harper leeIn Honor of Harper Lee (on the day of her death) –

10 Lessons to Authors

Some background:

As a bibliophile, there are the books we love, the books we loathe and the in-between.  It seems that most books fall into the latter, neither being memorable or “worthy” of a read.  There are the books we are forced to read in high school.  Then, there are the books we read but never tell anyone about because we’re embarrassed or agitated at the time we wasted.

Harper Lee wrote two books that have been released, one decades ago, and one just a few short months ago.  Both, it is believed, are actually the same book, though “Go Set a Watchman” is considered to be the earlier draft – and not a sequel, as widely relayed.

I, like many I know, read “To Kill a Mockingbird” in high school, and I admittedly tolerated it, but not much more.  I had no intention of reading the second book released, mainly because the first was forced upon me.

My daughter, Lorynn, on the other hand, was counting the moments.  Tonight, while on vacation in Paris, we returned to our flat and learned Harper Lee died, and I could hear the hurt my daughter felt over this author’s passing.  It got me thinking about Ms. Lee and the authors I know today – how different the literary world is from that of “her time”, and how often we get lost in a commercialized drama – even us lowly reviewers.

You may not know that I spent many years as a professional writer – a journalist.  Much of the reason I take the professionalism of my reviewers and this site is because I am (ashamedly) smug that I hold a press pass and expect my writers to treat this seriously – even if our tone is light.

I am babbling a bit but I am getting to a point.

The entirety of the publishing industry is completely different from what it was when Mockingbird was released.  At that time, you were predominantly your own literary agent, pounding the pavement for a shot with a publisher.  Think about Jo in “Little Women”, desperate for someone to publish her works.  There were not thousands of book review sites – if you wanted to be reviewed, you sent a physical copy of your book to a newspaper with a reviewer, and hoped for the best.

I was that reviewer in the past, receiving boxes of books from HarperCollins and Penguin, Harlequin and Simon & Schuster.

Now, if you want to review, you go to the publisher or the author’s PR firm.  It’s a completely different game.

In the past, you could be a Harper Lee, avoiding interaction and interviews for decades, and still becoming a huge success.  Today, it’s more likely you’re a J.K. Rowling, winning the game of snark on Twitter to win and retain a fanbase.

It is truly a different universe.  Could Harper Lee be a success in today’s market?  I’m not sure.

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So this is my open letter to my many author friends, and those (I am sure amazing) authors I do not yet know.

  1. Thank you for your bravery.  Writing is personal and raw and so intimate that it amazes me anyone would put their heart on a page and share it with the world.  If for nothing else, you should be esteemed on high.
  2. You are amazing.  No matter your genre, no matter your ability level, you have a vision – sometimes you just need some direction on the technical stuff.
  3. Don’t be afraid to relearn what you think you know.  One of the prime reasons I see that reviews go low is grammatical, spelling or plot failure.  These are all basic English lessons so use the free resources that major institutions have put online and relearn from a Harvard professor, or the lovely retired English teacher down the hall.  It helps – I promise.
  4. Gauge your success on your own scale.  I have friends with 250k followers on Facebook, and others with 1k.  I wouldn’t tell you one was “better” than the other – one is just better known. Be approachable and remember that the best way to build anything is with strong foundation so solidify your fanbase from the beginning and they’ll grow with you.
  5. Find your own voice – and speak in many tongues. Stop writing what you THINK people want to read.  Write what comes to you, and don’t be afraid to experiment in different genres.  “Twilight” was the product of a dream, but not your dream.  Be bold and write your own.
  6. Call yourself an author.  You’re writing a book – or you’ve written a book.  Whether it’s been read by 2 people or 2 million, congratulations, you’ve made it.  I am proud of you.   Be proud of yourself and wear that moniker with pride.
  7. If you don’t love it, don’t share it.  An author friend of mine recently told me she was going against the grain and not rushing her books, not rushing herself.  She was giving her books each the time they needed, and deserved.  I think this is valuable advice in an industry that now wants authors to pop out 4 books a year on average.  Remember: Harper Lee only had to release one to become the success she was.  Write your opus, not an Opie.
  8. Remember that you’re “the talent”. Writing is a profession so be professional – but be you.  Take the time to learn the ropes of the game, and then write your own rules for how you’ll play.  You don’t need to bring bookmarks to every signing – I recently went to a signing where I got a magic wand pen and a feather boa.  You hold the drum; march away.
  9. Embrace the community.  Writers are no longer alone “in the cave”.  In fact, they are often interacting with friends and fans while writing.  You don’t have to be an island.  Your fellow authors, your fans, your agents, your editors, your publishers and yes, us reviewers, are here for you.  It takes a village to write a book and you just so happen to have a village.  Join the campfire and let’s get cooking.
  10. Be you.  This should be simple, but it isn’t.  If you’re snarky, be that.  If you’re serious, own it. But whatever it is you are, be it and love it and let the world love you for it.  You deserve success; we all do in life.  But it won’t be the success you want if you lose yourself along the way.  Learn and grow and evolve, but at the core, let yourself stay humble and unsure and unique because that is who the world loves, or will love.

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Harper Lee became a household name in a time when there was a morning and evening paper for news.  You are fighting for success in a world where news scrolls off the screen in seconds. But winning at the publishing game won’t happen if you’re not dedicated to yourself.  You are your biggest critic and your strongest advocate.  Keep fighting the good fight.

Rest in peace, Harper Lee.

April 28, 1926  – February 19, 2016

Your words will live on.

To learn more about Harper Lee, click here.

If you’ve never read it, here is a preview of the book that made her famous – To Kill a Mockingbird.  I may just read Go Set a Watchman now… <3