Page 5 - Boca ViewPointe - June '23

June 2023 Viewpointe, Page 5
Why Do I Write?

By William A. Gralnick one’s proposed book. Now the writer is faced with the each edit. Final adage: When a writer has read his/her
dramatic change in the publishing industry. work so many times the manuscript becomes hateful, it
Some of you who are First, there are fewer and fewer major brands. They is ready for publishing.
so kind as to read my are looking for blockbusters. They offer an advance, a lot Oh, there’s more, a lot more. Copyrights, Library
columns and give me of support (you are assigned someone in the firm to guide of Congress number, pictures to be found in the public
feedback often ask this you), and they advertise and market for you. If you’ve been domain or taken by the writer and uploaded to the
question because they to Barnes & Noble lately, you’ve walked into the display publisher, or both. “Both” is my case. One needs to
know I write a blog and a column for the Brooklyn Eagle, table with Michelle Obama’s book and Prince Harry’s come up with a marketable title and a book cover. You
along with finishing up my third book. Other questions book prominently displayed. What you don’t see is mine, can imagine the discussions that took place when I
come up. I’ll answer them. although you can order it through B&N or Amazon. chose, “The War of the Itchy Balls…” At the end of this
I write because I love to write. The writing comes There is an adage in writing: “Write what you know.” process, the writer feels like what comes out of a blender.
naturally. It is a gift. I’m a storyteller from whom rarely I write stories drawn from my life. My memoir trilogy The undiscovered writer’s book is produced on demand
comes a short answer to a question. You’ve probably divides my life into growing up in Brooklyn (The War of (POD). When someone orders it, it is printed. Eventually,
heard me say or read that my writing was a “had to” the Itchy Balls and Other Tales From Brooklyn), College the mailman brings you a copy of your book, and you feel
because my mother didn’t believe kids should talk unless (George Washington Didn’t Sleep Here), and work. The like, “…and on the seventh day, He rested, saw what He
spoken to. “Little pishers should be seen and not heard.” third book is due out this summer. It is called, “That’s had done, and it was good.” That lasts until the reality hits
I became a great listener, and the outlet for what I took Why They Call It Work.” They are books of stories, that someone has to sell this thing, and that is primarily
in was writing. mostly pretty funny, if I do say so myself. I can play you. I have a good publisher. He offers me a lot of help
Is it worth the time? Writing relaxes me—usually. an instrument and read music. I could not compose a that others often don’t bother with, but the fact is a writer
We’ll get to that. I’m also not writing to support myself symphony if someone had put a gun to my head. Same with a book is now a salesperson.
or the family. We’re retired, and both of us have pensions with novels. I have a hard enough time figuring out what I couldn’t sell a winter coat to an Eskimo, but one learns.
and Social Security. If one wants to write for money, I want to say, no less inventing characters and narratives It is a shameless undertaking. No one is safe from you. If
that is a different story, no pun intended. Well, maybe for them to say. I can’t write symphonies and novels someone is in your gene pool and still alive, you ask them.
it is intended… It takes a lot of time and the need for because they aren’t what I know. Observational story Friends and co-workers. People at dinner who say something
thick skin. When an editor bothers to respond at all, the writing is what I know. Sometimes I think if I had only that could create an opening for a sale. I feel sorry for the
rejections create a lot of tension until one has established started sooner—I hear Marlon Brando sighing, “I could’a person who mentions that they are from Brooklyn or tells a
a few outlets and is becoming a name brand. Unless one been a contenda.” Who knows? story about college. I’m on them like white on rice.
is Stephen King or James Patterson, writing is definitely a The worst part of writing is editing. Here’s another So, dear reader, that’s the “emmis” (the truth) about
“don’t give up your day job” endeavor. I have my creative adage. Don’t edit your own work. Of course, one has writing. I will write until I can’t because I’ll always have
outlets for my columns. It’s the books that are a killer. to. Why the caution? Because your brain knows what is something to write about. As a former editor and current
Getting published requires several skill sets, along supposed to be on the paper. Reading one’s own words friend says, “As long as you have eyes and ears, you’ll
with being able to write. One is learning how to write with one’s own eyes the writer often misses typos and always have something about which to write.”
a query letter to publishers. It is what it sounds like, a mistakes because you’re sure they are not there because
letter asking, “Are you interested in….?” There are books “Would a writer like me miss such an error?” Yes, is Columnist and author
that teach that skill and also books that tell you about the answer. Finding one or two readers who love you Bill Gralnick was born
publishers and what they are interested in so that you can enough to read your manuscript is best. If the writer is and raised in Brooklyn,
shoot with a rifle instead of a shotgun. Even so, you use self-publishing, it is best to hire an editor. If you are NY. He is writing a three-
a lot of ammunition. If there is an interest, the publisher self-editing before submission, the work should be read part humorous memoir.
might ask for a synopsis. This is a little trickier. Some three times with space between readings, maybe several The first is “The War of
might want 500 words, some five chapters, some 5,000 days or a week. With a publisher comes an editor, one the Itchy Balls and Other Tales from Brooklyn.” Just
words. Again, there are teaching materials on writing a needn’t find one. In my case, five edits are done. That published is the sequel, “George Washington Didn’t Sleep
synopsis, no matter the requirements. Let’s say truth, means I’ve read my own words (280 raw pages) three Here.” Both are available on Amazon. You can find his
justice, and luck win out and someone is interested in times and will do so five more times as my editor finishes writing at https://www.williamgralnickauthor.com. 

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