Writing in French versus English and publishing

Frederic asks in which language he should write, since he writes in both English and French and wants to reach a market and earn money.

The Wonders point out English is roughly his third language and urge him to write in French, his language of greatest ease and expression.

They characterize French as a descriptive, Latin-based language and English as a sparse, Spartan language that became the language of business precisely because it demands less vocabulary.

Their practical advice: write the book in French, approach French publishers, then have it translated (by himself or by a publisher) and sell English rights separately, citing a Swedish author's trilogy written in his native tongue and later translated and filmed.

They note he has never approached French publishers as he did English ones.