Dear Editor,
In his reply to my letter, Ruel Johnson says there are no publishers in Guyana (‘There are no publishers in Guyana for emerging writers to take advantage of,’ SN, February 3). This is untrue. Publishing, like so many other businesses and services, is no longer confined to any fixed location. Because of the internet, there are publishers everywhere.
Ten years ago, I Googled literary agents in London, picked a bunch and sent them the typescript of my second novel. I got one positive response and that’s all it takes. After some rewriting and editing, my work was submitted to publishers. It took years to find a publisher but my agent persevered because she believed in the merit of my work.
All this cost me nothing beyond the cost of my computer and internet connection which I already had. I believe most writers have access to both so there is no excuse for not finding a publisher. There are publishers who will work with un-agented writers.
The work is demanding. The minimum length for a novel is 80,000 words and it can take up to four years for a work to be completed and ready for publication.
If there are writers here with talent and the will to work there is no reason why they cannot get published. For the record, I have never attended a writer’s workshop. Writers learn their craft by reading. The lessons are all there because so much good writing has already been done.
By reading you learn how plots, characters and themes are developed. Every writer does it in their own way and it is up to each writer to find their voice, style and their point of view. These cannot be taught.
I work with my agent, publishers and their respective editors from my home right here via email and skype. I am the only non-European writer for both my agent and publishers and they signed me up based solely on the merit of my work.
This is most refreshing since here in Guyana the prevailing pettiness means that you are ignored unless you belong to a certain clique and are prepared to kiss the nether end of certain people.
My first two novels are being used in Caribbean Literature programmes at universities abroad – again, they are not part of the local pettiness – and I am hoping that my most recently published third novel will be added to their curriculum.
My books have been reviewed by Bernadette Persaud, Pat Dial, Prof Frank Birbalsingh, Prof Mariam Pirbhai and by a number of UK bloggers.
On the Guyana Prize, I find it wanting in so many ways. Slim volumes of work win and it makes you wonder what number of words is considered a full length book. The last judges’ report stated that most, if not all, the works submitted needed editing to make them publishable. Yet they awarded prizes.
The Guyana Prize seems to be shifting standards downwards to accommodate the pervasive mediocrity that is Guyana. Who wants to win such a prize?
I see the Guyana Prize as part of the rot and corruption that Johnson likes to talk about. I am with Kaieteur News’ Peeping Tom on this (February 3, 2015) and support the call to scrap the prize.
Yours faithfully,
Ryhaan Shah
