It is a popular cliché that writing is a most isolating process. Most young writers I know seem to embrace this notion and indeed, almost enjoy the notion. The problem is that this is not the way professional writing works. A publisher friend once told me that before a book is fully published, an estimated forty people have had their hands (and brains) on the project.
When you see a film, there are imposing lists of people at the conclusion, people who have worked on the movie, everyone from the executive producer to the set caterer. You don’t see such lists at the back of book. When was the last time you even saw the editor’s name posted in a book?—almost never.
In fact—from personal experience—I know there are many people involved in my books. The editor of course, but there are people (like my wife and friends), whom I might ask to read a work in progress. I frequently go to schools and read a work in progress. In one form or another, I get feedback. Then there are collaborating illustrators, art directors, proofreaders, copy editors, and on and on. The fact that my name—and only my name—appears on the book is deeply misleading. More to the point, it tells a young author that he or she is wholly in charge of the book. In truth, the publishing world likes to project this idea—even though they know it is wrong.
Just know that that paragon of world literature, William Shakespeare himself, had other hands in his work. It’s been a while now, but I recall that scholars have said that it was another contemporary playwright, Thomas Middleton, who wrote the witch scenes for Macbeth.
Accept the fact that a book is an intensely collaborative endeavor. Know that your work will be better because of their (whoever they are) work.
1 thought on “Even Shakespeare had help”
Wow. this makes me more prepared to share my work, as was probably your intention. I am just wondering how you get the guts to do it.