review: The Word Book December 12, 2009 (1) Chaat and Chat event with OH! November 6, 2009 (2) Home at last November 2, 2009 (2) Los Angeles events October 17, 2009 (1) Poets and poetry October 7, 2009 (1) Time + place September 24, 2009 (1) The future of books September 23, 2009 (1) October book tour September 6, 2009 (1) Blogging at Powell's Books August 28, 2009 (2) The evolution of an idea August 3, 2009 (1) The Poetics of Motoori Norinaga: A Hermeneutical Journey July 9, 2009 (2) Tour debrief July 2, 2009 (3) Book tour events May 18, 2009 (3) Simply in the mood April 24, 2009 (2) Book tour April 8, 2009 (6) The Necessary Book March 2, 2009 (2) "Murder Makes the Magazine" February 7, 2009 (3) John Updike January 27, 2009 (2) 2008 misc. (good news, bad news) January 1, 2009 (3) Publishing woes and query letters December 13, 2008 (4) Punctuation compunction November 16, 2008 (3) The Fountain of Youth (and other Ideas) October 10, 2008 (2) David Foster Wallace September 14, 2008 (2) Ending it all September 12, 2008 (2) The mystery of plotting, the plotting of mysteries August 29, 2008 (3) Blocking out the block August 20, 2008 (3) "What kind of books do you write?" August 8, 2008 (2) Theory of Satisfaction: Part 4 July 21, 2008 (3) Show and tell July 14, 2008 (3) Theory of Satisfaction: Part 3 July 7, 2008 (7) Advice for first-time writers (Barry Gifford and me) June 30, 2008 (6) Theory of Satisfaction: Part 2 June 18, 2008 (3) To be or not to be June 10, 2008 (6) Theory of Satisfaction: Part 1 June 3, 2008 (6) Virtual unreality May 31, 2008 (4) The purpose of this blog May 21, 2008 (5)