Friday, May 14, 2010

Small Advance, Huge Prize

According to the Christian Science Monitor, this year's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "Tinkers" by Paul Harding, was rejected by 20 publishers and only earned him a $1,000 advance.

"Tinkers" story centers on a man, now dying, who repairs antique clocks. Despite the tough road to publication, the novel was lauded by the L.A. Times, the New Yorker and the Boston Globe prior to capturing the Pulitzer.

Do you think Harding's next advance will be bigger? ;)

6 comments:

  1. Oh yes indeedy. Much bigger. :)
    So interesting. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I sure hope so! That sounds like a good one. Have you read it?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Natalie, I haven't read it yet -- but now I definitely want to!

    Glad you guys liked this. I found it so inspiring.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I certainly hope so. :) I have a feeling it won't take 20 rejections to get the next one published. Thanks for stopping by my blog, Sarah. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. These kinds of stories keep me going. It's also a good lesson that we should write for money or awards or critical acclaim, but to tell a great story.

    ReplyDelete