"Would you care to publish this? Sincerely, Robert B. Parker"
About this Quote
A small sentence that doubles as a strategy: “Would you care to publish this?” is both polite and audacious, a door-knock that assumes the door might actually open. Robert B. Parker is remembered for cool competence on the page, and this little scrap of correspondence shows the same temperament off it. No theatrics, no manifesto, no tortured artist posturing. Just a clean request, sharpened by the implication that “this” is already publishable.
The subtext is a quiet wager against the gatekeeping economy. Parker isn’t begging for validation; he’s offering an editor an opportunity to do the smart thing. The phrase “would you care” performs deference while keeping dignity intact. It lets the recipient feel in control, even as it nudges them toward the outcome the writer wants. That’s craft applied to real life: voice as leverage.
Then there’s the signature: “Sincerely, Robert B. Parker.” Two beats of credibility. “Sincerely” signals professionalism and steadiness, a writer who understands publishing as a relationship rather than a lottery ticket. The full name reads like a brand before the brand exists, a reminder that authorship is partly about learning to occupy your own name with confidence.
Placed in context - a mid-century American publishing world where editors were the choke point and genre fiction was often patronized - the line becomes a compact lesson. Talent matters, but so does the willingness to make the ask, plainly, without apology.
The subtext is a quiet wager against the gatekeeping economy. Parker isn’t begging for validation; he’s offering an editor an opportunity to do the smart thing. The phrase “would you care” performs deference while keeping dignity intact. It lets the recipient feel in control, even as it nudges them toward the outcome the writer wants. That’s craft applied to real life: voice as leverage.
Then there’s the signature: “Sincerely, Robert B. Parker.” Two beats of credibility. “Sincerely” signals professionalism and steadiness, a writer who understands publishing as a relationship rather than a lottery ticket. The full name reads like a brand before the brand exists, a reminder that authorship is partly about learning to occupy your own name with confidence.
Placed in context - a mid-century American publishing world where editors were the choke point and genre fiction was often patronized - the line becomes a compact lesson. Talent matters, but so does the willingness to make the ask, plainly, without apology.
Quote Details
| Topic | Writing |
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