March 21, 2010 · 4:35 PM
Don’t read this blog
By Rick Lax
I’m 30 percent of the way through Stephen Markley’s PUBLISH THIS BOOK: The Unbelievable, True Story of how I Wrote, Sold, and Published This Very Book. So far, it’s the most self-indulgent, self-absorbed, self-congratulatory memoir I’ve ever read… and I’m loving every minute of it.
Actually, I didn’t love the first ten pages. But I just went back and reread them, and now I really like them, too. So what the hell happened on my first read?
I think I figured it out.
Writers are predisposed to dislike books they feel they could have written themselves. They’re pissed at themselves for letting somebody else beat them to the punch, and rather than admitting this to themselves, they take it out on the author/book they’re reading.
That’s what I was doing.
Yeah, I’m jealous of Markley. But if you wrote (and weren’t able to sell) a book called, DON’T READ THIS BOOK, just last year, you’d be jealous, too.[1] (But as Markley’s lit prof says, “Writing a good book and getting a book published are two separate activities that don’t have anything much in common, as you’ve already noticed.”)
Favorite quotes from PUBLISH THIS BOOK include:
“I am a singular genius with an idea so unique it may very well melt readers’ faces the way the Ark of the Covenant did to the Nazis in Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
“If you’re young and in a loud bar, you can get away with telling people what you do in nonsense words. They’ll just assume you’re talking about finance or PR or something.”
[1]I know it sounds like I’m being cute here, but I assure you that I really did write this book, and really was unable to sell it.
-
Tuesday
2012-02-21
The Strip
-
Tuesday
2012-02-21
$3 drinks with a text at the door
The Strip
-
Tuesday
2012-02-21
The Strip
- More ›
-
Wednesday
2012-02-22
Drink Specials
-
Wednesday
2012-02-22
$150 bottle specials
Hot Spots
-
Wednesday
2012-02-22
Nobody leaves without hearin' the blues . . .
The Strip
- More ›
-
Thursday
2012-02-23
Green Valley
-
Thursday
2012-02-23
Concert
-
Thursday
2012-02-23
The Strip
- More ›
-
Friday
2012-02-24
Concert
-
Friday
2012-02-24
Henderson
-
Friday
2012-02-24
Two-for-one Jack Daniels cocktails
Treasure Island
- More ›
-
Saturday
2012-02-25
Green Valley
-
Saturday
2012-02-25
Red Rock Casino
-
Saturday
2012-02-25
Palms
- More ›
-
Sunday
2012-02-26
Reduced priced beer and shots
Local Bands
-
Sunday
2012-02-26
Palms
-
Sunday
2012-02-26
$5 drinks with text
The Strip
- More ›
-
Monday
2012-02-27
Sam's Town
-
Monday
2012-02-27
The Strip
-
Monday
2012-02-27
Palms
- More ›
Las Vegas Weekly Photostrip
- 02/19/12
Lily Bar and Lounge Grand Opening - 02/19/12
Audrina Patridge Promotes Curve Appeal for Men at Pure - 02/19/12
DJ Pauly D Residency Kickoff at Vanity - 02/18/12
GBDC with Zen Freeman @ Ghostbar - 02/16/12
2012 S.I. Swimsuit Models: Haze in Aria - 02/15/12
FHM Gallery Lingerie Model Search @ Gallery Nightclub
Most Popular
- Most Read
- E-mailed
- 1. Not you, too, Cheryl Tiegs! More on the 'SI' Swimsuit Edition debate
- 2. Photos: Lily Bar and Lounge’s star-studded grand opening at Bellagio
- 3. Cee Lo Green confirms residency shows at Planet Hollywood this fall
- 4. Photos: Neil Patrick Harris is the Strip’s newest high-wire star
- 5. Mike Tyson signs on for live, one-man ‘confessions’ show on the Strip
- 6. Star Surveillance: Mark Ballas, Dana White, Carson Palmer, Eliza Dushku
- 7. Photos: Ali’s 70th birthday KMA gala hailed as biggest and best ever
- 8. Exclusive: Miss USA Pageant to remain at Planet Hollywood and NBC
- 9. Jamie Gold Poker Room brings Hollywood to the Trop
- 10. Strip Scribbles: Kevin Burke weds couple onstage during his show
Facebook Activity
Videos
Featured Cocktail
Feb 21, 2012
by
Sabrina Chapman
At Comme Ca, it’s always ‘thyme’ for bourbon
The Egyptians used thyme for embalming. The ancient Greeks burnt it as incense in their temples. During the Middle Ages, European maidens presented gifts made with the herb to their ...
Read more...

Discussion:
In an effort to increase the dialogue on our blogs, we will be requiring Facebook accounts to leave comments on lasvegasweekly.com blogs. We believe that Weekly readers are likely to have Facebook accounts already and more apt to comment on this site with that account rather than have to create an account with us. If, however, you do not have a Facebook account, click here to sign up for one. If you have questions, comments or concerns about this new commenting policy, please let us know.
For any other questions related to commenting on Weekly stories, please read our full policy.