Contemporary
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With more people writing books them reading them, who’d be an author? Four disparate, aspiring authors dream of getting their work published. As they strive for a breakthrough they are unaware that, in the world of traditional publishing, editors, agents and authors have enough problems of their own. The odds are stacked against success on both sides of the fence. The only person who seems to be doing well out of the writing game is the owner of The Write Stuff, a company selling ‘how to get published’ help to would-be authors. Inevitably, all roads eventually lead to The Write Stuff’s annual weekend writing conference. As the wannabe wordsmiths attempt to scramble on the ‘up’ escalator to literary stardom, will they notice the tragic author of many years passing them in the other direction? As the conference builds to an explosive climax, who’s going to start a new chapter in their life and who’s going to remain stuck on page one? Written Off is a tale with a surprising payoff: in the midst of all the humour there are also more genuine tips on how to achieve literary success woven into the story than can be found in many text books and courses. Wickedly funny, Written Off will particularly appeal to both aspiring and established authors who have been left jaded by their dealings with the publishing industry (not to mention the long-suffering partners who are forced to tend to ‘writer’s paranoia’ on a daily basis).
Here's what readers have to say about this book....
This is a very enjoyable satire on writers, their agents and publishers, people who want to be writers, writers who want to be published, and there are so many writers (et al) out there this novel is sure to find a ready audience. Anyone who has ever written a book - especially authors who have self-published; any author who has found themselves dropped by an agent or publisher; anyone who has ever attended a writer's conference will find something to smile or wince about here. I enjoyed all the characters, they're all well done. It is full of little in-jokes - I especially enjoyed curmudgeonly writer Reardon - but these can only sustain as a joke for a short time. I rattled through it in two days and while it it didn't have me rolling in the aisles, I did smile a lot. but it. - it's a familiar world to me; we all love to see our house on the telly. I do wonder how well it will fare with the non-writers (are there any left?). A fun, quick read; enjoyable fluff.
I think we all have a book in us and particulary as it's so easy to self publish it seems everyday a self published writer is making millions. (I know that 99% of self published stuff is self published as it'd never be published as it's poor or badly written.) There's often the idea that it's easy to publish your own books, magazines, music and many companies promote this idea... It follows wannabe writers attending a writing conference. Some are after the BIG publishing deal, some are desparate, delusional, ambitious... An entertaining read particularly if you're a book lover.
I found parts of this novel entertaining and engaging but I could not engage with the novel entirely. I find it hard to say why. Perhaps the characters are all just a bit too writerly middle class and totally obsessed in their world of publishing. These are the aspiring authors trying to get published without resorting to self publishing (though that has been very successful for some now well known authors). There are the agents, all aspiring authors need one, and then there is at the centre of the novel an upcoming conference "The Write Stuff. A weekend in Lancaster where the authors, who pay of course, can have one to one meetings with agents and also meet established authors. This book is quite possibly based around real people and situations the author has experienced. In some ways I felt it almost might have worked as a humorous memoir except for one thing. Never say writing a book never killed anyone! Pinched from the back cover blurb, the reason why this is fiction. In the novel there is an enormous plug for Stephen King's non fiction book "On Writing I am now going to buy a copy in case I ever decide to write something longer than a review. Then just think how awful to read other people picking apart your precious novel. Perhaps leaving it in a drawer is a better idea. BTW I have never written a novel but I can imagine writing one. One day ;-)
The process of writing, and Paul Carroll has of being published, or trying self-publishing, has never been easier than at this time now. This is a witty book which looks at the life of a writer, and it will have you all chuckling - guaranteed. Effortlessly entertaining and insightful.
5/5 stars Aspiring writers in particular will find much of interest here. Eric Blair longs to be published; established author Reardon Boyle is now considered old hat; erotic novel writer Alyson Hummer yearns to move from "filth" (her word) to main stream; Con Buckley tries desperately to place his "A Refugee from Seraphim". Their hopes are high for "The Write Stuff" Weekend Literary Conference in Lancaster, unaware it is run by one determined to exploit the gullible, despondent and desperate.... Some may feel the novel a well sugared pill - among all the laughs, valuable hints about how to increase chances of success. Especially pinpointed are glib tactics used by those who prey on the hopes of writing wannabes. Observation is sharp - vividly portrayed are certain characters deserving a boost, others long overdue for comeuppance. Chuckles abound, especially at the Conference itself. Entertaining and wry. Those so accustomed to rejection slips may well be tempted to try again, with increased confidence.
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