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8.
AOTW: Do you have people outside the publishing industry ---
friends, significant others, family members --- who you show your
work to before you submit it for publication? And are they the same
people each time?
Daniel
Handler: Everything I write I show to my wife Lisa, because
she's the smartest person I know, and for years I showed everything
to Kit Reed, a novelist and professor who has been more or less
my mentor.
Jeffery
Deaver: I revise far more than King does. I'll do perhaps ten
major rewrites before anyone looks at it (other than my German shepherd,
who--somewhat unnervingly--sometimes watches my computer screen
as I type). The first person to see it is my business partner. Once
I input her suggestions the book goes to my agent, Deborah Schnieder.
She too will have suggestions. After I incorporate those I'll do
a few more drafts then off it goes to my editor.
Noreen
Ayres: I no longer have anyone read my work except my partner.
It took me a long while to get to the point where I felt sure enough
of myself to unburden my writer friends from the chore of reading
my work. I was in an enormously helpful writer's workshop for five
years and learned from listening to critiques of the works of others
as much as of my own, by the way. I also feel it's a mistake to
show your work to too many people. Writing is confusing enough as
it is without outside interference before your editor and agent
see it. A few trusted readers will do, experienced writers themselves
or folks with analytical minds.
Brad
Meltzer: They usually are the same people. My wife gets it first
- I don't even consider it written until she reads it. Then I go
to different friends for different takes on the book. I have some
friends who are great for pacing and they just love to speed read.
I have others who are fantastic for character. They like more literary
books so I use them to help develop the characters and flesh them
out. Then I have others who I save for the end because they are
big picture people. They can see what's working and not working.
If you don't give it to people outside the industry you're going
to get a lot of bad bias. Everyone in the industry is for the same
thing, whereas outside you can always get a fresh perspective.
Lisa
Scottoline: I never show my writing to anyone "outside
the publishing industry" before it is finished, and frankly,
don't think beginning writers should either. I write the draft (an
7-8 month process), edit it, then send it to my editor and my agent.
They are professionals, and their experience uniquely qualifies
them to determine what makes fiction work and what sinks it. They
get back to me with their comments immediately, and since they are
both great minds, they think alike, and their comments are almost
always consistent. Frankly, I do whatever they say. They are trying
to help me improve my story. I need them like I need oxygen, and
spaghetti. The problem with showing unfinished work to friends and
family is that they often will critique the book you should have
written as opposed to the one you did. I've seen even reviewers
make this mistake, and it's a common one. Remember, it's your book.
Keep it that way. Criticism is for professionals. Don't try this
at home. If you are wondering about the downside, consider that
it's hard enough to get out the story you want to tell, without
having your flickering candle of confidence snuffed out, even unintentionally.
If you have a bulletproof belief in your own talent, then hand your
manuscripts out like Halloween candy. Since I don't have that and
never will, I keep my books to myself until it's time for them to
toddle out into the world.
Laurie
Halse Anderson: My kids read my stuff. I take chapters that
I am struggling with to my writers' group. There are three or four
friends brave enough to read through the entire manuscript --- people
whose judgment I trust. It is a mistake to show your story to too
many people.
Jonathan
Kellerman: I'm lucky to live with a gifted novelist --- the
woman I've come to refer to as "the famous Faye Kellerman". We read
each other's stuff. In the early days, when we were both starting
out, this was a weekly ritual. Now we're more confident and tend
to wait until a larger chunk has accrued. Having Faye at hand is
a great luxury. She's gifted and acute. Fortunately, we really love
each other's books --- that's certainly contributed to our 30 year
relationship. In general, our comments tend to be more supportive
than critical. My editors have all told me that I'm among the most
lightly edited writers they've worked with. (Perhaps some critics
view this as an error or editorial judgment. I'd like to think it's
because I'm so hard on myself.) Unlike Steve, I NEVER show my stuff
to anyone else --- other than my agent and editor.
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