The Real World of Writing
Drew Hayden Taylor is a renowned Canadian Indigenous author known for his humour and sharp insight. I taught his novels and plays in my high school English classes, so I was excited when I got a chance to “meet” him over zoom. He was engaging and entertaining.
Until he told us a story of his Grade 11 English teacher.
The whole meeting was full of Grade 11 English teachers.
He explained how his teacher had discouraged his pursuit of a writing career. I showed her, he said, in essence.
He’s not wrong to feel slighted, but as an English teacher and writer, I fear his attitude doesn’t address the whole picture.
As teachers, we do want to support young writers with optimism and encouragement. But we also owe a duty to our students to explain the realities of the publishing world. It’s hard to make a living as a writer. Drew was able to establish a successful career. Not everyone can be Drew.
Where’s our responsibility—not just as teachers, but as writers who’ve learned a thing or two about the harsh realities of rejections—to newcomers in our field? Evidence supports the conclusion that the odds are against most of us.
The answer? Make clear the realities of the writing world first, and then say, why not you?
That goes for my teen students—as well as you.
Why not you?