?? writing vs. catbuglaring ??

Published by bryan | Filed under Don Answers your ???s

Don,

Your books are sweet, and I’m sure I’m the very first to tell you that. Seriously, I’ve stumbled upon a GOLD mine of literature, if only other people knew!! Just kidding. Anyway, Blue Like Jazz and your other books thereafter have been very inspiring, and I was considering trying my hand at some writing in the same style as you, you know, very conversational, just talking about life. What advice could you give me about how to go about it, and more importantly, I don’t know the first thing about getting published, should I go through with it. Should I just stick with my original plan of being a catburglar?

Andy

PS: I’m 6′3″ 250 lbs, if that sways your answer at all about the catburglar thing. i don’t exactly vanish into the night.

Andy,

Well, there is good money in catburglaring, much more than in writing, I assure you. But I think you shouldn’t give up on the writing career. I don’t have much advice, because it’s kind of like giving advice about painting. Everybody has their own way of doing it, and there are a million paths. A few books that have helped me out a great deal were “on writing well” by william zenser, “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott and “the writing life” by Annie Dillard. As for publishing, finish your manuscript, then start searching for an agent. A great way to do this is to attend a writers seminar in which agents are present. This allows you to sit across from an agent and talk about your book. That should get you started. Good luck to you, and remember, writers write. At some point you just have to sit down and work through the insecurities.

Don