by Jerry Waxler
At the Philadelphia Stories’ “Push to Publish” conference in the Fall of 2009, I peered into a room filled with cabaret tables, each with an editor on one side and an empty chair on the other. Christine Weiser, who along with Carla Spataro organized the conference, stood guard at the door. When the moment arrived she opened the gate and the pack of us hustled in, eager to sop up every one of our allotted 15 minutes.
“Speed dating” is my favorite way to meet editors. In fact it’s my only way. Over the last ten years, I’ve met a dozen of them, and from each interview I take away some insight about the gatekeepers who stand between me and my future readers. Probably the most informative meeting was the very first, when a young editor told me, “I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.” Since then I have refined my message, learning to be as clear and concise as possible. I’ve also become increasingly curious about them. By turning the tables and asking them to talk about themselves, I deepen my respect for them as real people with whom I may some day do business.
At many conferences, attendees only get one chance, but “Push to Publish” offers multiple interviews. First I headed to Fran Metzman who represented the online Journal Wild River Review, as well as the printed Schuylkill Valley Journal. I told her of my interest in finding a outlet for my essays about memoir writing. Even though Metzman was responsible for fiction at these journals, she also writes a nonfiction column on women’s issues for Wild River Review. “Yes, submit a proposal,” she said. “Just be sure to do a professional job.”
My other date was with Christine Yurick, the publisher of the new print publication “Think Journal.” I asked her to describe her journal’s specific slant. She said she likes structured stories. I was puzzled.
“I assumed that by definition a story has a structure.”
“No, not all,” Yurick said. “Some journals emphasize experimental pieces.”
This explained why I sometimes can’t understand literary journals. Today’s ah-ha revealed that these publications differ in their philosophy of Story. I filed the concept away for future reference, to help me look for the place most appropriate for my writing.
When we finished, she said she would check out my blog and get back to me if she thought there was a match. Note to Self: “Gatekeepers read blogs.”
The net result of the two interviews was a glimmer of hope that literary journals might someday provide an onramp into publishing.
Creative Nonfiction Craze
When it was time to go to the first workshop, I selected a panel called “Tapping Into The Creative Nonfiction Craze.” The assigned room was locked, so about 40 of us trooped down to the auditorium, and arranged chairs into a makeshift meeting area. Our numbers and eagerness suggested that Creative Nonfiction is indeed a craze. And yet, despite its popularity, most literary journals still publish mainly fiction and poetry. The one exception, not surprisingly, is the journal “Creative Nonfiction” which is devoted exclusively to the genre.
As each panel member offered their observations about writing stories of truth, I began to grow optimistic that perhaps memoir writers have a widening channel through which to publish their work. Curtis Smith reinforced my suspicion when he said, “thanks to the proliferation of online and print journals, this is a great time to be a writer.”
The last time I heard offer such an upbeat claim for writers was years ago when Kurt Vonnegut said in an interview that during the 1950s many writers got their start by publishing in magazines. His nostalgia made me curse the day I was born, wishing to be alive in a good time for writers. Curtis Smith claimed those times had returned. Happy day!
Continuing my search for the onramp to publishing, I attended another panel called “The Joys of Small Press.” Moderator Barbara Berot said that small presses are an easier entry point for new writers. Marc Schuster, Acquisitions Editor for PS Books, pointed out another advantage. “Big publishers are looking for products that will sell while small presses are looking for books they love.” Another panelist Debra Leigh Scott said that because of advances in printing technology, the cost of starting your own small publishing house has never been lower.
Like so many other people in the business, these panelists agreed “there isn’t much money in writing.” From there, the session sputtered back and forth between the strategies of publishing and the difficulties of earning money. Naturally I would like to be rich, but I keep this motivation at bay, because the more I think about money, the more likely that I’ll focus on its absence.
Curtis Smith, the same guy who cheered me up in the previous panel, offered a way out. “Keep your day job and write for fun.” His reassuring smile reminded us that money is only one of the many rewards of writing.
In my younger years, when offered a choice between a dark thought and a happy one, I always chose dark, believing that was automatically the smarter of the two. I soon became adept at seeing darkness at the end of every path. After a few years, I had my fill of smart despair, and decided I’d rather be happy. I diligently studied the art of finding something pleasurable in almost every situation.
The business of writing provides a perfect opportunity to exercise this discretion. Given the choice between misery and fun, I follow Curtis Smith’s advice and choose fun. In fact, fun is precisely the reason I attend writing conferences. By coming together with other writers, I enjoy the pleasure of their company, transforming writing from an isolated activity to a social one.
At the end of the day, I thanked Christine Weiser for another great conference. She said, “By the way. Would you be willing to submit some of your essays to the Philadelphia Stories blog?” Here was another opportunity to participate in the writing community, and another way to reach readers and writers. “I’d love to,” I said and walked out to my car. Skipping past puddles from the all-day autumn rain, I eagerly anticipated the approaching winter, looking forward to a whole season full of excuses to stay inside and write.
—
This is the second article I wrote about the 2009 Push To Publish Conference. To read Part 1, click here.
Hi Jerry–I thought this essay was wonderful! You take us on a journey through the various publishing issues that writers face as we read, being specific about names, possible problems and solutions, and in a voice I so enjoy reading.
I particularly loved this brilliant conclusion and decision:
After a few years, I had my fill of smart despair, and decided I’d rather be happy. I diligently studied the art of finding something pleasurable in almost every situation.
Your blog is something I always look forward to reading!
Thanks for the inspiration. Linda Joy
GOOD ARTICLE! fran metzman
I continue to enjoy your blog, Jerry, and I really appreciate your well told story of this local event. Putting it on my calendar for 2010.
If I may add something I have picked up on while traveling this on ramp: you call editors “the gatekeepers who stand between me and my future readers.” This mindset, which we both shared in our writing group days, turns out to be a counterproductive one, in my opinion.
Editors, and the publishers they represent, have none of your readers. Readers are something the author, not the publisher, brings to the joint venture that is mainstream publishing.
Almost no one walks into a book store saying, “I really liked those two books edited by Janet Goldstein; I should get another.” And the only time readers pay any attention to publishers is when they have found two equally intriguing books and need just one.
Publishers are the gateway to distribution channels, not readers. They get stuff you have written into the hands of people already looking for your books. They provide cash flow to get it out to lots at once and absorb a lot of the financial risk for you.
Their editors evaluate the riskiness of the deal: (1) Do you have enough readers already waiting for this book? (2) Is the book fascinating enough for your readers (and any bookstore placements or reviews) to recruit other readers? If you’re lucky, editors will help with the second riskiness factor, but only after you have taken care of the first.
Hi Linda Joy, I appreciate the praise and look forward to swapping many more insights with you, synergizing with all that you offer on namw.org as well.
Hi Patty, Thanks for your detailed thoughts about the journey of a writer. We all need to stick together.
Thanks, Fran. It’s good to hear from you and thanks for the compliment.
Jerry
Pingback: Author Interview: Curtis Smith talks about publishing in Literary Journals « Philadelphia Stories Weblog