An Aspiring Writer's Attraction

There are a lot of wannabe writers, all trying to get their names out there and all hoping to see the cover of their book at the local book store down the street. Laura Resnick started out as a wannabe writer too. She takes the reader through her journey to where she is today in her book “Rejection, Romance, and Royalties: The Wacky World of a Working Writer”.

That’s an interesting title, right? Honestly, that’s half the reason I picked the book up. I also picked this book out from a whole shelf full of others because the cover is what really stuck out to me. The cover displays a woman, probably in her late 40s, and words in BIG text. It looked like it would be a fun book to read and the word “romance” seemed interesting, especially in a book about writing. Resnick takes you through her world, the world of a working writer. I would recommend this book to those who are aspiring writers. The separate essays located periodically throughout the book were interesting to read, and each chapter was filled with amazing pieces of advice.

Resnick echoes much of the writing advice I have heard. But her advice also focuses more on how difficult being a professional writer can be. That may sound like a drag, but she does it in such an uplifting way. It is tough trying to get your work out there, having to deal with all the rejections; you may just want to give up. But Resnick says “No!” You shouldn’t give up if being a professional writer is what you really want to do; persistence is extremely important.

Aspiring writers will learn the ins and outs of life as a full-time career novelist in this tell-all book. While most of these hopeful young writers probably won’t have a chance at becoming the next Stephan King, this book reveals that there is a real possibility for them to make a living from their writing if they put in the hard work, sweat, and tears. This book covers the steps to getting published, getting paid, getting even, staying sane, and protecting one’s talent in the business of writing. It even points out that prospective writers may not get to start in the genre of their dreams.

            I thought having to reading a book about a writer’s memoir would be completely and utterly boring. Usually a how-to book is either entertaining but you get nothing out of it, or instructive and a struggle to finish reading all the way through, but this book was surprisingly both entertaining and instructive. The chapters were also, for the most part, short and had interesting titles such as “Magic Pen” and “Enlarge your partner”. The titles made me want to keep reading!

Although I give this book two thumbs up, there were a few things I did not particularly care for. Resnick devotes a chapter to the fan mail she has received. She barely mentions the positive ones, but quotes the negative ones at length. She not only quotes the negative letters she received, but all the letters her friends received too. I believe Resnick could’ve done without those negatives because fan mail might be something a writer would look forward to.

Writing is a tough business, and no one knows that better than Resnick, an award-winning author of twenty romance and fantasy novels and dozens of short stories. Working with different agents, dozens of editors, and numerous publishers over the past couple decades taught Resnick a lot about the business of writing, now, with this hilarious and entertaining collection of essays, Resnick shares both her own and other writers’ experiences in getting and staying published. Part pep talk, part memoir, part writing workshop, I think this book is a great pick for writers, for Resnick fans, and for those who are just interested in the craft of writing. The roles of talent, passion, and luck play in a writer’s life and dealing with difficult editors and publishers, Resnick doesn't pull any punches, but her practical advice will inspire both aspiring and published writers as it helps them navigate the always choppy waters of the publishing world. Though I have not read any of the author’s books before, I can say that I will likely give her books a look the next time I’m browsing the shelves for something to read.  

Works Cited:

Resnick, Laura. Rejection, Romance & Royalties: The Wacky World of a Working Writer. Lookout Mtn., TN: Jefferson, 2007. Print.