The Writer's Book of Hope: Getting from Frustration to Publication

by Ralph Keyes

In 1889, the editor of the San Francisco Examiner, having accepted an article from Rudyard Kipling, informed the author that he should not bother to submit any more. "This isn't a kindergarten for amateur writers," the editor wrote. "I'm sorry, Mr. Kipling, but you just don't know how to use the English language." A century later, John Grisham was turned down by sixteen agents before he found representation-and it was only after Hollywood showed an interest in The Firm that publishers began to take him seriously.

The anxiety of rejection is an inevitable part of any writer's development. In this book, Ralph Keyes turns his attention from the difficulty of putting pen to paper-the subject of his acclaimed The Courage to Write -to the frustration of getting the product to the public. Inspiration isn't nearly as important to the successful writer, he argues, as tenacity, and he offers concrete ways to manage the struggle to publish. Drawing on his long experience as a writer and teacher of writing, Keyes provides new insight into the mind-set of publishers, the value of an agent, and the importance of encouragement and hope to the act of authorial creation.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Self Help, Grad School

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

About the author

Ralph Keyes is an American author. His 16 books include Is There Life After High School?, The Courage to Write, and The Post-Truth Era. That 2004 book illustrated Keyes's anticipation of social trends in his writing.

Keyes's books have dealt with topics in popular culture such as risk-taking, time pressure, loneliness, honesty, and human height. More recently he has turned to language: researching quotations, words, and expressions. "Nice Guys Finish Seventh" and The Quote Verifier explore the actual sources of familiar quotations. I Love It When You Talk Retro is about common words and phrases that are based on past events. His most recent book is Euphemania: Our Love Affair with Euphemisms. (The British edition is titled Unmentionables: From Family Jewels to Friendly Fire, What We Say Instead of What We Mean.)

Keyes has also written numerous articles for publications ranging from GQ to Good Housekeeping. An article he co-authored in 2002 won the McKinsey Award for Best Article of the Year in The Harvard Business Review.

Keyes is a frequent guest on NPR shows such as All Things Considered, Talk of the Nation, and On the Media; and has appeared on The Tonight Show, 20/20, and The Oprah Winfrey Show on television. He also speaks to professional, corporate and educational groups.

After graduating from Antioch College in 1967, Keyes did graduate work at the London School of Economics and Political Science. From 1968 to 1970 he worked as an assistant to Bill Moyers, then the publisher of Long Island's Newsday. For the following decade he was a Fellow of the Center for Studies of the Person in La Jolla, California, then did freelance writing and speaking in the Philadelphia area.

Reviews

[Laini · Rating 5 out of 5]

After recently having to back out of a proposed contract, and also having to cancel a book release party due to cost (and having to re-book a venue), I really needed a shot in the arm.

Keyes, an instructor at the Antioch Writers Workshop (in Yellow Springs, Ohio) provided that. I haven't read his first book, so this review is totally based on TWBOH.

What? Writing career not going as you had hoped? Well, did you know __, ___, ___, and ___ (famous writers) also had the same problem? Did you know ___ had an issue with ___? He solved it this way.

Considering self-publishing as opposed to the regular route? So did __ and ___. He provides plenty of examples to back up his consolation. Many of which we've read before, but hey-- it's always nice to read them again. It helps us remember-- sometimes it's not necessarily us. It might have been that the agent had heartburn when they read our query, or the publisher just bought something exactly like it.

Sometimes, it's all a matter of publishers not knowing how to market your book. Many writers determinedly forged ahead and created their own, and new genres were born.

The important fact he stresses over and over again is to keep hanging in there, no matter what. Keep producing, even when things look blackest. The only truly unsuccessful writers are those who quit.

[Penny Fleckenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very helpful & it helps me to not feel alone as a writer.

[Tom M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Joe Bob Briggs, King of the Drive-In Movie Reviews, (http://joebobbriggs.com/) has a rule about sequels. In essence, it states that if you're going to make a sequel, just make the same danged movie all over again. Don't bother trying to come up with a new plot or a new setting. Just give us a repeat of the first movie and slap a big number "2" on the title.

I really liked Joe Bob's book of drive-in movie reviews. "The Writer's Book of Hope"? Not so much. I read it right after re-reading Keyes' "The Courage to Write" and found that Keyes was simply rewording many of the same themes and ideas in his sequel.

It may work for Drive-In slasher movies, but it didn't work for me in this book.

[Olga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think every writer should read this book regardless his status - whether he’s a beginner or have four books published. Because, at every stage you need encouragement to persevere, for being a writer is a lonely business, you get depressed and disheartened so often that if you don’t have the people who encourage your writing there is a good chance to fall into deep depression. This book is a great encourager and reminder of why you have decided to become a writer in the first place and why you should never give up.

[Michael Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

As my book circulates among some NYC editors, I decided to re-read this, and it was incredibly rewarding—maybe more so now that I've been working with what the author calls the "pub people." Keyes understands the plight of any serious writer—the need to learn to deal with rejection, to understand that frustration and disappointment are not just inevitable, but that they are an integral part of the process, even for the most successful. Highly recommended.

[Nina Dreyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is like a warm bath for your frazzled writer's nerves. Highly recommended. The section about the strange and wonderful world of traditional publishing may not be relevant for every writer, but it is nevertheless an entertaining and enlightening read.

[Nick Alimonos · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you manage to find your name on my blog, Mr. Keyes, I would like you to know how much your book, The Writer’s Book of Hope, means to me. I often joke about the Writer’s Disease and its ailments, yet there are some serious psychological effects to being a struggling writer. You really hit it on the nose when you described, in your book, AFD Syndrome. For most of my life, I wondered whether I was the only one who felt this mix of anxiety, fear and despair. Since none of my family or friends write, at least with the intent to publish, none of them can relate to what I am going through. I often wondered whether I was the only one, whether I was simply too sensitive, too weak to handle rejection, too feeble emotionally to be a writer. Now I know that I am not alone. It’s like being diagnosed with a mental disorder, like OCD, then taking comfort in knowing others have gone through it. Your book is now my lifeline, my go-to guide for when despair rears its monstrous head. For decades, questions about writing and writers have plagued my mind, and you’ve provided the answers. You’ve demystified the world of agents and publishers for me, taken them down from that pedestal where they sat like gods with the power to destroy me with a few cruel criticisms. Intellectually, I’ve always known they were just people, but imagination is a powerful thing, especially when you write, and when so much of your life is invested in a response to a query letter, a letter from a person you’ve never even seen or heard, it’s hard not to succumb to dread. What if they hate my writing? What if they tell me I’m no good, that I’ll never make it? Now I know that editors and agents pass on novels that become classics, that they often choose what appeals to them (which is only natural) and that a rejection of my book is not a rejection of me as a writer. The other great thing you’ve done for me, Mr. Keyes, is to give me a good ass kicking. For years, I’ve worried that I can’t be a successful writer, because I have so little time, because I work in a restaurant and have bills and a family. But by the examples you’ve given, of writers who’ve managed to succeed despite life’s many hardships, you’ve allowed me no excuse for not writing.

And so, Mr. Ralph Keyes, if you’re out there, this is to say thank you. Though we’ve never met, I’ll think of you as my encourager, and I’ll be sure to add your name to the acknowledgments page of my next novel.

[C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Writer's Book of Hope encourages young writers, seasoned writers, and anyone who loves writing. The book is concise, simple, and impactful. It was refreshing to hear numerous writers who don't fit the typical young writer with an MFA just out of graduate school. The author provides excellent examples of writers who started writing in their 50s, 60s & even 70’s. The featured stories also include writers with limited English instruction.

**Do not let anyone stop you from living your dream of writing. Read this book and smile.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just ordered and bought a copy of this fantastic book. If you are a frustrated writer, like I am, this may help to give comfort and support. Author Ralph Keyes writes with a great knowledge of the publication industry, and includes quotes from writers about their struggles. I am looking forward to this being on my shelf!

[James Hold · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'll save you the $8.00 and summarize the book in one sentence: "Hang in there and don't give up."
Now wasn't that a lot easier than reading about so-and-so's trials and tribulations in getting published? You're welcome.

[Maria Pia Maiti · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the book offers encouragement to aspiring writers, its brief anecdotes feel repetitive and lack depth. The lack of detailed exploration of individual journeys sacrifices emotional engagement, making it less compelling for readers seeking in-depth insights. It’s best suited for light inspiration rather than practical strategies for overcoming creative frustration.

[David Stephens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Earlier this year, I glanced at a writing blog in which the writer claimed he typically wrote and revised his short stories in about twenty hours. Some of the commenters went even further, claiming short stories took them even less time than that to complete. This instantly discouraged me since I can't accomplish this feat anywhere near as efficiently. The first short story I wrote took me about two and a half months. I have no idea how many hours that was, but I know it was far more than twenty.

That's why it was nice to see writing teacher, Ralph Keyes, state that if writing comes that easily for people, they're probably doing it wrong. Anxiety, frustration, and despair—what Keyes describes as AFD syndrome—are inherent in writing. There is no way to overcome them; writers must, instead, persevere and maintain hope in the face of them. For, as Keyes says, it is the writers who continue the struggle that succeed, not the ones who give up quickly. Writing both causes frustration and provides the remedy for that frustration. It's quite similar to what Homer Simpson once announced about alcohol: that it's "the cause of and solution to all of life's problems."

Other than words of optimism, Keyes characterizes editors, publishers, and agents, comparing them to high schoolers with cliques and biases toward certain locales or topics. The comparison isn't meant to totally denigrate them but also to point out that they're fallible and susceptible to the same human mistakes as everyone else. It's nothing that in-depth, but it does make them sound a bit more like regular people.

And while I sporadically felt mild bouts of hopefulness while reading, they quickly got lost amid the tedious and repetitive examples Keyes offers. It was nice to hear about some of the writers who have overcome adversity, but I didn't need to hear about every single one. I would have preferred if this 190-page book had been whittled down to about 50.

[Elissa Hoole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book arrived, a gift from donut, in that awful place in the middle of a first draft when you feel lost and discouraged, and on top of that I was so swamped with lifestuff I couldn't figure out wtf I was doing trying to write fiction on top of it all, especially when I feel like my chances of getting published are approximately equivalent to the chances of winning the lottery without buying a ticket. Anyway, donut advised keeping the book near my writing area to flip through in moments of angst, and yup. Here it is. I actually read it straight through, though it would be an easy book to page through at random. I read it in little snippets at my computer, whenever I was waiting for my super slow internet to process something, or when I had those moments when nothing, even the most banal of writing, would come out despite how many times I tapped my fingers anxiously against the keys. I love it. It made me much more hopeful without ever making me roll my eyes at some stupid cheesy business, without feeling like I was holding a vacuous, fake-smiling cheerleader in my hands. :D

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on writing I've run across. Lots of examples of (now) famous authors' tactics for dealing with discouraging periods and rejection. Drives home the point that "success" is largely a matter of perserverance and determination, which can't be emphasized strongly enough for those who beat themselves up over "lack of talent" etc. Mention of all the writers who considered one or two thousand words/day - about 5 pages of most modern books - a decent goal sure made me feel better!

[Joshunda Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and I still keep it close by. I gave a copy to a fellow writer who was feeling a bit down and he returned the favor by giving me a copy as a gift just when I was starting to get discouraged. Of course, it's always easier to read about writing in lieu of the actual tough writing part, but this book is a great inspiration for getting back on the horse after frustration or disappointment.

[Cyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a writer, I find myself drawn to reading books about the writing process and the struggles that virtually all writers go through - the endless internal battles and external forces that sometimes threaten to overrun our progress or even our love of writing in general. Books like this give me the motivation to continue - especially when you see that even the more accomplished writers throughout history (and today) deal with the same thing. This is a great read.

[S.W. Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well Keyes confirmed my deepest fear: it's all a bloody crapshoot. But if you perfect your craft and don't give up, eventually the odds might swing in your favor and maybe, just maybe you'll break through. It's like that scene in Dumb and Dumber when Jim Carrey's character is told he has a one in a million chance of getting the girl to which he responds, "So what you're saying is there's still a chance." Yep, I've still got a chance.

[Chasity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Where can I began talking about this book? The book offers just what the title suggests: hope. The hope is based in numerous stories of writers whose road to success was paved with success. Keyes also gave many practical suggestions that writers can do to keep writing. He offers multiple definitions of success, which is encouraging. The book is a quick read, well organized and well written. Don't hesitate; read this book. It's a keepsake on every writer's bookshelf.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for its many examples of the difficulties well-known writers have faced. I didn't read every word of it and skipped a couple sections altogether because they didn't apply to me, but what I did read was definitely worth the time.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as The Courage to Write, yet still excellent. I like Keyes' writing style and enjoy his penchant for anecdote.

[Colleen Story · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. A pure joy to read, and very inspiring for any writer. I read a little bit every day. Like a piece of chocolate.

[Kim Piddington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone from Team RLM sent me this-a real pick me up when I needed it most. If your hope is faltering-read this!