Tayari's Blog: So You Want to Write? Good For You.

Posted by TayariJones on November 14, 2008 07:14 AM
Filed under Writing

I have to say that I reluctantly agree with Shirley Dent who challenges the myth that "everyone has a book in them." Sadly, that isn't anywhere near true. I meet people all the time-- on planes, on the bus, in the supermarket-- who say "I know I've got a book in me!" Each time, I encourage that person to sit down and try and write it. I don't think it's my place to try and determine who is a writer and who isn't. I'll leave that up to the readers.

Shirley Dent uses her column on the Guardian blog to trace how this "everybody has a book in them" logic leads to a lot of horrible books. Her argument centers on community art projects which catalogs any and every manuscript it comes across. This project is similar to the idea in email I received a year ago, proposing a bookstore for self-published authors. Dent seems convinced that a lack of screening of waters down great literature.

Dent, who described herself as "appalled" by this "non-selective endeavor," needs to calm down. She reminds me of those people who are convinced that gay marriage will somehow demean heterosexual marriage.

I am always suspicious of people who call for more stringent gate keeping. I can't see anything that is lost from the idea of encouraging more writers. I have seen many talented young writers nipped in the bud from a lack of encouragement. As a teacher, I have spent time (that I should have spent teaching craft) rebuilding the confidence of writers who received the emotional smack-down from someone who believes that "there are too many people writing books." In my experience, the main practitioners of this religion are writers who want to keep the glory all to themselves.

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There are 2 comments on "So You Want to Write? Good For You.". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.

Comment #1, by nikki indigo [TypeKey Profile Page]

i would be devastated if someone told me i shouldn't write. it's the equivalent of telling me i shouldn't breathe.

November 14, 2008 04:43 PM

Comment #2, by Michael Fischer [TypeKey Profile Page]

One of the things I'm most thankful for is that my mentors allowed me to write crap and learn from my mistakes (I mean that in a good way).

November 15, 2008 12:24 PM

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