Comments on the ETG Experience

The Hook
ETG began as a writing competition advertised in Poets & Writers Magazine, "Seeking first person essays with the theme "Local Truth." I was submitting "The Greatest" to any source that seemed remotely appropriate for my story about meeting Muhammad Ali and boxing lessons. My reject file was expanding.

Cune – A Press returned my work with a critique suggesting that I cut half of my writing. I was insulted/insensed ? but remembered that publication was a goal. So began the revision process, a snail mail exchange of my masterpiece to an unknown publisher. My critic’s notes urged me to trust my reader, "don’t be redundant…we get it. Our negotiations produced three revisions, each time the structure and syntax of my story improved. I was going to be a published writer in an anthology of emerging writers from 2 coasts, not bad for a small investment in postage and a willingness to re-write.

The "deal" was that the writers would maintain the copyrights and were obliged to contribute their best efforts in promoting the book through their local press and public appearances. All agreed enthusiastically in the after-glow of a publication date. What the publisher later learned is that writers are often non-verbal people and often prefer to remain within the sanctity of their cell. Self-promotion and working with others is often a lateral concept, so the marketing of "Our book" came down to a core group of writers willing to make phone calls, send letters, emails, and follow up. Because of my involvement with ETG, I’ve met many of the interesting, creative and incredibly cool writers, people that you would want in your living room. ETG is indeed a "salon of good writers".

Gorilla Marketing
The question, how does an independent press with minimal finances get their book into stores, distribution houses, and reviewed by mainstream and alternate press? Persistence!

* Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Portland are important book buying cities, especially for new writers and publishers. The chain stores have not totally obliterated the independent bookstores, and a loyal and intelligent consumers still wants something different. Cune knew that our potential readers were not people who wanted discount prices on the New York Times best seller list. The Cune consumer looked for new and alternate writers rather than the usual celebrity authors.

Essay, Late-breaking Developments

Muhammad Ali & Me
My essay "The Greatest" was written as a dedication to my father, a former Golden Glove – Heavyweight Champion. In my essay I say that "when I was twelve Dad taught me how to shoot craps, pick horses, count cards and throw a punch."[ life lessons for a blossoming daughter]. I sent a copy of ETG to Muhammad Ali’s office requesting an autograph. The book was returned with Ali’s signature above my title.

On the anniversary of my father's death, I received a call from Ali’s office saying that his wife had read my essay and liked it. She especially liked that it was written by a woman about boxing. The staff person asked if I would be interested in letting Ali’s use my writing on his web site, along with other writers such as George Plimpton, Norman Mailer, and Joyce Carol Oats. I was honored by their request and accepted immediately. I hung up and said a prayer for my Dad, blessing his teachings. I signed a contract with Greatest Of All Time, Inc. and await the debut of the web site.

Publisher's note:
Claire Simons spent a year of her life bringing  An Ear to the Ground   to public attention.