Which would you prefer…

Yesterday I read a little blog post from a great YA author, Melissa Luznicky Garrett, about whether you would prefer your writing to be "smart" or popular.   She posed the question : As a author, would you rather write a popular book that appeals to many and makes you rich and famous, if all that came with the jokes and criticism about bad writing (think Twilight)

or

Would you prefer to write something that is praised for being intelligent and thought provoking but only a few people will ever read it?

Honestly, it didn't take me long to make my own decision. Money aside (because really, who doesn't want/need money right?) I would take the popularity and criticism over the lack of an audience.

With a degree in Comparative Literature and Languages, I've done my fair share of reading those books that are praised but not read by many. I even enjoyed many of them, but as an author, I feel it's more my job to entertain the masses. To give them an escape. That's not to say I want my writing to be "bad". I'd like a happy medium please. I want people to enjoy my stories and if they learn something or have an epiphany? Awesome, but I don't really write for that reason. I write what I feel compelled to write. I write to entertain.

Do I think Stephanie Meyer is a fantastic writer? Not especially, but I still enjoyed her books and the movies. The writing may not be spectacular, but she was able to tap into people's fantasies and allow them an escape. That takes a special kind of talent in itself, don't you think? I certainly wouldn't mind having that talent myself.

Now I just need to work on that whole handling criticism  thing.

How about you fine folks? Which would you prefer?