August 13, 2010

At a recent retreat, several writer friends were waxing nostalgic, longing for the “good old days” of publishing.

Back then it was easier to get published. Back then it was common to have editorial attention and hand-holding. If only we could go back, they lamented.

Well, recently I had a rare chance to time travel back to the “good old days” and see what a writer’s life was like 54 years ago . . .

Writing Circa 1950’s

While sorting donated books and magazines for a library book sale, I came across a real treasure: a 1956 Writer’s Digest. Priced at 35 cents, it was a far cry from the large glossy print magazine or colorful web site of today.

I wondered if any writers in 1956 had envisioned the e-zines and e-publishing of today, the huge publishing conglomerates, writing with computers, or the differences in pay scales. (I found references to one-tenth-cent, quarter-cent, and half-cent-per-word rates!) The rates might sound puny, but a quick glance through the market listings showed that most magazines still paid on acceptance.

Ahhh, I thought, another world. I was eager to read the articles next, to see what “wisdom of the ages” was dispensed for such a different writing world.

The more things change…

As I thumbed through the yellowed magazine pages, however, I was surprised by a number of things. First were the numerous ads for co-operative publishing and subsidy publishing (or vanity presses). For some reason, I had assumed they were a plague of the ‘90’s and early 21st Century writing world, an answer for the age we lived in where it was so difficult to sell a manuscript to a “big name” publisher or even a small press.

My second surprise was a full-page ad on the back of the magazine for a bookdoctor, something else I had believed to be the result of present market realities.The ad read: “Sure, you’re going to be an author. But right now you are having ahard time making folks believe it! Friends and neighbors regard your literary ambitions with a quiet smile, but members of the family are less subtle. Not only are you getting no help from them—you aren’t even being encouraged. One day you’ll show ‘em. But what can you show until you have a published book? And how can a book become publishable in today’s selective market without professional counsel?”

Sound familiar? Every word of this book doctor’s ad is just as true in 2010 as it was in 1956!

A Writer’s Life in the Good Old Days

My biggest surprises came in an article called “Roses and Thorns” by Jim Kjelgaard (a juvenile writer). He reflected on his 25 years of writing, which had begun in the early depression years. It would be hard to find a writer whose experiences were further removed from mine than someone who began writing after the crash on Wall Street. Or would it?

I was shocked to find out how much we had in common. For example, Jim’s thoughts on writing only when inspiration strikes sounded identical to the advice I gave a new writer last month. He wrote of “the grueling discipline, the long hours spent over their typewriters” that was required. He called writing “an exacting job that often requires many more hours of hard work than most jobs. . . All the successful writers I know are successful mainly because they work hard,” not because they only wrote when inspired. Not any different today.

Don’t waste your time looking back to the “good old days.” Each period has its challenges, its ups and its downs. The best time to be a writer is always today. So…go write!

9 Comments »

1. [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Janni Lee Simner, Astrid Reyes and Cynthia LeitichSmith, KristiHoll. KristiHoll said: New post: Ageless Wisdom: At a recent retreat, several writer friends were waxing nostalgic, longing for the… http://tinyurl.com/2efjawu [...]

   Pingback by Tweets that mention Writers First Aid » Ageless Wisdom -- Topsy.com — August 13, 2010 @ 12:39 pm

2. 

   I don’t generally post these announcement things, but I did want to thank all of you who “Tweet” the blog posts. Thanks!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — August 13, 2010 @ 1:50 pm

3. 

   Dear Kristi,
   This was fascinating!
   I’m not sure that there was ever a really golden age for publishing……unless you were Leonard and Virginia and could just crank up the Hogarth Press.
   Writing isn’t really the best way to make money unless one is astoundingly lucky.
   We just do it because we love it or we have to!
   I’m going to teach a writing workshop in Morocco in February which is very exciting.
   Hope you are not WAAAAAAY too hot?

   Comment by Elizabeth — August 13, 2010 @ 2:29 pm

4. 

   Elizabeth, you’re right! We do it because we love it–and the money may or may come.

   Have a great time in Morocco! And yes, here in San Antonio this week, it’s been plenty hot! Nearly 100 most every day this week.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — August 13, 2010 @ 7:53 pm

5. 

   Interesting post. I enjoy looking through old magazines to see what things were like in “the good old days.” Thanks for sharing!

   Comment by Susanne Drazic — August 14, 2010 @ 8:11 am

6. 

   Susanne, you’re welcome! Our illusions about how “it used to be” can get in the way of working today. Keep looking ahead!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — August 14, 2010 @ 7:56 pm

7. 

   My friend and I were arguing about this! Now I know that I was right. lol! Thanks for making me sure!

   Sent from my iPhone

   Comment by R6 lady — August 20, 2010 @ 8:16 am

8. 

   Glad it made your day!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — August 20, 2010 @ 9:30 am

9. 

   What fun! Thanks for sharing. Good to know that the real, true nature of writing doesn’t change much.

   Comment by Julie Hedlund — August 26, 2010 @ 9:22 am

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