[stylist] Being A Blind Writer

Mon Aug 1 16:01:25 UTC 2011

Hi Justin,
I agree with you about the importance of getting over your fears in order to
write. For many years, I was afraid to write, because I thought my writing
might offend someone I knew. 

I'm confused a bit about your implication that first-time writers can
approach publishers with a completed manuscript. Everything I read and the
workshops I've attended suggest that query letters followed by the
publisher/agent's request for your manuscript are necessary, and that in
general the established publishers do not deal with first-time writers --
especially fiction writers -- without an agent.

Also, you presented this as an article, so I'm going to assume that you may
have some interest in publication and in our feedback on your writing as
writing. I picked up several typos/usage errors that I would like to point
out to you. I'm not sure at what point you are with your vision loss in
terms of your use of the computer. Are you using magnification or a screen
reader? It is a common problem for all of us that we can't rely on spell
check, whether we're blind or fully sighted. For those of us who are
visually impaired, this problem is compounded. Sometimes, if we're
listening, we don't catch subtle differences in pronunciation that would
clue us in to the fact that, though our brains know what it should be, our
fingers occasionally take little short-cuts and diversions that result in
our finished product looking a bit less perfect than we might imagine. 

In the first paragraph, "rejectin" should be "rejection.

In the sentence, "Doing this one simple thing sends a clear message to
skeptics that you can finish what your start," I think you mean finish what
"you" start.

In the sentence, "It's too easy to think you don't have hat it takes," I'm
sure you mean "what" it takes.  

In the sentence, "I was a writer for many years before I started by own
publishing company ," you have "b-y" instead of "m-y." 

In the sentence, "I've got for books to my credit," you've used "f-o-r"
instead of "f-o-u-r." 

In these sentences, I'm not quite sure what you should do other than to re
write: "Books and short stories have one thing in common.  They are begin
with the very first word that you choose." The construction "They are begin"
is incorrect usage. Perhaps, the simplest approach would be to eliminate
"are" -- "They begin with ..." Also, and this is a stylistic preference, I
would make these two sentences one sentence with a semi-colon, as the second
sentence is so strongly linked in content to the first.

Except for the misspelling of "rejection," none of these errors would cause
Spell Check a problem. They are all examples of errors that are picked up by
either vision or careful listening.
HTH,
Donna

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Justin Oldham
	Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2011 11:35 PM
To: writers nfb
Subject: [stylist] Being A Blind Writer

Being A Blind Writer

By Justin Oldham

Many of us who are visually impaired do like to write.  Some of us are 
meticulous researchers, while others are passionate story tellers.  In some 
cases, we can't bring ourselves to face the challenges associated with 
publishing.  We're afraid of rejectin,

or it seems too hard.

I'd like to take a few moments of your time to put those fears to rest. 
Writing is a form of art, which means there is no one right way to do it. 
Putting words together on a page is the kind of thing you do to entertain by

telling a story, or make a point by presenting observations that back up 
your opinion.

I won't sugar coat this for you.  There many obstacles to being a writer, 
with or without good eye sight.  Some publishers will hesitate to work with 
blind writers if they don't think you can do the work.  Put their minds at 
ease by submitting completed manuscripts.  Doing this one simple thing sends

a clear message to skeptics that you can finish what your start.

Don't make an issue of your blindness when dealing with publishers.  It's 
ironic, but the process of submitting your work is supposed to be "blind," 
in the first place.  All they need to "see" is your name, your contact 
information, and the contents of your whole manuscript.

The real secret to completing just one short story or an entire book is to 
write what you know.  Tell the story that you want read, or do the homework 
and write about some person, place, or thing that you like.  Don't worry 
about what other people might think or say about your work.  Just do it.

Some people can't give themselves permission to write.  You don't ever have 
to publish, but you do have to get past your fear before you can choose the 
words that will tell your story.  It's easy to think you're not "good 
enough."  It's too easy to think you don't have hat it takes.  Nobody else 
can green light your work.  Real "permission" comes from you.

I was a writer for many years before I started by own publishing company . I

struggled just like anyone else.  I've got for books to my credit, and 
another four more on the way.  My low vision does not now, nor has it ever, 
held me back.  I'm good at what I do because I've got lots of practice. 
Everything you read in this article is based on my experience.

Books and short stories have one thing in common.  They are begin with the 
very first word that you choose.  Everything else that happens after that is

a matter of time, patience, and perseverance.  You've got to stick to it, 
even when others tell you it's a waste of time.  Don't be mad at them for 
saying things like that, because they don't understand what you're going 
through.  They're not the writer.  You are.

JUSTIN OLDHAM is the founder of Shadow Fusion Books.  He's the author of 
Being Legally Blind, and Tales from the Kodiak Starport.  He lives with his 
wife in Anchorage, Alaska.  Find him online at www.justin-oldham.com or 
www.shadowfusionbooks.com

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site:
http://www.nfb-writers-division.org <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>

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