Literature vs Genre

The fabulous Ursula LeGuin addresses the subject.

But his only quoted example of the literary novel is Ford Madox Ford’s Parade’s End. Now, I love that interminable four-decker and think it one of the great novels about war. But it was never well known in America, and I wonder how many people have even heard of it by now. If it exemplifies the literary novel, the literary novel is: obscure, unpopular, syntactically complex, ninety years old, and British.

So, then. Is literature the serious stuff you have to read in college, and after that you read for pleasure, which is guilty?

A good read.

Deadlines? What are deadlines?

Things have changed in the world of deadlines.  And like much of publishing, the changes are largely because of electronic publishing.

In short, everything has sped up.

Steven Harper Piziks explains how things have changed for him.

You might wonder why I bring this up.  I bring this up because when you decide to write a novel, you are very probably deciding to be a professional writer, a novelist.  And the "professional" part of that equation means that writing becomes a business.

The time it took you to craft and polish your first selling novel may be--probably will be--the longest time you have to write one.

That's okay.  The more you write, the more you learn how to write.  I'm not saying it ever gets easy, but I'm saying it gets manageable.

Except when life jumps up and bites you.

But that's a subject for another day.

If you are a writer, you need to read this.

Max is a brilliant teacher.  She's also a brilliant writer, but the two don't always go hand in hand. 

If you know anybody who wants to learn about screenwriting I recommend Max.  It is well worth the money.

In the meantime, read this. 

The Grand Illusionist

Bookmark this information.

This is information you're going to need when you land your first publishing deal. Things are changing quickly in publishing, and first, an example of why you don't want to handle this yourself:

What does a publishing contract cover?

What if you don't have an agent?  Or what if you do, but your contract is for so much money you feel the need for more advice?  Here's an attorney who specializes in publishing contracts, Elaine English. Whether or not you are represented by her agency or write in a genre she represents, you can still hire her to negotiate your contract and know that you are being protected in every way possible.

Now, what are you waiting for? 

Go forth and write.