W. Bruce Cameron, born in Petoskey, Michigan, and now dividing time between his house in Los Angeles, California, and Denver, Colorado, certainly deserves the title, "Beleaguered Father of the Year." Using his experiences as the basis for the best-selling book, "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter," and as a springboard for the hit ABC series of the
same name, starring the late John Ritter,
Mr. Cameron is no stranger to writing.
He wrote nine novels before 'Rules' hit the
big time. With the help of a friend, he was
able to attract the interest of Jody Rein, head
of Jody Rein books, a reputable literary
agency based in Denver, Colorado. Dubbed
Denver's 'Superagent', she is very
professional, what with struggling both family
and commitments with ease.
Mr. Cameron is your male version of
Cinderella. After securing a top literary agent, he signed a deal with Workman Publishing based in New York and the rest is history.
Cameron also writes a syndicated humor column for Creators and shares these experiences as well as what it was like working with the cast of the hit ABC show, 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter.
This interview took place March 25, 2003 via telephone. As everyone knows, the tragic passing of John Ritter took place on September 12, 2003. He was only 54 years old.
Although this interview was published at Entertainment Zone News Magazine, I wish to publish it again in the memory of John. We will miss his contagious smile and always will remember him lighting up our lives with his personality, quick wit and charm.
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I want to thank you for this interview, Bruce.
Well, you are very welcome!
I'd like to start out by asking you where you grew up and was reading and writing a part of your life?
(laughing) I'm not sure I did grow up, Dorothy. I grew up in Kansas City. Always wanted to be a writer. I wrote my first novel in fourth grade.
How important is a "sense of humor" for everyday living? Where did your funny bone come from?
My family provided all the inspiration I needed. But, I believe that humor is derived from a place of pain. It's true. Humor is a defense mechanism against pain.
What advice can you offer those writers who are working on their first book?
I believe that aspiring writers must understand that their first book is not going to be really good. I wrote nine books before 'Rules'. Look at John Grisham and how many he wrote before he attained fame and fortune.
Do you ever get writer's block?
Always. First drafts are hard for me. A blank page is tough. If worse comes to worse, I just type. I'll pick a word like, sock, for example. I'll write it down and before you know it, I've come up with a humor column about socks.
Have you ever wanted to change genres?
Most of my writing career, I didn't write humor. My other books are suspense novels. I never thought I had the funny stuff in me. I'm often amazed at the amount of humor writers there are out there. If you look long and hard, most of the stuff isn't really funny. It's humor-like writing, yet it just doesn't make you laugh out loud. That's what I was aiming forthe kind of humor that made you laugh.
Who is your agent and how did you find her?
Jody Rein. She's an excellent agent. I found her through a friend of mine. I believe that you shouldn't go into an agent/author relationship blind. I have to have someone highly recommended by someone I can trust, then I take it one step farther and see what they have done for their authors. The secret to getting a great agent that you are happy with and can work with and they in turn will work for you is through personal recommendations. I would never pick one over the internet or anywhere else blindly.
I spent a year writing the proposal for 'Rules'. When Jody felt it was good to go, she sent it to 20-30 publishers simultaneously. One publisher, Workman Publishing, based in New York, was the one she picked from, saying it was the best, which she ended up being right. They sent me on a fantastic book tour and speaking engagements. I have never regretted it.
Bruce, I understand that your book birthed a hit ABC sitcom. How did that happen?
How did the book become a sitcom? I have no actual idea. I started getting e-mails from networks and it led to a contract with Disney. I did nothing on my own behalf!
Have you met the stars of the show? What do you think of them?
Yeah, great casting! The actors are very talented. John Ritter is simply fabulous. He's very considerate and fun to be around. I think they did a wonderful job casting the right actors.
Bruce, don't you have a new book coming out?
My next book, How to Remodel a Man, will be out in the Fall of
2003. It's basically about changing men. I'm giving away all the
secrets of my gender.
How is your family coping with your success?
They're doing ok. I've been divorced for a year this November.
It's hard, but we're making it. But, I don't consider myself
successful. I've got a long way to go from cementing success.
Last, but not least, since you are of the single persuasion, what would be the 'rules' for dating YOU?
(laughter) Well, the first rule is they have to be female. The second rule is that they have to be able to speak English. The third rule is that they have to be living near where I live. If I met someone in say, Alaska, it would be very hard to keep up a relationship. And the most important rule, they have to be able to put up with me (laughter again).
I want to thank you so much for this interview, Bruce.
Well, you are very welcome, Dorothy!
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Dorothy Thompson is the founder and editor of The Writer's Life.
