Writing – Page 35 – Inside The Mind of a Psychiatrist

Four and a half years ago, after I retired from practicing psychiatry, I got the chance to do something that I had only dreamed about – write full time.

I’ve completed two new novels, a coming-of-age novel, and a mystery/thriller.

Writing the books, and I’m still tweaking them, is a joy. The new roads that my characters take are exciting. They push me to explore ideas and concepts that, for me, are brand new. Also, as the cliche’ goes, writing is rewriting. Even that part of the process is fun. Sometimes a rewrite takes unexpected turns and my character winds up in a place that I never imagined.

But, and it’s a huge but, all the problems start after the novels are done.

Then, the job is to get a literary agent. Some agents hire readers who sift through the thousands of hopeful email pitches. If the agent herself reads all the queries, hundreds and hundreds, how shell-shocked she must be at the end of a day. It certainly isn’t an easy job.

If fate is on your side, and an agent chooses to represent you, for 15% of the sales, she then needs to find a publisher. The publisher’s job, if she agrees to take on your book, is to get it out in the world where it can be discovered and read. That will cost thousands of her dollars. Plus, the publisher also gets a percentage of the sales.

Of course you’ve noticed that there aren’t many book stores anymore. Most of us find our next read online or from friends or on social media sites. If we love a book, we tell our friends, who tell their friends, and on and on. Another daunting fact is that most advertising is left up to the author. Long gone are the days of luxurious book tours.

Knowing how difficult the process would be, I hired an editor to work with me on my coming-of-age novel. He is well known and devoted to his work. After reading the first few chapters of my novel, he was convinced that it would do well and agreed to work with me. He believed that my work was unique and that it wouldn’t be hard to get an agent to represent me.

HA! Not a funny ha. After dozens of rejections, some after agents requested and promised to read the entire manuscript, they didn’t get back to me for many, many months.

That’s what I hate about writing! The helplessness is the worst thing. The fact that someone, either qualified or unqualified, has the power over your hundreds of hours of effort is so frustrating. Whether you think your work is great is irrelevant. If your name is Grisham, Connelly, Foley or Coben, then no problem. Smukler? Forget it! Just buy the jelly… Oh, that’s Smuckers. Buy it anyway. It really is tasty.

I decided to do something about all that. Tune in to my next post.

Thanks,

Art Smukler

Check out THE REAL STORY, a mystery. You’ll get a free jar of jelly – just kidding.

I really have no idea, except for one particular psychiatrist – me. The weird thing, or maybe not so weird, is that the time ( now 4 1/2 years ) feels like maybe a month or two. Even with Covid, the time didn’t just fly, it was like a supersonic disappearance into a black hole.

Not that it wasn’t pleasant and rewarding, it was certainly both. And I’ve loved it.

One observation is that as the time went by and my days were filled with interests other than psychiatry, mainly writing fiction, and I spend my time wondering how my fictional characters will navigate the obstacles and catastrophes that I’ve invented, I also wonder how the real people, my cherished patients and friends, who I haven’t seen in all this time are doing.

Thinking about it, it’s no wonder that my retirement was such a seamless transition from my psychiatry practice. Now, I’m trying to help my imaginary characters resolve their conflicts instead of helping real live people.

By the way, if you ever notice that some things that I write are some of the same things that I would say during a session don’t be surprised. It all comes from the same mind.

Also, and very importantly, if you’re of the mind, please go on my blog and let me know how you’re doing. It would be a treat and I promise to respond.

My next blog will be all about what it’s like to publish and perish and then rise from the ashes.

My previously published books, CHASING BACKWARDS, SKIN DANCE, and THE MAN WITH A MICROPHONE IN HIS EAR are still available – but not for long! You’ll see what I mean in my next post.