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LEARN TO TYPE
I once read in The Language of the Night : Essays on Fantasy and Science Fiction that when an aspiring writer asked Ursula Le Guin how to write, she answered, "Learn to type." We all know what that hapless neophyte really wanted to know; he wanted to know everything he had to do to go from concept to royalty check. Ms. Le Guin responded with practical advice, undoubtedly a severe disappointment, but God knows, I've never met an author who could answer the question better.
My wife decided to place an ad in the "We Type Manuscripts" section of "Writer's Digest." Until that moment, Curious Cat Productions had been an electronic publishing company providing typing and graphics services for legal and corporate offices. I objected strongly to branching out into another market. "Most writers know how to type," I said, quoting Ms. Le Guin. "And those that can't type have no business paying us. If they don't care enough to deal with a basic skill like typing, chances are good they won't be publishable."
"God, you're an arrogant S. O. B.," she said. Readers will note the glowing terms she used to describe myself and my most endearing personality traits. "Didn't you read somewhere that Marion Zimmer Bradley writes with a tape recorder? And what makes you think people who type wouldn't use our services? Most of our lawyers type, but they'd rather pay me. I'm faster and more accurate."
I was thoroughly cowed. I resisted the urge to send off an apologetic note to Ms. Bradley and wrote the nearly 800-dollar check to the advertising department at "Writer's Digest" instead.
