[Stylist] Opinion Piece Quite Informative by a Blind Author

[David Russell]

Bridgit,
No, Grisham seems to write about a lawyer who is defending someone
against a glut if you will be it a entity like a corporation, business
venture or something else. The defense attorney also is involved in
backstory of exposing a law firm for questionable or corrupt
practices. John Grisham may have a main character in mind, but on
further thought, main characters seem to make up his novels. Same for
another writer, Jeffry Archer, example, "Kane and Abel". Grinning
back.

I didn't quite box Chris's comment or Laurie Alice's piece into solely
writing about blind characters, but took each to be representing
themselves as blind authors and speaking to that experience. I may
have misinterpreted either.

Some time ago, I read "If You Could See What I Hear", autobio by Tom
Sullivan, not the talk show host of radio today. Now, he was the main
character and also blind. I think marketing in the '70s helped make
him known nationally at that time as a sort of 'super guy'. As I wind
up editing my autobio, I will try and focus on making sure other
characters get fair time as people tire of hearing one horn beep for
any length of time; thanks for the kind exhort!

David
On 9/19/18, Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via Stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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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-- 
David Russell
david.sonofhashem at gmail.com
"chilah phanim" Make G-d smile!