On Rejuvenation

Josh Getzler

I had a long, interesting discussion this afternoon with one of my clients, about a manuscript I'd read that he'd written several years ago. He'd left the manuscript after an aborted set of submissions, written the book I'd taken on (which is currently on submission itself)...and another...and another, but couldn't get the first one out of his mind.

Every so often, when we'd be discussing his current manuscript, he'd say "One of these days I really want you to take a look at the first one--it's really interesting, and I feel like it could go somewhere." And every time, I'd nod and say "yes, yes, when we're done with the first one--don't want to confuse the issue!" 

And that's generally true. When I'm working on one manuscript by an author, I typically don't like working on another one parallell-ly.(There are some exceptions--you know who you are!) I don't usually submit more than one project by an author at any one time--don't want to confuse the editors and have two projects by the same person show up at an editorial board simultaneously (bad submissions etiquette!). But my author was quietly persistent, and I finally agreed to take a look at it. I did, had comments, and arranged to speak with the author. He said he'd look through his previous notes and compare them to what I had to say.

When we got on the phone, he started by saying "Thank you."

"What for?"

"For letting me read my book again like a fan, rather than like an author."

It was great, he said--it had been such a long time since he'd simply sat down and gone through it A-Z that he didn't remember where scenes fit in, when particular turns of phrase appeared, when characters  appeared and surprised and behaved in certain ways. It's a dark book, and not terribly hopeful, really, but the author said the following to me which I think is so striking that I'm copying it verbatim:

 It was as if I was a reader, reading someone else.  Too often writers, never ever get that opportunity because they are in the middle of the shit.  It’s impossible to be distant enough to really enjoy it, and forget suspense, because there are no surprises.  In a weird way, despite all the work that needs to be done, I felt a surge of optimism because I liked what I read.  Too often, we work, and work, and work, and don’t have the ability to enjoy the writing, the story.  I found my jaw clenched and my hands perspiring when there was confrontation, and I felt joy when (Character X) killed (Character Y).  The whole experience kind of rejuvenated me with respect to my writing, my ability, and my future. 

I feel like this kind of thing happens all the time during the process of working in the different aspects of publishing, whether as agent, author, editor, designer...whatever. We get so close to the project, wrapped up in the minutia of drafts, corrections, copy, contract language and terms, marketing plans and sales figures that we forget what it's all about. I got into publishing because I love to read books, and now I have the opportunity to make a living dealing with them in the most intimate way. And there are certainly many times, when my day is spent trouble-shooting and problem-solving, when that fundamental raison d'etre gets lost. It's a lovely thing when someone can slap me in the face a little and remind me what this is all about. It can be (as it was today) the first time I open a box and see an advance readers edition--all the romantic schmaltzy words about the feeling you get are ABSOLUTELY TRUE! It can be when a review comes in that absolutely gets the book. Or (as happened a week or so ago) when a bookseller Facebook-chats an author and says that her book is the one the bookseller is going to evangelize about all winter.

But I still come back to my client today, and feel like his words were thoroughly inspirational:  The whole experience kind of rejuvenated me with respect to my writing, my ability, and my future.

I hope that everyone out there who's feeling a little worn out or jaded or raw can spend the next few days, as you experience Thanksgiving with your families, trying to feel rejeuvenated and excited and hopeful as we enter the holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Comments

[Jeff Cohen]

Honest to goodness, for a few paragraphs I thought you were talking about me. Writers. Such egos.

[Alan Orloff]

Thanks for this post, Josh. It is weird--in a good way, generally--reading something you know you've written, but don't remember. The lesson in mini-rejuvenation is appreciated!

[Toni Lotempio]

i am definitely rejuvenated. And thankful. And everything else that goes with it.

[Sheila Boneham]

I do! But you knew that.... Great blog.