27th June 2016 | for Creatives | writing, creating in the moment, Anne Rice, protect the art, agents, ideas |
"I don't think we should discuss ideas. I think we should just write, and then go in with the book and say, 'here's the book.' Now, sometimes you have to say something. But I wouldn't listen to what they say back—because they're not prophets. ... Agents particularly are really not in the business of being prophetic. They know what has worked, and that's it."
"You've got to protect your voice and your vision from everybody, really. Even the best-intentioned editors. And I mean, I love my editor; I've been with Vicky Wilson for over 35 years. She's wonderful, and her remarks on the finished manuscript are always terrific. But I don't go to her to discuss a germinating idea."
"Protect your voice and your vision. Protect it—and if going on the Internet and reading Internet reviews is bad for you, don't do it. It's awfully rough right now. It's a jungle out there. Do what gets you to write, and not what blocks you."
"There are plenty of places that are built on the business model of exploiting writers by not paying them. Are you going to let them do that to you?"
"The problem is that we view writing as a luxury, something special to allow ourselves as soon as we've taken care of the countless nagging duties that seem to come first. Once you put writing first, the rest of your life will fall into place."
"I wish all writers realized that agents, publishers, book doctors, vanity presses, and how-to seminars, have a cost attached to them—sometimes a very high cost—with zero guarantees. You can be a writer, and have writer be a part of your identity, without any of them."
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