Tom McAndrew, author of Doocey Half-Sees Whodunnit, asks: how the hell are you supposed to know that you’re a good writer?
Hello there! By way of an introduction, my name is Tom McAndrew. I’m originally from a little village near Belmullet, in County Mayo. I’ve written a series of funny (well, I hope they’re funny) crime mysteries. The books feature a scruffy, oddball detective named Doocey, who starts losing his sight just as he’s assigned his first big case. Talk about bad timing!
I’ve signed a three-book deal with Coffeetown Press, which is a traditional publisher based in the US. I’m just about to have my first book, Doocey Half-Sees Whodunnit, published, which I’m very excited about.
Many thanks to Vanessa at Writing.ie for inviting me to submit this piece and for her past invaluable feedback on my writing.
The ‘Half-Seeing’ Writer
“Sight” as a subject matter has always fascinated me, and having been through my own physical sight issues, I believe it is a subject I can authentically write about. But, of course, we do not just “see” with our eyes. We see in all sorts of ways. I thought it might be then interesting to explore how I believe we, as writers, are only “half-seeing”—never quite clearly seeing the answer to that big question all writers face: Is my writing any good? Well, let me attempt to answer that question with regard to my own writing.
I’ve submitted my work to various publishers and literary agents, and I’ve got more than my fair share of “It’s just not for us” rejections. So, going by those—no—my writing is not very good.
However, I’ve also received some very positive replies (although admittedly much fewer) from publishers and literary agents saying how much they loved my writing. How they loved my characters, plotting, and humour. So, going by those—yes—my writing is absolutely brilliant (up there with James Joyce!).
A Decent Writer?
But in all seriousness, surely the fact that I managed to get multiple offers of publication must mean that I’m at least a decent writer? Mustn’t it? Well, honestly, I don’t know. Because there are those gloomy days (many of them) when I can’t seem to string one good sentence together, when I can’t see how anybody could have ever thought my writing to be any good. Then, there are those bright, glorious days when the words just come. And I can’t see how any reader out there wouldn’t enjoy what I’ve written.
Yet the funny and irritating thing is, when, after say a few weeks, I look back on the writing that I struggled so hard with and thought was rubbish, I’m surprised by how “not bad” I think it is. Whereas, when I go back to the writing that I had no problems writing and thought was brilliant, I’m surprised by how “bad” I think it is.
Well, you are going to see very shortly, now that you’re getting your first book published, whether you are a good writer or not, a nagging inner voice keeps reminding me. If it’s a bestseller, then you will know for definite. And if it’s not, well… maybe it’s time to give up on the old writing. But I won’t be doing that, because I enjoy writing too much. You’ve heard of a “golfer’s widow.” Well, my wife is a “writer’s widow.”
Selling Lots of Books
And, it could be argued that selling lots of books doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a good writer. Because aren’t there badly written books out there (not naming any) that have sold in their zillions? And aren’t there beautifully written literary masterpieces out there, too, that have only sold a couple of copies? And, by the way, I’m not saying that I wouldn’t love to sell loads of books—I would! So, I’d be only delighted if you would buy my book. I’m just saying that a writer having big book sales does not always mean the writer is a “good” writer.
So, how the hell then are you supposed to know that you’re a good writer? Well, the clue is in the title of this piece. I don’t think there’s any way of definitely knowing. At best, you’re only going on this hunch that your writing is good, as if the lights are out and you are feeling your way about, “half-seeing.”
Doocey Half-Sees Whodunnit
So my advice to any writer starting out is not just to write “what you know” (but you can do that too), but to write “what you like.” Write the book that is the kind of book you’d like to read. Or better still, write a book that you’d like to read but just can’t find out there—a book that will have your unique voice. That’s what I tried to do. Fed up with reading too many overly grim crime novels, I tried to write one with a bit of humour, but which still could be insightful and even inspirational. Here’s what I came up with:
Okay, his superiors might think him a clown, and okay, he might be secretly battling sight problems, but Shamie Doocey is determined to prove that he’s still a seriously good detective with a twenty-twenty mind’s eye by solving his first big case: the disappearance of an uptight crime writer’s wife.
Doocey Half-Sees Whodunnit is not just another cosy mystery with lots of intriguing twists where you, as the reader, struggle alongside Doocey to see matters clearly right up to the very end. It’s a story of human courage, Irish drollness, resilience, and ultimately transformation in the face of adversity.
Thank you for reading and keep on going with your writing. Keep on “half-seeing.”
I hope you will consider buying my book, Doocey Half-Sees Whodunnit, and if you enjoy it, leaving a review (on Amazon or Goodreads etc.). It would mean a lot. The book is available to order online and to order in most bookstores. Please visit https://tommcandrewwriter.com/ for more information.
Thank you,
Tom
(c) Tom McAndrew
Order your copy of Doocey Half-Sees Whodunnit online here.
And read more Writing & Me articles on Writing.ie here.
