The book of hopes and dreams

My copy of the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook 2009 came yesterday. As always, it’s emblazoned with laudatory quotes – ‘An entrance ticket to the world you long for’ (Fay Weldon) ‘Like a magic carpet that would carry the writer anywhere’ (Maeve Binchy) ‘I got shot in the chest, but the bullet lodged in my grandfather’s copy of the W + A that I keep in my flak jacket’ (Ian McEwan).

In truth, the Yearbook is not that great. You get a foreword, normally worth reading – the 2009 one is by Kate Mosse. The rest of the articles – on how to get an agent, how to write for magazines, etc – are recycled from year to year. Many are outdated and others shade into the kind of woodshed-hobby opportunism that grows like algae over the profession of fiction writing. They put you in mind of those library books entitled How to Write a Bestseller - by someone you’ve never heard of. As my father said, ‘Why doesn’t this guy just write a bestseller? Make a lot more money.’

The W + A is essential as a listings guide, but even then it is no substitute for researching the market. And even as a list it has many omissions – there is virtually nothing on literary journals despite the explosion of growth in this sector in the last few years. But the W + A does find room for a lengthy section on self-publishing, despite the fact that this is just glorified vanity publishing and a road to nowhere.

On the positive side, Scott Pack does a great piece about blogging and writing.

Highlights:

Most blogs are rubbish. They aren’t read by anyone and are poorly written. They stand as much chance of being turned into books as their authors do of becoming the Pope. The internet is full of mindless drivel and finding something that would make a bestseller is like searching for a needle in a whole field of haystacks.

Whereas blog posts tend to be episodic, and sometimes quite random in terms of content and running order, the best blooks have a narrative arc, they tell a story.

[I]f you venture into blogging with the intention of getting a book deal then you will probably fail. If you start a blog because you want to write and share your work with an online audience then you can only succeed.

This last piece of Pack’s advice applies to writing in general. You have to enjoy your writing if you expect people to enjoy reading it. Do it for the buzz.