Books for Writers: "The First Five Pages" by Noah Lukeman

A great number of books have been written on the art of writing. Most of these books are written by authors, poets - that is, writers in the main. Very few are written by agents.

This is where The First Five Pages: A Writer's Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile by Noak Lukeman comes into its own. It tells you what you should not do as well as what you should. Sometimes knowing what you should not do is actually far more useful. What Lukeman clarifies that agents, are looking to reject a manuscript. That thought will horrify you perhaps, but he provides the landmarks you need to follow to ensure your book is not thrown into the rejection pile.

Although I recommend this book, I have a proviso; it is not suited to all writers. It is geared towards genre/commercial fiction in the main and not literary fiction.

ZHZ.

Great Writers: Guy de Maupassant

A short-story occasionally appears on the horizon that redefines the world and jars it into focus and  Boule De Suife is one of them.  For any writer seeking to master the short story there is no better beginning to the instruction of this most difficult of forms than this collection.

Guy de Maupassant's classic opening story (also entitled 'Boule de Suif') takes a knife to French society and ruthlessly peels away its many layers. Set during the Franco-Prussian War, Maupassant descends into the mores of the rich and educated and reveals them for what they are.

What is fascinating about Maupassant's tale is how in the confines of the short story form he is able to show how delicate the fabric of human illusions is and how easily it is torn asunder.

Guy de Maupassant

Whether you read it in the original French or otherwise, c'est formidable.

ZHZ.

Great Books: Dune by Frank Herbert

I read Dune when I was twelve and I revisit it continually as its lessons remain as potent today.

Dune has a brooding quality that erodes limits and barriers and emphasises certain realities and hints at greater depths and mysteries.  There is a sense of timelessness to this classic eco-religio-political piece of science fiction that defies interpretation and continues to tantalise.

Yet Dune was turned down by twenty or so publishers before it was finally accepted and even then, grudgingly so.  There lies hope for writers who achieve only rejection instead of recognition.  Publishers are businessmen: don't expect them to fund art for art's sake.

In today's world of eco-nightmare and addiction to petroleum, in the nature, shape and influence of "spice melange" there is a vital message for all us and there lies one secret of this classic: it answers questions of the day in perpetuity - whoever controls the ultimate source of power controls the universe and whoever is willing to destroy it, like Paul Atreides, will rule.  What will follow, however, may be unspeakable.

Dune, remains the greatest single science-fiction novel ever written, not simply due to the quality, depth and cadence of the writing, but because of the universe Frank Herbert wrought.

If ever there was a contender for a science-fiction novel worthy of the Nobel Award then this is it.


ZHZ.

There are a series of brilliant interviews with writers slotted all over the internet.

Here is a short interview that I recommend viewing for would be screenwriters. Paul Haggis wrote the screenplay for Million Dollar Baby. He has also written commercial screenplays such as Quantum of Solace.

Watch, listen, learn and take the best you can from his nuggets of wisdom...

ZHZ. 

How a Writer Should Deal With Rejection

Many writers believe they're that perfect writer, the genius, the one who just penned the Great Novel.
But they just haven't got round to sending it.

So you're waiting for the right moment to send your manuscript? Yes, I know it's literary gold and it will sell for millions and mummies will name their kids after you, but...you haven't sent it, have you?

Perhaps I should let you into some open secrets:

• Lord of the Flies by William Golding was originally turned down by twenty publishers
• A Time to Kill by John Grisham was rejected by sixteen agents
• Watership Down by Richard Adams was rejected by thirteen publishers
• G P Taylor, author of Shadowmancer, self-published before clinching a deal with Faber
• And last but not least J K 'Billionaire' Rowling was rejected by a dozen publishers

How's the coffee?You've smelled it, haven't you? If you want to be published expect rejection.That's how you know you're onto a winner. Agents get it wrong. Publishers get it wrong. Please, give them a chance not to live it it down.

So dust off your manuscript. Yes, I know it's brilliant. Just send it. And while you're waiting, keep writing.

Another coffee?

ZHZ.