“Don’t ever apologize to an author for buying something in paperback, or taking it out from a library (that’s what they’re there for. Use your library). Don’t apologize to this author for buying books second hand, or getting them from bookcrossing or borrowing a friend’s copy. What’s important to me is that people read the books and enjoy them, and that, at some point in there, the book was bought by someone. And that people who like things, tell other people. The most important thing is that people read.”
— Attributed to Neil Gaiman
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Last week during my workshop at Haywood Community College, one of my students said, “You haven’t shared any of YOUR work with us.” The others all nodded, “Yeah, that’s right.”
“How about it, Andy?”
I paused. To be honest, I kind of dreaded this moment. What if they read my stuff and don’t like it? I thought about making a joke of it or sharing a link to any of the volumes of Ground Fiction on Amazon. Then I realized:
* Imposter syndrome apparently never goes away.
* My work is already available for public consumption.
* It’s a valid question.
Before I took a class with Seth Harwood or Chris Mooney, I read their first published works, figuring that if they were going to teach me about writing, then I wanted to know where they were coming from. I’m glad I did–“Jack Wakes Up” by Seth is a rollicking good read.
So, since I bought a copy of Ground Fiction I followed Neil’s advice and sent them a copy of “Green River,” my first published story featuring Adrian Tannhauser, my Boston-based PI wearing cowboy boots, leaning on a cane, and looking for a way to come home again.
Graciously, some of my students reached out privately with their thoughts:
The character of Adrian is complex and funny and tragic and I loved that mix.
I enjoyed meeting your characters. I will read it again because I think there is much to study in there with sentence length and the showing not telling which stood out. Tough subject and well done.
I hear the voice you bring to class in your writing. Expressions. Mannerisms (I will stay away from closed doors around you). Storytelling…The ease of the writing is what got me. No bumps. Fluid and flowing from one scene to the next.
Yeah, I could have asked them to buy the book, but they have trusted me with their words for two semesters now. The very least that I could do was trust them with mine. If my writing walks the walk that I’m talking in class, then so much the better.
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While in college, I had many professors who insisted we buy their books as required reading for their course. This was tough for me, because science texts are VERY expensive (some upwards of $400) and I couldn’t afford them, so I didn’t; I used the library (and a copy machine) for the majority of my course readings. At the end of my first semester, one of my professors approached me and said he had observed me using photocopies in class and asked why I didn’t buy his book. I told him that in order for me to purchase his book (A bargain at $150 at the COOP) I would have to forgo paying for something else, like my car insurance, or food. I had a full-time job and a part-time job, which allowed me to pay for classes, rent, car expenses, but not much else. At 33, I was living like a 19-year-old college student, eating ramen and saltines for most meals, and splurging on the occasional box of cheap wine. He looked genuinely shocked to hear this, and I’m pretty sure I know why. I had him again for another course the next year. At the end of the first day of class, he asked me to stay back for a minute. I thought he was going to tell me I had to buy his book for the class. Instead, he gave me photocopies of everything I needed from his book. He said he would have just given me the book, but he didn’t want other students to think he was playing favorites. He said he hoped it would help, because he found out that photocopies weren’t free. It saved me about $35 in copy charges and I was grateful for it. Honestly, it made all the difference. Those were lean years. He was a great professor.