A Game of Snakes and Ladders

chapter 14

A Game of Snakes and Ladders

Chapter 14 - in which I decide not to play the game!

Virginia Woolf famously claimed that she was the only writer in England who could write what she liked. This was because she and her husband Leonard owned the press that published her – the Hogarth Press.  Her first novel that was published by them, “Jacob’s Room”, shows a marked inventiveness and flexibility compared with her earlier, traditionally published work; it’s a truly modern novel.

These days, many writers disenchanted with the limits of traditional publishers, are striking out on their own and self-publishing, some of them apparently making a lot of money by doing so.  There are programs on line, podcasts and talks, all sorts of incentives and blandishments for authors to go on this path, these days – and, why not?  If Woolf was gleeful about being able to write what she liked, why not the rest of us? 

The differences are, that far fewer novels were published a hundred years ago than today, both in the US and the UK.  Before the computer, not so many people wanted to be writers because, well, it was hard manual work.  I remember typing and retyping my early novels, in three or four drafts even, and I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t face doing that today, let alone parceling them up and lugging them off to the Post Office. Also, as I’ve written here before, writing a novel was not thought of as a way to make money, so you had to be either rich or not mind being poor, as you did it. Also, Virginia Woolf was a genius.

So, to come clean about my own practices today:  I’m still being published by a traditional publisher, and my novel “Bone Whispers” is due out on February 14, an auspicious publishing date, Valentine’s Day.  But I have also decided on bringing some of my unpublished work into the light of day without relying on traditional publication. 

My two books, out on Amazon this week, are “Seas Outside the Reef” - a reprint of a 1990’s Key West novel of mine that went out of print, and a new collection of short stories also set in Key West, where I live, called “Light Over Islands”. These have been designed by a friend and gifted designer, and are under the imprint of Open Boat publications – as was my novella, published in 2022, “Elena, Leo, Rose”.  All three books look beautiful, all three have the works of painters who are friends as their cover design, and all three have been a delight to work on.  The cover of my traditionally published book is also lovely, and the production good.  But the difference is – well, being allowed to write what I like. 

Publishers these days seem to have very firm ideas about what they do and don’t want, and it seems to me that they are running authors like race-horses, training them to obey, betting on those most likely to sell – which is of course their right.  At my time of life, I find I don’t care terribly about sales, though making money would of course be welcome.  My priority is to produce beautiful books and have my work read by people who may enjoy it.  Life gets a lot easier when you don’t have to play the Snakes and Ladders game.

So maybe it’s the time to quit playing?

I once heard Doris Lessing speak at the Edinburgh Book Festival, years ago.  She said that in the future, books would be locally produced and sold and there would be no such thing as national or international best-sellers.  Local writers would write for local readers. I realize that this is already happening here in Key West, where we have a wonderful bookshop, Books & Books, run by Judy Blume and her husband George Cooper, who put on regular readings by authors, both local and visiting, and have a lively line in literary discussions; as does the local library, with its morning sessions throughout the winter season.  I’m due to read at both, later this month and in February – and I don’t have to drive anywhere, or fly anywhere, or stay in a hotel, or do readings to which three people and a dog come, two of whom being the store owners and maybe one a person who just came off the street for the wine…

I’m still in the game, but with less of the stress, these days - and I’m not going to rely on it for my happiness or peace of mind. What about you?

Thanks for reading!