"I’m not enough of a masochist to run my work past other people. I try not to be a jerk when I write about them...But if you write to please other people, you’re finished as a writer."
I've been trying, and failing, to land an agent for an illustrated memoir I've completed. Despite the encouragement I've received, I've also had zero luck moving beyond "Well, we've never seen anything quite like this before, and we're not sure we ever want to again." And yet the excerpts I run from it are my most popular posts at petermoore.substack.com. Not that that proves anything, but still. Sometimes the work needs to be what it is, and nothing else, even when current book-sales group-think says, "nah."
So many great nuggets in here, including that nagging feeling of a story inside us that needs to be told. Also, love the attitude about accepting feedback even when it’s a part of rejection. We can always learn from feedback if we are willing to hear it. Nice interview!
Agreed! I really resonated with that feeling of having a story that you know you have to tell no matter how long it takes. Same with the feedback. I’ve learned to value every response—whether critical or complimentary—as a tool for learning. In fact, feedback on early drafts of my book encouraged me to refine my voice and trust the creative choices that felt most authentic.
I've been trying, and failing, to land an agent for an illustrated memoir I've completed. Despite the encouragement I've received, I've also had zero luck moving beyond "Well, we've never seen anything quite like this before, and we're not sure we ever want to again." And yet the excerpts I run from it are my most popular posts at petermoore.substack.com. Not that that proves anything, but still. Sometimes the work needs to be what it is, and nothing else, even when current book-sales group-think says, "nah."
So many great nuggets in here, including that nagging feeling of a story inside us that needs to be told. Also, love the attitude about accepting feedback even when it’s a part of rejection. We can always learn from feedback if we are willing to hear it. Nice interview!
Agreed! I really resonated with that feeling of having a story that you know you have to tell no matter how long it takes. Same with the feedback. I’ve learned to value every response—whether critical or complimentary—as a tool for learning. In fact, feedback on early drafts of my book encouraged me to refine my voice and trust the creative choices that felt most authentic.
Joyce's Substack is brilliant. Congratulations on your new book, Joyce, I look forward to reading it!
Thank you, Liz.
Inspired is an understatement. Thank you for this!