MFA Bitch

Dear Jessica,

Is it wrong, that after reading your post, the first thing I did was search Google for MTV Books? Looking for submission information to send to my agent, for my yet-unpublished first novel that has already been rejected all-over “New York”.

At least the fact that this book got published meant you had a marketable idea. Yes I said marketable, because unfortunately that is all it really comes down to in the end, not talent, not inventiveness-marketability. I think I am too angry to be marketable.

Or, I had a bad idea- that I spent 6 years working on, but who’s counting?

I didn’t join the writing group. I know you’re surprised. The next time I tell you I want to read something by someone in a craigslist writing group please just send me to read graffiti on the bathroom wall at Burger King. My guess is it will be more interesting and it will certainly take itself less seriously.

On a even weirder note, after reading a sample of my work, the leader of the writing group and I may have a writing group affair where we critique each other’s work one on one. Which to me, seems as good as her admitting that her craigslist writing group is sub par, but that doesn’t make me feel any better about it.

I’ve gotten over my obsession for trolling craigslist for writing groups, at least for this week.

I would review the book as positively as you can. Then when you complete your memoir you can use your review, disguised with someone else’s name, as proof that people like books like this when you are trying to get someone to like the damn thing enough to publish it. Or slam it, you are the one with all the power now.

I’d write more, but I have to email my agent about Novocaine Princess’s one last gasp with MTV Books.

Write On,

Lisa