Friday, August 10, 2012

Some Practical Writing Advice from Douglas Coupland


Some thoughts, care of Lit Reactor.

From said list...

  • Writing can be a form of exhibitionism and writing in public can be a good way of unlocking doors, even, yes, at Starbucks. Many writers with steep deadlines go to a hotel in their own city and lock themselves away and finish things more quickly — familiarity with an absence of distractions.
     
  • Many editors are happy to meet a new face for lunch. Many are just plain bored. Phone and ask to meet them but… you have to bring a large pile of pitch ideas with you or the lunch will go nowhere.
     
  • Intern as much as possible, free if possible. The moment someone goes on maternity leave, you’re in. This is true for most jobs, actually. Nobody wants to go through 200 resumes when there’s a warm body right there in front of them.
     
  • People who come out of the magazine track often don’t understand why people from the lit stream see getting published as being mystical. One writes to be read and readerships are to be expected; don’t be cosmic, just get your stuff out there.
     
  • Your life doesn’t change much after being published. “The calm following the calm.” Even if a book strikes big, life doesn’t change much. Calibrate expectations.

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