Ask the Author: Abe Aamidor
Answered Questions (5)
Abe Aamidor
I'm not a fan of Franzen, though I know he's a very good writer. I just don't care about his subject matter, and he does go on, if you know what I mean. But he's talked about getting into the right mood to write, and to have the right handle or perspective on his subject, and a good idea of what his treatment will be like. It's like seeing the enemy and discovering a vulnerability - then you attack! That's how I view writing.
Abe Aamidor
In high school I won a national writing contest sponsored by Norman Mailer when he had his column in Esquire Magazine. You can confirm this by searching my last name and Norman Mailer's name and his archives at The University of Texas in Austin. Sadly, no one in high school cared, and it set me back, actually.
Abe Aamidor
For fiction, start with small literary magazines. There are at least 100 in the US that are credible, and a few hundred beyond that. Do short fiction before you think of novels. For non-fiction, look to magazines that accept free-lance contributions, including advocacy publications and historical society publications. If you have any expertise on this or that subject you should be able to get published - remember, you have to crawl before you walk, etc. etc.
Abe Aamidor
To quote the sports writer Red Smith, "Writing is easy. You just open a vein and bleed."
Abe Aamidor
Lots of people who read small literary journals want to be published themselves, and some writers do break through. But how? Lots of advice on getting published is generic or inspirational, but not really "how to." When looking at ads for all the ubiquitous MFA programs out there I had the idea of writers who start their own commune - not to worship their Gods, not to do drugs, but to write. Would they all be sincere? Focused? Talented? I decided to explore the possibilities.
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