• Forest for the Trees
  • THE FOREST FOR THE TREES is about writing, publishing and what makes writers tick. This blog is dedicated to the self loathing that afflicts most writers. A community of like-minded malcontents gather here. I post less frequently now, but hopefully with as much vitriol. Please join in! Gluttons for punishment can scroll through the archives.

    If I’ve learned one thing about writers, it’s this: we really are all alone. Thanks for reading. Love, Betsy

It’s Hard to Get By Just Upon a Smile

 

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Tina! Stop writing my book!

I decided to jerk off, er, I mean read my Amazon reviews. This one really popped: “The story of the bridge ladies probably could have been a better book, if someone else had written it.”  I nominate James Joyce, James Patterson, and King James. Don’t mean to be facetious. Don Delillo, Jonathan Franzen, Susan Sontag. I actually think the book would have been a lot better if Tina Fey wrote it. Or Mindy Kalig, or Chelsea Hander. Are you there Bridge Mix, it’s me Betsy. 

A long time ago, I read an interview with SPike Lee. HE was asked how felt abut getting bad reviews and he answered something like, That’s the price for getting in the game. I’ve shared his words with many clients and I live by them.

But back to speculating: who do you think should write your book?