[Stylist] Opinion Piece Quite Informative by a Blind Author

[Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter]

David,

Does Grisham write blind characters? I'm talking specifically about blind
characters. Obviously, fiction has to have a main character. I just mean
that if your main character is blind, editors and publishers aren't as
interested. But, you can't have a story without a character/characters,
grin.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Stylist <stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of David Russell via
Stylist
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2018 5:32 PM
To: Writers' Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Cc: David Russell <david.sonofhashem at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Stylist] Opinion Piece Quite Informative by a Blind Author

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!

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