Selling Yourself Short?
Monday, February 15th, 2010I was talking to a new friend who, like me, is here at the Vermont Studio Center, working on her writing. My friend told me that she’s in contact with a very famous poet who writes her a letter of recommendation for fellowships, retreats, etc. any time she needs one. I was—am—surprised by this. I’ve always been reluctant to ask other writers, even writers I knew well, for letters because I felt that they must be busy working on their writing, and my request would feel like an intrusion. Thus, I don’t apply to many things unless it is something I really, really want.
Established writers, what are your thoughts when emerging writers ask you for letters? Are you bothered by such requests or do you feel the more timid emerging writers are simply selling ourselves short?
