Page 91 of I Can't Even Think Straight

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Luckily, The Author’s responses

to other people’s questions go a long way

to telling me what I need to know:

“When you have a book written,

you send the first three chapters to an agent

with a synopsis of the entire plot,

along with a cover letter about yourself.

“Read widely in different genres.

Fiction and nonfiction, prose and poetry,

scripts, food writing, travel writing:

anything you can get your hands on.”

“Some of my favorite writers are

Benjamin Zephaniah, James Baldwin, and Michael Rosen.”

“Talk to Mrs. James, your school librarian,

about what you’ve read and enjoyed,

and what your writing ambitions are.

She’ll have lots of recommendations.”

Here, The Author points to Mrs. James,

off to the side, who beams with pride.

Both her massive smile and her Progress

Pride flag badge on her staff lanyard.

“The majority of writers don’t do it full-time.

Those who do are often supported

by family money or the income of their partner.

I’m fortunate to be a full-time writer now,

but I lived at home with my mum until recently.

Before I published my second book,

I had several other jobs alongside writing,

such as retail, waiting tables, and bar work.

“I usually write one book at a time

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