So, I won’t go into the biography of literary agent Donald Maass, but I will say this–the man is a light shining in the darkness of this hard, old world. He loves books, writers, and story. And I have a little heterosexual-mancrush on him. He is open, giving, and kind.
And I interviewed him, kind of.
We talked for a minute at the 2012 Pikes Peak Writers Conference and I asked him how I could better handle the ups and downs of the writer’s life.
And he said what many have said. Networking. If we can build a network of friends and comrades-in-arms, we’ll better be able to handle the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Because the writer’s life is full of slings and arrows and outrageous fortune.
Then he went on, and he didn’t talk about the emotional pits of despair or the lofty heights of blazing praise, but he went back to the idea of revision. And this is interesting because on the surface, dealing with the highs and lows of writing isn’t about revision.
He said that most manuscripts get stuck at the 90% finished phase and writers give up without doing that last 10% of revision. But if we have friends and critique groups to help us, we can better survive the storm and get the manuscript so that it gleams like Excalibur in British sunshine.
So for Mr. Maass, it goes back to the book, always back to the book, the story, the fire in fiction.
Maybe he meant that managing our emotions is easier if our book is the best we can make it, and yes, it might not get picked up, but at least we know that our novel rocks, and what a feeling that is, to be in love with your book.
I am so glad that I debuted with The Never Prayer. I am so proud of the story, the characters, the themes in that book, that when all else fails, when I tremble on the precipice of absolute despair, I can go back to the book I wrote and be glad.
Thank you, Mr. Maass, for our conversation and allowing me to publish this COMPLETELY UNAUTHORIZED interview. The world is better because of your work. Even with all the rejections. Or maybe because of them.
More about Donald Maass here.
Great blog post, thanks for sharing your chat with Donald Maass. I took his workshop years ago, “Writing the Breakout Novel,” and it was fantastic, something I highly recommend to everyone.
This is wonderful. Love that you’re sharing this with us. And of course none of us will rat on you. If he ever finds out about this completely unauthorized publishing of the not-really-an-interview, I can tell you now, “It wasn’t me” 🙂
Thanks goodness. I’d be hunted by the literary police. They have guns that shoot rejection slips. Thanks Angela! And thanks Selena, for leaving message. Love Donald Maass’ ideas!
Um, did he actually say “Excalibur in British sunshine”? If yes, I wish to bear his children. (BTW, that offer is COMPLETELY UNAUTHORIZED, so keep it on the DL.)
No, that was me. Does the offer still stand? Oh, I’m kidding. But does it? Kidding again.
I really have no idea if Donald Maass is a good agent or not. I haven’t read any of the books he’s agented and I don’t know if his writers love him, or if he made them any money.
I don’t care.
Because da-um, the man is the very best writing teacher I ever had. He’s been my mentor-from-afar for many years and I am proud to be his #1 Maaasketeer.
Maassketeer! Love that Margaret! My friend calls him “The Donald”. Yeah, he is a wonderful writing teacher. Thanks for stopping by!