It pleases me to no end to see the success some Big Closet authors are having selling their work online.

A decade or so ago I spent several thousand dollars on postage, letterhead, and envelopes sending query letters and manuscripts to literary agents. All I got for my efforts was considerable frustration. One literary agent read my full manuscript for a non-TG version of "Peaches". She told me I had to totally rewrite the chapter where we made an oblique reference to the slight possibility that the protagonist might be transsexual. She said that Amelia R and my Young Adult book would never find its way into a school library.

I tried with four other books. I even sent a manuscript to a "manuscript doctor" who sent it back with a note saying I had commercial skills and there was nothing she could do to improve my writing. Too bad she wasn't a literary agent.

Even though I no longer want to publish my material other than what I write for Erin, it's great to see that the gatekeepers of old no longer have all the power.

I do want to caution all the writers that the reasons for writing have NOT changed.

1.) Did you enjoy the process of writing?

2.) Did you stay true to the themes you set out to write about?

3.) Was the book/piece your best effort?

It's as simple as 1 - 2 - 3. All else is secondary.

Jill