Three life-changing words for the writer in you

Carole MarshAll AGING IN GOOD SPIRITS
Posted 7/30/24

The conversation with my creative but skeptical friend brought back memories. She had written a great story but was hesitant to shop it around to editors. “Maybe I should take a few writing …

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Three life-changing words for the writer in you

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The conversation with my creative but skeptical friend brought back memories. She had written a great story but was hesitant to shop it around to editors. “Maybe I should take a few writing courses before I submit anything. Think my resume needs more,” she said. “My work may not be good enough to publish. I’ll just forget the whole idea. Besides, I’m too old for a new career.” She was on a roll, and I completely understood. A few years earlier I had been there.

Four years and too many writing classes to mention, I was finished with school. I had gone back to college once my kids were grown. Professors had been very supportive of my work, assuring me that with some effort I could make it as a writer. In the safety of the classroom, I was confident but being out on my own was a whole new ball game. I was 50 years old.

The ad was looking for a weekly columnist. Sounded like my dream job but before I could make that call, fretting took over. Had I taken enough writing courses? Should I sign up for just one more? Were the professors right? Was my work publishable? What about that rejection issue? Was I too old? Stewing over these concerns went on for several hours. Totally annoyed with myself and the day almost over, I bit the bullet and made the call.

Trying not to stumble over my words, I introduced myself and my reason for calling. I was about to launch into my stellar college background when the editor interrupted with a request – a simple three-word sentence that would make all the difference in this writer’s life. “Send me something,” was all he said. He had little interest in my studies, my professor’s kudos, what my resume looked like, or my age. He wanted to know if I could write, and he found that out with those three words that launched a wonderful career. I’m passing them along because one of you talented readers might jump on that bandwagon, move beyond negative self-talk, and have a story published.

Getting back to my friend, she wanted to be a successful writer, but breaking out of that protective cocoon of writing for fun and stepping into the real world of publishing was a daunting move. “I don’t want to self-publish, but sure couldn’t handle rejections from publishers,” she told me. “I can’t even deal with your occasional vetoes. How could I deal with mine?” I’d heard the same concerns from other would-be writers. “I may need to go back to school, not sure my writing is any good, being brushed-off would be painful for my ego.”

Getting the turndown issue out of the way, if you step into the published writer’s arena, rejections are a given. Accept them and move on; you’ll eventually develop a thick skin. I was writing for a national magazine. A piece I’d written that had been a tough project was well-received by my editor, but his superior decided not to publish. It happens. A story you spend a great deal of time on will be killed.

The phrase I hear most often from seniors who’d like to be published is, “I’m too old.” Get over that idea. There is no age requirement for submitting your writing to publishers. “Send me something,” got me started. What a simple, straightforward request no matter how old you are.

Instead of focusing on age, set your mind to creating good work. In his book On Writing Well, a guide to writing nonfiction, William Zinsser says, “Readers want the person who is talking to them to sound genuine. Therefore a fundamental rule is: be yourself.” For fiction writing, “Be your own editor/critic. Sympathetic but merciless!” says Joyce Carol Oates.

Bottom line, know your genre, write a good piece, edit and edit again, hit send and honor and enjoy your unique creativity. Remember, I began my writing career at 50 when a very dear man said, “Send me something,” and I learned that my goal of having my words add to the wellbeing of the community was attainable. Many thanks, JB. Rest in peace.

Carole Marshall is a former columnist and feature writer for a national magazine. Reach her at cmkstudio2@gmail.com.