Predicting Who will Write the Next Great Novel is Difficult; Determining Who will Not is Not
Some extremely gifted writers have produced one or more timeless classics: Louisa May Alcott, L. Frank Baum, Charles Dickens, Wilhelm & Jacob Grimm, Mary Shelley, Leo Tolstoy, and Mark Twain, to name just a few.
It is very difficult to predict which of today's popular authors may eventually be included among the ranks of the literary elite. I personally believe that Kazuo Ishiguro, Stephen King, and J.K. Rowling might be considered viable candidates.
It is very easy to determine which authors will probably not be remembered a hundred, or even twenty, years from now. They are the ones focused upon quantity rather than quality, mass producing novels, each with just a slightly altered version of the same predictable plot and outcome. Next are the writers whose work is just a thinly disguised rehash of other authors' popular bestsellers. Then there are those who publish their work before first acquiring the knowledge and honing the skills required to produce a technically well-written, articulate, and thought provoking story.
Hundreds of thousands of unknown writers are striving to become commercially successful. Very few will succeed. Even fewer will produce a classic that will withstand the test of time, but it has been proven that it can be done; so do it.
It is very difficult to predict which of today's popular authors may eventually be included among the ranks of the literary elite. I personally believe that Kazuo Ishiguro, Stephen King, and J.K. Rowling might be considered viable candidates.
It is very easy to determine which authors will probably not be remembered a hundred, or even twenty, years from now. They are the ones focused upon quantity rather than quality, mass producing novels, each with just a slightly altered version of the same predictable plot and outcome. Next are the writers whose work is just a thinly disguised rehash of other authors' popular bestsellers. Then there are those who publish their work before first acquiring the knowledge and honing the skills required to produce a technically well-written, articulate, and thought provoking story.
Hundreds of thousands of unknown writers are striving to become commercially successful. Very few will succeed. Even fewer will produce a classic that will withstand the test of time, but it has been proven that it can be done; so do it.
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PS Don't tell anyone about the megalomaniac loose on your blog. What they don't know won't hurt them.Isn't writing fun?
I think you need a rock-solid plot, impressively psychological characters, and complex and layered themes. I think you need to work very specifically to attract both men and women to your writing - it's easy to turn off one group or the other, and the comments I've received from my male readers are treasured (and several ended up in my book description).
On top of that structure, you have to be able to WRITE. To evoke emotion in the reader instead of describing it in the character. To keep the tension up every moment to keep readers guessing.
It was my motto as I wrote to 'Torture Rachel,' my beta reader. She was generous enough to let me know when I did. I will keep every one of her emails on the subject forever.
And I hope I've produced something with a streak of originality.
Readers will tell. Time will tell. I can wait.
Arrogant? A bit. I put the work in. We'll see if that paid off. And at least I get the whole story out of my head.