When I was living in yr house, you gave me part of your memoir to read, remember?
I actually do think it's publishable -- with a lot of editing work.
The arc that goes from being institutionalized and homeless to being successful and independent is a compelling one. The gender stuff, which I think you see as your story, has no narrative arc per se and so can't carry the story, even if you really want it to.
That doesn't mean you take the gender stuff out. It means the gender stuff becomes descriptive, not narrative.
(I fear I'm not articulating this clearly enough; it's not a judgement call on my part. I'm noting this because with a decade or so in the writing biz, I know what people want to read.)
If you want to continue with this project, you need to work with an editor, Allan. An editor that you trust and to whom you're willing to give up control. Which means you have to ask yourself a question: Do I want to tell a story or this story?
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branchandroot
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Date: 2015-10-30 10:56 am (UTC)I actually do think it's publishable -- with a lot of editing work.
The arc that goes from being institutionalized and homeless to being successful and independent is a compelling one. The gender stuff, which I think you see as your story, has no narrative arc per se and so can't carry the story, even if you really want it to.
That doesn't mean you take the gender stuff out. It means the gender stuff becomes descriptive, not narrative.
(I fear I'm not articulating this clearly enough; it's not a judgement call on my part. I'm noting this because with a decade or so in the writing biz, I know what people want to read.)
If you want to continue with this project, you need to work with an editor, Allan. An editor that you trust and to whom you're willing to give up control. Which means you have to ask yourself a question: Do I want to tell a story or this story?