A Writer’s Fan Letter Unanswered. Writers, Do You Know Why?
Writer’s Fan Letter Unanswered. Writers, Do You Know Why?
In my Hooking Readers workshops I always pass along what was passed along to me by my mentors, most all coming from my longtime affiliation with the Santa Barbara Writers Conference. It was there I learned from literary legends like Ray Bradbury that when you love a writer’s works, you should send them ‘love letters’ Mr Bradbury’s term of endearment for those letters of appreciation writers send to their writer mentors. I always have and before the internet and websites made this easy, it was a labor of love. Armistead Maupin’s Tale of the City series remain among my favorite. I read all as soon as each was published.
I came across this letter, a copy from my files, and knew instantly what I did wrong. Actually, a few things.
Do you?
Please feel free to leave a comment. What’s wrong with this love letter the author did not pick up back when she wrote it?
You asked a (I am assuming) a stranger to do something for you. Thereby you negated any sincerity you may genuinely have felt for this writer and the writer’s work. Plus you indicated that there already were individuals you had expressed interest in working with you. Were you planning to cut them out if someone more prestigious came along? Reads like loyalty was Not your strong suit.
The editor interested was from from Simon & Schuster and why I mentioned him. One never should ask a noted author of Mr. Maupin’s level for any favor but when one has the nerve to, your project should be sold to the house….that was my error….I hadn’t sold it but did get the attention of a sr editor at S&S…
Not lack of loyalty, it was a naivete that often accompanies one’s first venture into pitching a book….I find your choice of words here certainly a window into who you might be. Perhaps you did not read carefully….
Thanks for stopping by.
marla