Poetica Magazine

There is no getting around it – a writer’s backbone is not a natural physiological trait. Definitely not. The ability to sit by yourself and put on paper an imagined world, people it with imaginary characters, then launch it to its final fate, is an acquired attribute. The long and weary passage leading to a writer’s maturity is marked by two guideposts: revision and rejection. Note I did not say publication. Beware - seeing your work in print can delude you into thinking that the next story or book, whatever comes after your debut, will receive automatic acceptance. Absolutely not – publishing is a business beset by all the vagaries of the market, as unpredictable as the credit crunch, e-books, and the fusing of conglomerates. That is why these few words are about the development of a writer and not a contract.

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When a writer can admit that the words on the page need to be tossed out, polished, shortened, lengthened or demand more thought, then the writer is truly grappling with craft and not ego. Eventually, the revision process is over. Finally all the elements of plot, character, and theme are in place. The writer is satisfied and the finished manuscript goes out on its own or is shepherded by an agent. Either way the writer must be prepared to confront rejection. The reasons given (if stated) very often have nothing to do with craft, but more with editorial taste or market timing. Once more the writer is tested, the passage must be crossed – to the other side where there’s a new idea, another book, an untold story.

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If the writer can persist, can make that crossing, can continue to create despite being overlooked, tossed aside, or receiving only occasional mild praise, then that writer can truly view himself as a professional. The journey can be long. On this passage we take as writers, we carry very little, only the basics, words and imagination. Like anything basic, there are endless variations.

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Thanks for reading JWorld Cafe, the Poetica Magazine Blog

Pnina Moed Kass, Guest Blogger

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Pnina Moed Kass is the author of REAL TIME (Clarion/Houghton Mifflin, National Jewish Book Award, Sydney Taylor), BERALE series (Keter, Israel), eight Hebrew picture books, short stories and television series.