I feel that novelists fall into two broad categories: those whose desire is to be published, and those whose passion is to spin stories. I think of these as status seekers and storytellers.
He goes into a little more detail about these terms, with examples from his experience as an agent and workshop leader, but I think the meaning is implicit.
Maass also says:
You would think that at long last finding an agent who says yes, it's time to show your novel to publishers would relax the status seeker's anxiety for validation, but that isn't true. Generally speaking, authors are never more work than during the submissions process. It is normal to want updates on how submissions are going, but with status seekers the process can get nutty.
I read that and immediately felt myself contract - my stomach tightened and I felt quite annoyed. I am on submission with my agent and, in these tough times, things are going slowly. It's true, I ask for updates and guidance on future projects, but does this make me a 'status seeker'? Surely not! I'm not hard work as a client. Nope. Not me... ;)
And then I thought about it and decided to heed the advice of my horoscope this morning: Don't take things so personally.
Maybe I do ask for regular updates, and I'm certainly not ashamed to admit to a deep desire to see my work published... Am I a 'status seeker' because of that? Isn't it normal for writers to seek validation? Of course it would be wonderful if we could all find that validation within ourselves, but we are only human.
But I also know that - at heart - no matter what happens on the publishing side of things I am (I hope) a born storyteller. It's something I have to do in order to be happy, and I wonder why it took me so long to figure that out. Isn't it always the case, that the most obvious solution to our problems is the very last one we turn to? :) Even while I'm working on revisions for one project I'm already thinking of more ways to improve another, while also planning a completely new book. My imagination is spinning stories too fast for me to write down.
I think I will always tell stories - published or not - because this is what I have to do. I'm glad Mr. Maass got me thinking about this last night; it's good to remember why we write.
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Comments
You're a writer. You're human. Welcome to the club :-)
I went to an event recently where you were given pre-printed name tags. Mine said: "Karen Mahoney, Author". I felt really embarrassed, because they only were doing that based on me having an agent & one story coming out in an anthology this month. I felt, somehow, like a fraud. But I'll also admit that a small part of me liked how librarians and other attendees approached me with interest because of that (literal) label. Hmm... Food for thought!
Using the word 'storyteller' isn't correct. 'Writer' should be used instead. IMO.
And that's a good point. I've only read 5 pages of this book, and already I have a ton to think about!
My sense is that some people are needier than others, regardless of how status-seeking they may or may not be. I lived with someone who was briefly an agent. He had a few clients, and they would ring him. Frequently. To check on things. And talk. There was hand-holding. There was bonding. There was dissection of rejection letters. If he'd had twenty or thirty clients like this, there never would have been time for anything else. I wouldn't have said that these people were particularly status-seeking, as writers go. Or non-storytellers. They were just needy. Others were much more professional and didn't treat him like a personal nurse.
I'm not suggesting writers should be pests, but I certainly think that it's important to be your own advocate, as long as that stays within the bounds of professional courtesy and overall good judgement. I find it surprising to think that so-called 'status seekers' aren't possessed of the ability to stay within bounds as well as the next guy.
And again, a huge YES to the part about being your own advocate. I think most good agents would encourage that in their clients - mine does. :)
Heh. But seriously, good point re. how the need for validation comes along with the urge to share stories. It comes hand-in-hand.
And I feel thrilled just thinking about my anthology story. Imagine what I'll be like one day when I sell a novel... Heh.
There is so much wrong with this I don't know where to start. Seriously. It is also an example of why I stopped reading agent blogs and I shun advice to writers books. All they do is feed insecurities and I can do that quite well on my own, thank you.
A desire to write for publication doesn't make you a status seeker. I personally write because I have stories to tell and I want others to read them. The number one way to allow people to read my stories is to be published. Publication is a means, not a goal in itself.
[sarcasm] And what, prey tell, do we call agents who spend more time teaching seminars, making appearances at cons and conventions, and writing books to usher writers into the secret society of publishing than they do working for their clients? [/sarcasm]
I'll let you decide.
I want to make a career out of my love of telling stories, which means it would serve me to be able to do it full time. Which, um... of course means I'd need to be published and make a living from it. I don't equate a desire to be published with being someone who seeks status, definitely not. :)
(I do want some validation, but that's more on a personal level)
And besides, you're published and did a damn good job with that story.
Ugh, and I still haven't done a review. Stupid moving anyway.
And thanks again for giving ME validation on Falling to Ash. *hugs*
^^
When did you go to one of DM's workshops? I'd be interested to hear about that some time.
I attended his writer's weekend a couple of years ago. I'd seen him speak on several occasions and liked what he had to say. I really liked his book, "Writing the Breakout Novel". I bought it and the workbook that went with it.
I'll let you know about the new one. :)
One of the best books I've ever read that helped my writing tremendously was Immediate Fiction by Jerry Cleaver. Really helps with understanding scene and structure without boring you to tears.
Great post!
It's a long journey towards publication, but I'm enjoying all the things I'm learning on the way. And I *do* love writing and getting better at it (I hope).
Thanks. Really.
I've met people who are only in this for the wealth and fame. They want to be lauded. They want to win awards and be recognized on the street. They want to be considered the brilliant successor of (insert author's name here). In my opinion, those are the wrong reasons to do anything.
Back when Stephen King "retired", a reporter asked him what he was going to do. He said, even if he never published another book ever again, he would still write every day. It was what he did. What he liked to do. He couldn't imagine getting up in the morning and not writing.
That's why we write. We have to. It's what we were put here to do.
"That's why we write. We have to. It's what we were put here to do."
I might pin that over my workspace. Um... when I actually GET a 'real' workspace. *g*
When I was an editor, I worked with an author who asked me which books sold the most. I told her that the steamier UF and romance books tended to sell more, and she said, "Okay, that's what I'll write." The partial she later submitted to me was a mess, and when I rejected it, she admitted that she hated fantasy and was uncomfortable writing sex scenes.
Granted, she's an extreme example of what Maas is talking about. But I do think there's SOME truth in what he's saying.
Okay, now that I've written a thesis here *g*... The more time I spend focusing on the publishing side of things--the blogs, reading the latest deals, etc.--the more I've turned into a status seeker type. Only recently when I got a brutal rejection and was actually unable to write for more than a month did I start to remember WHY I'd started writing to begin with.
The business part of publishing can suck a person's joy and creativity right out of them. I think it actually creates what Maas calls status seekers.
But then I haven't read his book, so maybe I'm way off?
You make a good point, though, that sometimes it take something we see as negative (to begin with), like that brutal rejection, to shake us up and force us to remember why we're in this game to begin with. And yes, what a great thought - that the growing obsession wtih the business side of things (trendspotting, etc.) can truly "suck a person's joy and creativity right out of them." *shudders* I can recongnise this, and hopefully I've pulled away from that way of thinking. I'm writing what I love.
Well, I've only read the introduction so far! I'll let you know about the rest. All this great material and food for thought from just the intro. :)
Thanks again for your reply. Oh, and I love that icon.