Peg Herring's Blog - Posts Tagged "writing-life"
I'll Make You Famous
I loved that line in YOUNG GUNS, but for authors, it's not so easy. 150,000 books published each year, not to mention the gazillions already out there. How does a writer become famous?
"Write good books," you say. Ah, dear reader, that's a great answer, but it isn't enough. Nor is having a solid publisher, getting good reviews, having enthusiastic fans, or writing a series. All good answers, but not the answer. The world of books is contrary. There are terrible authors who sell millions of books, self-published authors who make tons of money, nasty reviews that actually spur sales, fans who have little effect, and series that start out well and go nowhere.
So how does one become famous? Here's my answer.
I don't. I stop worrying about it. I do what I love. I have fans who think my work is great. They buy enough books to make my publishers happy. I remind myself that Billy the Kid's offer to make someone famous meant killing him. Steig Larsen notwithstanding, I'd rather be writing than that kind of famous.
"Write good books," you say. Ah, dear reader, that's a great answer, but it isn't enough. Nor is having a solid publisher, getting good reviews, having enthusiastic fans, or writing a series. All good answers, but not the answer. The world of books is contrary. There are terrible authors who sell millions of books, self-published authors who make tons of money, nasty reviews that actually spur sales, fans who have little effect, and series that start out well and go nowhere.
So how does one become famous? Here's my answer.
I don't. I stop worrying about it. I do what I love. I have fans who think my work is great. They buy enough books to make my publishers happy. I remind myself that Billy the Kid's offer to make someone famous meant killing him. Steig Larsen notwithstanding, I'd rather be writing than that kind of famous.
