Do you live in a major urban centre? Take this short test. You are giving a reading from your latest book at your local bookstore, and you invite a friend who lives an hour’s travel away. If your friend says instantly, “Awesome, I’ll be there,” chances are you live in a Big City. If your friend says, “What? Come all that way? On the highway?” then you probably live in a smaller city or town and belong to a group I call “out-of-line” artists.
Agony Editor: How to handle a deteriorating author/agent partnership, without burning bridges
At the end of the day, author/agent relationships can peter out for a variety of reasons, none of which may be personal.
Joshua Whitehead: “I created the character of Jonny Appleseed because he would not let me be”
Jonny is the embodiment of the type of world I want to see: one that has no qualms with 2SQness; one that has elders, mothers, grandmothers, aunties, and kin that are able to push beyond their westernized understandings of binaries; and one where Indigenous femmes, women, and 2SQ (including bisexual) are centred.
Agony Editor: A flop at a big publisher doesn’t mean an author won’t shine at a small press
The people who will buy your book don’t care who published it. So if it makes no difference to them, why should it make a difference to you?
Agony Editor: Is it in poor taste for an author to charge a book club an appearance fee?
If your writer relies on writing for her livelihood, I think it’s perfectly reasonable for her to ask for compensation. Remember: it’s work for her. The time she spends with your book club is time away from writing.
Agony Editor: If you’re going to have a contact page on your author website, you should probably respond to your fans
For better or worse, being a writer means putting yourself out there.
Agony Editor: Feeling envious of another author’s success is normal, just don’t let it blind you to your own accomplishments
It can be tough watching another writer’s career smash through the ceiling while your head keeps bumping against it.
Agony Editor: Getting a film option is great, but don’t count on the movie actually getting made
There are no guarantees the cinematic version of your literary masterpiece won’t end up on Rotten Tomatoes with a 26 per cent average on the Tomatometer. If you feel comfortable with the producers and the contract, the wisest thing to do is simply hand over the reins and walk away.
Agony Editor: Find an early reader for your manuscript that isn’t afraid to give you the hard truths
Finding first readers can be stressful. Ask avid readers who don’t have an emotional connection to you.
Agony Editor: There will always be better writers than you. And that’s okay
Brian Francis answers your burning literary questions.
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