Among those represented by the Erin Murphy Literary Agency, Luke Reynolds is known as the *real* Ryan Gosling (you had to be there). Although, I happen to think Luke is cuter, don’t you? Just look at that dimple! And I happen to know he’s a heckuva lot funnier.
He’s also smarter than my Ryan Gosling when it comes to publishing, writing and living.
Luke is the author of KEEP CALM AND QUERY ON: NOTES ON WRITING (AND LIVING) WITH HOPE. And he’s here today to give you that: HOPE. (Plus a copy of his book, plus a query critique, plus a personal “pep talk” phone call!)
Half of Luke’s book includes some reflections for writers on perseverance, hope, humor, gratitude, and work ethic, while the other half includes interviews with writers like Daniel Handler (a.k.a. Lemony Snicket), Katherine Erskine, Jane Smiley, and 11 other authors.
Without further Ryan Gosling references, take it away, Ryan! Erm…I mean Luke!
Making a Life
by Luke Reynolds
There are two places where fast, easy manoeuvres and accomplishments are both warranted and worthwhile: 1) In a snowball fight, when your opponents are slinging well-packed cold stuff at you faster than re-runs of Friends episodes appear on TBS; and 2) In getting the kids to bed when they’re already overtired after a long day of snowball fighting.
Most other pursuits in life don’t lend themselves to easy success. And at the top of a very, very long list of Stuff That Takes Forever comes the pursuit of writing. But that’s a good thing—a terribly hard, but fantastically good thing. Because deep down, none of us who love writing want it to be easy anyway. That’s not why we fall in love with something in the first place.
When we were children, people asked us, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Very few of us, I’m guessing, responded, “I’d really love to find something easy—something that requires little skill, almost no perseverance, and happens fast.” Instead, most of us said we wanted to fly into outer space wearing massive white suits; or we said we wanted to sing on stage in front of a roaring audience; or we wanted to be pilots or race car drivers or scientists who found cures for every kind of disease or explorers who found distant lands.
Or we wanted to be writers.
Novelist John Dufresne writes in his Foreword to KEEP CALM AND QUERY ON the following: “Writers want to write, not to have written.” Even though the manuscript of Keep Calm had been finished and proofed and was ready for publication, that line from John’s Foreword hit me hard and fast—much like a well-packed snowball or like a child screaming wildly that he isn’t ready for bed. The line speaks so loudly because it captures the essence of this pursuit we’ve chosen: a creative calling that is about making a life, not a living.
We write because we love the small giddy feeling that rises up like regurgitated food after we’ve eaten too much and then laughed too hard. We write because we like the problems (deep down) that our characters encounter, and we like the fact that there is no easy way out—either for our characters themselves or for us as we make plotting decisions. We write because we know that hearing no enough times and going back to our desks, reworking material, forging new work, and venturing back out into the wild, beautiful possibility of publishing makes our hearts beat fast.
So, deep down, we know it’s not easy. Nor do we want it to be. That’s not why we love it in the first place.
Why do we love films and stories about underdogs? Why—for instance—does Atticus Finch inspire me to no end? It’s not because he took an easy case that guaranteed a sure-fire victory with no obstacles. I love Atticus because he took an impossible case that guaranteed a loss but his conscience demanded it and his soul echoed the call.
You love the books and characters and films you do, I believe, because you know that triumph is only beautiful when the journey is difficult, that getting the story right is profoundly moving only because you’ve known the story has been so stubbornly wrong—however slightly—in its previous lives.
The MG novel that my agent, the lovely Joan Paquette, signed me on was originally entitled ATTICUS AND ME. It was a story that came down my arteries and out through my fingertips. The first draft, though, would have guaranteed a speedy rejection from Joan. So she didn’t see Atticus until his fourth revision. And then Joan continued to revise Atticus into a character who was more authentic, more real—a character whose story meant more. Joan raised the stakes in the novel. And after quite a few rounds, Atticus is still growing, still changing.
And various picture book manuscripts are in their own worlds of revision, each entering a fifth, ninth, and eleventh or more incantation of their possible lives.
We write because we want to write, not because we want to have written. As writers, we start to accept the fact that—much like us—the characters that people our stories are going to need second-chances, harder obstacles, higher walls, deeper pain—and that all of this, eventually, leads to greater love. In the writing, for the writing, and through the writing.
So, then, the question remains: if we don’t want writing and publishing to be easy, what do we really want? I’d venture a humble guess: we want support. We want somebody—anybody, the mailman, Grandma, our children, our students, and maybe one day an agent and editor—to tell us that we have what it takes. We want support. We want to know that our work is worth it. That ninth draft of an MG novel or our twentieth time through a PB manuscript that has changed completely and become almost an entirely new book are both pursuits for which support is not only helpful, but essential.
In short, we need someone in our corner, shouting in a voice of accountability, conviction, and faith to keep going. You have what it takes. Get through this draft. Try it from a different POV. Try it from a different character’s perspective. Try the story in present tense. Throw in a cow who believes he is Ryan Gosling. Throw in a turtle who eats books. Throw in a kid who thinks it’s over, until—
Until that voice. Listen it to it clanging inside the damn-near defeated walls of your heart. That voice confirms what you and I already know: we don’t want it to be easy. It’s hard. We know that. What we want is the pluck and the nerve and the faith to keep going—to make a life with our pursuit of writing and the way we embody it, rather than simply a living.
We want more than a contract and some cash. We want to craft the words that get us excited—that get readers excited. Or, as John Dufresne put it, we want to write, not to have written.
So: a toast. (I wish I had wine, but coffee feeds the writer in me more). To the very act of writing—in all its difficulty, stubbornness, painstakingly slow but remarkably beautiful worth. May we all, as writers and as people, keep calm and query on.
Thanks, Luke! Very inspiring. I need a tissue now. *sniff*
And you folks need to comment! Luke is giving away THREE PRIZES!
1. A signed copy of KEEP CALM AND QUERY ON.
2. A query critique.
3. A personal phone call and pep talk to discuss your writing career.
Your comment counts as one entry. You get an extra entry for each mention on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. Just mention it in your comment. Comments close the end of April 1 and winners will be randomly selected on April 2.
Now keep calm and comment on!
Luke Reynolds is editor of the forthcoming book for teens and tweens BREAK THESE RULES (Chicago Review Press, 2013). He has also co-edited BURNED IN: FUELING THE FIRE TO TEACH (Teachers College Press 2011) and DEDICATED TO THE PEOPLE OF DARFUR (Rutgers University Press, 2009). His newest books are KEEP CALM AND QUERY ON: NOTES ON WRITING (AND LIVING) WITH HOPE (Divertir Publishing, 2012) and A CALL TO CREATIVITY: WRITING, READING, AND INSPIRING STUDENTS IN AN AGE OF STANDARDIZATION (Teachers College Press, 2012). He loves garlic bread with passion, and loves children just about as much. He has taught grades 7-12 and he’s now a nightschool teacher and home-dad by day. His writing for children is represented by the formidably wise and oft-inspiring Ammi-Joan Paquette of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Keep calm and visit on at www.lukewreynolds.com.
90 comments
Comments feed for this article
March 22, 2012 at 9:10 am
Sophie Cayless
Well, I just love the title! Makes me want to read the book. Very good points about us not wanting this to be easy.
Thanks!
March 22, 2012 at 9:11 am
Sophie Cayless
Forgot to mention I did pin the book cover on Pinterest.
March 22, 2012 at 9:14 am
Lucy's Book
Excellent post! Thank you!
March 22, 2012 at 9:15 am
Jan
As I sit down to start on a new idea for a picture book in the back of my mind are all my wonderings and worries about the manuscripts that are floating about in various stages of possible consideration by agents and or editors I want to say how much I appreciated reading the honest depiction of a writers love of this craft of writing. Thank you Luke. Jan M
March 22, 2012 at 9:15 am
Susanna Leonard Hill
What an excellent and articulate explanation on why we write! I think it’s also why we feel that it is beyond great to have something published, and yet we’re obsessed with writing the next book! Thanks Tara and Luke for a great post!
March 22, 2012 at 9:17 am
rblees
Wow. Thank you, Luke! You have no idea how much I needed this pep talk today. I will keep querying on and um, okay, entering the coveted snowball fight. I’m mentioning this great post on twitter as well.
March 22, 2012 at 9:18 am
Tracy Abell
Yes, this: “…we need someone in our corner, shouting in a voice of accountability, conviction, and faith…”
Thank you for the morning’s pep talk!
March 22, 2012 at 9:22 am
Penny Klostermann
Great post! Incredibly inspiring and just what I need to hear on a regular basis. I checked out Luke’s blog and it is inspiring as well. I shared on FB, Pinterest, and Twitter.
March 22, 2012 at 9:23 am
Nancy Furstinger (@AnimalAuthor)
Revision is my middle name! This sounds like an inspiring title–I’d rather read it than open up a vein.
March 22, 2012 at 9:28 am
alex villasante (@magpiewrites)
I was an early adopter of the Keep Calm trend – I’ve had that framed and hanging in my foyer for years. But for some reason, when querying, I can’t do it. I’m like Chicken freaking Little here, yelling about the sky falling, trying to bury my novel before giving it the proper chance. It’s not that I don’t believe in hard work, I absolutely do. It’s that querying is like standing outside in your underpants drawing attention to yourself – you’re putting out the most vulnerable part of you. And though I’ve revised and critted my underpants, urm, I mean, my book into the best work I can do, it’s agonizing. So THANK YOU for this. A pep talk that’s rooted in truth is the only kind that works with me!
March 22, 2012 at 9:29 am
Alexa
Gorgeous piece and so dead-on. Luke is right-we DO want it to be hard. If it were easy, everyone would do it.
March 22, 2012 at 9:33 am
katfrog
Excellent book! Thank you for the post.
March 22, 2012 at 9:33 am
kiperoo
Oooh, wow, I don’t know how I haven’t heard about Luke and this book. It sounds awesome, and sounds like the perfect strategy for querying. Can’t wait to read it! I will definitely be tweeting about this!
March 22, 2012 at 9:37 am
Joanna
I think I must have uttered ‘YES’ about a dozen times under my breath, here in my office, reading this. I needed this! Thank you.
March 22, 2012 at 9:41 am
Jennifer Kirkeby
Fantastic post, and just what I needed this morning! Thank you for reminding us that all good things take time. And often a lot more time than we had counted on! I’ll be sharing your post on FB and Twitter!
March 22, 2012 at 9:45 am
Nicole Zoltack
Awesome post!
Tweeted and FB’d
March 22, 2012 at 9:48 am
Brigid
I don’t want a free book I just want to say thank you
March 22, 2012 at 9:52 am
MaryZ
Hey Girl, After a lackluster round of agent rejections, I need a major pep talk and hope.
March 22, 2012 at 9:59 am
Susan Halko
What a great way to start my day. Thank you!
March 22, 2012 at 10:09 am
Darshana
Great pep talk. Thank you.
March 22, 2012 at 10:12 am
KatherineR
Nice post!
March 22, 2012 at 10:18 am
Melissa K.
Could not have come at a better time for me – struggling to finish a first draft on one hand and revising another MS for the umpteenth time on another. Tara, thank you for sharing Ryan …er…. LUKE with us all, and Luke, thank you for putting it out there, as real as the Velveteen Rabbit.
March 22, 2012 at 10:23 am
Wendy
Staying calm, prepping for two upcoming conferences! I’ll need to read the book before then.
Thanks, Luke. I saw this post on my twitter feed already, so I’ll go add to the buzz now!
March 22, 2012 at 10:26 am
Angela De Groot
Thanks, I really needed this today. And yes, support is what keeps us going.
March 22, 2012 at 10:29 am
Larissa
Great post! Congrats on your successes! 🙂
March 22, 2012 at 10:51 am
Lori Alexander
Just what I needed to hear–thanks!
March 22, 2012 at 11:13 am
valerierlawson
enjoyed the post and now feel the need to keep on writing.
March 22, 2012 at 11:33 am
Alison Pearce Stevens
What a fabulous post! Thank you Luke and Tara for sharing it with us.
March 22, 2012 at 11:35 am
Olivia Hennis
😀 I want that title as for a sticker for my computer!
Thanks for the contest–and looking forward to checking out Luke’s book!
March 22, 2012 at 11:54 am
martidl
Thank you, Luke, for an inspiring post! I will bookmark this page and refer to it often as I prepare my WIPs for their grand adventure into the publishing arena!
March 22, 2012 at 12:04 pm
KimberlyFDR
Thank you for the wonderful post!
March 22, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Sandi Hershenson
I loved this post! Luke is very inspiring, and I can completely relate to just wanting the support. Talking to people about being a writer either makes them look at me in awe of my devotion to the craft and like I am a complete nut job. I am determined to query on! I am posting this link on FB in all of my kid lit related pages today!
March 22, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Kjersten
Thanks for this post. I’m definitely going to check out Luke’s book. Thanks Tara and Luke!
March 22, 2012 at 12:45 pm
Susan Faith Corl
Great post! I really needed this today! Sometimes we need someone else to tell us what we already knew. Thanks, Luke.
March 22, 2012 at 1:25 pm
Cathy Ballou Mealey
Great POV shift: “Throw in a cow who believes he is Ryan Gosling.”
Thanks for the encouragement and inspiration.
March 22, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Tara Lazar
“Hey girl. You MOOve me.”
March 25, 2012 at 8:46 am
Cathy Ballou Mealey
Outstanding Tara! Make it!
March 22, 2012 at 1:37 pm
Rebecca Colby
Thanks for the great post. It’s made me want to read the book, which has just gone on my wish list. 🙂
March 22, 2012 at 1:48 pm
Charlotte
Such an encouraging post! Currently stuck on a PB manuscript revision and this may be just what I need to dive back in 😉
March 22, 2012 at 2:00 pm
Sherilyn M Cook (@Sherilyn_M_Cook)
WOW! Needed your post today. YOU understand writers. LOVED the post!
March 22, 2012 at 2:18 pm
Bobbie Henry
Thanks Luke, I found your post very calming and encouraging. I need both!!!
March 22, 2012 at 2:23 pm
Sue Heavenrich
Thanks Ryan – I mean, Luke! I like the title – Query On – very much something Churchill, or even Atticus might have said. And yes, wanting to write is the thing, although in some cases I think we “have to” write. There’s no choice; we go stir crazy if we don’t.
March 22, 2012 at 3:07 pm
Stacy S. Jensen
I like the idea of putting that title as a sticker on my computer too. I’m not to the querying stage. Still, just writing.
March 22, 2012 at 3:15 pm
Michelle Bradford
Luke says, “We want more than a contract and some cash. We want to craft the words that get us excited—that get readers excited.”
I say, “Ditto.” I want to write timeless works children remember forever. And I rarely get writer’s block, until I get to that horrifying query. To sum it all up, I want this book! 🙂
michellebradford.com
michellebradford.blogspot.com
michellebradord.wordpress.com
March 22, 2012 at 4:07 pm
A.Reid
Well said!
March 22, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Kim Mounsey
What a great post. Very inspiring and what I needed this morning.
You hit the nail on the head when you said we want support. We want someone to egg us on and encourage us but also to celebrate our achievements with us. Even if the achievement is completing draft #14 where you had to kill your characters best friend for the good of the story…
March 22, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Theresa Milstein
I love the title and the idea of the book. I’m sharing this on Facebook right now.
March 22, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Michael Sussman
Wonderful post! Tremendously insightful.
March 22, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Leslie G
Thank you, Tara and Ryan–um, I mean, Luke! Great post, and great book to add to the shelf!
March 22, 2012 at 5:19 pm
Michelle d Evans
Love it.
I have tweeted. X
March 22, 2012 at 6:27 pm
Karen B. Schwartz
Sounds like a cool book. Great interview guys!
March 22, 2012 at 6:40 pm
katiemillsgiorgio
Love the encouragement from this post…thank you! I’ve shared via Facebook and Pinterest…
March 22, 2012 at 6:55 pm
Deena
Fabulous post, and fabulous book title, Luke! Thanks!
March 22, 2012 at 7:09 pm
Catherine Johnson
So inspiring, I think I’ll save this post. Thanks and I’ve shared it on Pinterest and Facebook.
March 22, 2012 at 7:16 pm
Alexandra Corinth
This is fantastic! I am pushing this everywhere — I’ve already RT’d the post (as @gloriouschaos), and I am going to post this on my FB fan page (“Alexandra Corinth”) and on my WP blog this evening. Thanks so much for this awesome giveaway, and wonderful post, Luke! ❤
March 22, 2012 at 7:56 pm
Terri
Thank you for the pearls of wisdom. I facebooked you as well.
March 22, 2012 at 8:36 pm
Sheri Larsen
Man, did Luke nail writers or what? With all the potholes, twists, turns, and hair-pulling within a writer’s journey, though, it’s no wonder we want to quit sometimes. If we’re all honest, we really did/do know the publishing world is challenging. Keeping on is a valiant move. 😀 Thanks, Luke.
I tweeted, added on FB & G+, & listed the giveaway on my Pinterest board for Writer Giveaways.
March 22, 2012 at 8:41 pm
Sheri Larsen
Sorry. Scratch the Pinterest mention. For some reason it’s not working. I’ll keep trying, though.
March 22, 2012 at 8:45 pm
Kathy
Great post! Sounds like a must get book 🙂
I am adding to my fb!
March 22, 2012 at 9:25 pm
Jodelle Brohard
Keep Calm and Query On is a great title! I’d love to win.
March 22, 2012 at 10:30 pm
tinamcho
I agree….I love writing support and encouragement. Without it, I probably would have given up.
March 23, 2012 at 4:58 am
Kim Pfennigwerth (@kpfenni)
Sharing this with 2 critique groups. There is nothing like the thrill of a new story as the words come pouring out and nothing worse than hitting the wall when you can’t put three words together that don’t sound like drivel.
Thanks for the support, Luke!
March 23, 2012 at 7:01 am
Julie Falatko
This sounds so great! I totally need a query critique and a pep talk. (I tweeted this also.)
March 23, 2012 at 9:12 am
Keep Calm and Query On | Laura Boffa: Write of Way
[…] https://taralazar.wordpress.com/2012/03/22/keep-calm-and-query-on-luke-reynolds-on-making-a-life-as-a… […]
March 23, 2012 at 9:13 am
lauraboffa
Fantastic post! My writer’s adrenaline is pumping. Thanks!
I also linked it on my blog: http://beinglauraboffa.wordpress.com/2012/03/23/keep-calm-and-query-on/
March 23, 2012 at 9:44 am
Diana Delosh
Thanks I needed this post…helped to remind me why I keep creating despite feeling like it’s an act of futility at times. Got a rejection this week on a requested PB dummy/MS. Ouch – it hurt… but yes I will query & submit again and agin. And keep on writing and illustrating.
BTW – Just tweeted this post too.
March 23, 2012 at 10:09 am
Rebecca Van Slyke
Yes, as Lisa Yee just shared via her great video, writing is easy. (Except for the screaming, the bleeding and the falling down parts.)
Love the image of the boxer getting the pep talk, too! We ALL can use that from time to time.
March 23, 2012 at 10:20 am
Susan G. Clark
Those words are so true. It is the creation of a piece that fuels me and keeps me coming back to the keyboard. Thank you for the reminder.
March 23, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Nicole Maggi
So beautiful and inspiring. As a writer who has had a really hard road of late, this rings very true! P.S. Have Tweeted & Facebooked this!
March 23, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Elizabeth Stevens Omlor
What an AMAZING post. I think I might tattoo Luke’s philosophy to my thumb so each time I write,I will be reminded of why I truly am doing so. Will that get me an extra entry in the contest drawing? 🙂 Thank you so much for having such quality information here. Can’t wait to read the book! Facebookin’ it!
March 24, 2012 at 8:44 am
JoAn Watson Martin
Beginning with “Five Little Peppers and How They Grew” and a compliment from a 7th grade teacher about the title of my story, I determined at an early age that I would write. Notice publishing did not necessarily follow. Access to a library keeps me happy. The idea is to write. Raising 4 children, teaching 22 years did interfere, but I have file drawers full and 5 published novels. Mighty meager, but no one told me it would be easy. I will never, never cease to write.
JoAn
March 24, 2012 at 9:51 am
Kimberly Lynn
“The line speaks so loudly because it captures the essence of this pursuit we’ve chosen: a creative calling that is about making a life, not a living.”
I have friends and family members who do not understand what drives me to work so hard for literally nothing. LOL! From now on, I will say, “It’s my creative calling.”
Thank you for being in our corner, Luke.
(I’ll post a link about your book on Twitter and Facebook.)
March 24, 2012 at 1:03 pm
laurimeyers
Luke’s description of working with his editor sounds almost like a wife helping him to raise his young character to be the best he can be. I imagine there is a fine line between the ouch of constructive criticism and the comfort of editorial support. Thanks for sharing!
March 24, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Lori Mozdzierz
I hear ya, Luke! Great post 😀
March 24, 2012 at 7:48 pm
kathyellen
Great post, Tara! Thanks for always having inspiring and fun content!
March 24, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Elizabeth McBride
Thank you Ryan and Tara! I feel like I write to make a difference somewhere, and I write because, although it is hard to write and do a fine job of that, it is even harder NOT to write at all. I would love to read your book, Ryan. Thank you for your post.
March 24, 2012 at 9:53 pm
Elizabeth McBride
Ryan/Luke, Luke/Ryan…..Thank you Luke! I’ll try to look for your book under the correct author’s name!
March 24, 2012 at 11:47 pm
Marcy P.
That was so needed. I’m definitely in the slump of discouragement and need the support! Thanks for the very timely reminders and call back to what is important. Loved it!
I went crazy and shared this all over… twitter, my FB page, LinkedIn, Google Plus…. think I covered them all 🙂
March 25, 2012 at 7:54 am
Kim Murray
Thanks for this post. It’s bookmarked and I know I’ll be returning to it again and again!
March 25, 2012 at 9:10 am
ebliles
Wow. That was just awesome. I am currently re-working my very first YA novel for the gazillionth time. Thanks for the inspiration to carry on! I am facebooking this too. 🙂
March 26, 2012 at 7:06 am
desiree
Soooooo many revisions and with each one I get more excited with my finished product. Thanks for the encouragement. 🙂
March 26, 2012 at 3:41 pm
Christie Wild
Very cool title for a great book. Thanks for the contest.
March 27, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Véronique
When I grow up? Yes, I wanted to be a scientist and I am. Yes, I wanted to understand how our world works, and I am still figuring it out. Yes, I wanted to explore distant new territories and I continue to do so. Yes, I wanted to live elsewhere, in a foreign land, and I do. And yes, I also want to be a writer and illustrator. Easy? Yes, just continue to dream, explore, travel and write and draw, write and draw, write and draw.
March 27, 2012 at 6:38 pm
Gail Handler
Very inspiring, Luke! I’ll be buying your book whether I’m a giveaway winner or not. Your words feel like a giant hug!
March 29, 2012 at 4:11 pm
Ruth McNally Barshaw
Well said, Luke. 🙂
March 31, 2012 at 12:01 am
Julie
That sounds so great. Everyone needs support, even when we’re doing something we love.
March 31, 2012 at 4:17 pm
3 pups in a pop-up
Thanks for this great article. Yes, it is soooo important to have someone in our corner!
March 31, 2012 at 6:12 pm
Linda McLaren
Great post, and thanks for those words of encouragement! Querying is a sure fire way of pretzeling your brain! And yes it does hurt!
April 1, 2012 at 3:28 pm
Kristin Wolden Nitz
This essay put into words some of the things that I already knew instinctively. Thanks!
April 1, 2012 at 5:17 pm
Abby Beal
What a great post, and so inspiring! I especially liked the Atticus Finch reference, always root for the underdog!
🙂 Abigail