[Stylist] Opinion Piece Quite Informative by a Blind Author

[David Russell]

Hi Bridgit and Chris and others,

Interesting contrast between fiction and nonfiction world.  Bridgit,
are you saying that with fiction publishers are less interested in
having works that evolve around a main character?
If so, how would one explain the success of a writer like John
Grisham? I suppose you could argue he has supportive characters who
have equal roles to the main character.

David

On 9/19/18, Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via Stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Chris and David,
>
> It's funny because I hear a lot that when writing fiction, editors and
> publisher's don't want to see a blind character, or at least a main
> character. However, as a creative nonfiction writer, I always hear that
> people want me to write more about blindness, as if that's the only thing I
> do and want to focus on in my life. When I blogged for the Omaha World
> Herald, an editor solicited me about writing a book, but, he wanted an
> entire book about my life as a blind person, and at the time, I didn't want
> to do that. Interesting the difference in attitudes between fiction and
> nonfiction when it comes to the subject of blindness.
>
> Bridgit
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stylist <stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Chris Kuell via
> Stylist
> Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2018 3:30 PM
> To: 'Writers' Division Mailing List' <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Chris Kuell <ckuell at comcast.net>
> Subject: Re: [Stylist] Opinion Piece Quite Informative by a Blind Author
>
> David,
>
> Thanks for sharing this op-ed piece. I believe the author hit the nail
> right
> on the head, despite her blindness!
>
> I've written two novels and have failed to get an agent. With my first, I
> got 8 requests for more, but nobody took it. A former Redbook editor asked
> if I mentioned I was blind in my cover letter, I said no, and she implored
> me to do so. I did, sent out more queries, and got no responses.
>
> Meanwhile, I wrote another novel, this one in the first person from a blind
> character's perspective. I ran it by my critique group, paid a professional
> editor to help me tighten it up, had several writer friends read and
> comment
> on it and when it was good to go, I sent it out. I got two nibbles, both
> asking to see more. After sending in the first 50 pages, one agent simply
> rejected it and the other said she was going to pass and suggested I make
> my
> character 'more vulnerable'. Stupid me, I wrote about a blind guy who lived
> by himself and had a job and had fun with his friends, got mad when he
> accidentally knocked things off the counter, and basically lived his life
> like any other person.
>
> Still hoping to get published, my latest novel has a blind minor character,
> and I won't mention my blindness in my cover letters.
>
> Chris
>
>
>
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-- 
David Russell
david.sonofhashem at gmail.com
"chilah phanim" Make G-d smile!