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JK Rowling should just stop writing, apparently.
It just shows that if you can't do anything well yourself, it's a pretty lame course of action to try shooting down somebody who can.Better go away and work a bit harder, eh?
Anne Rice says it well!In my life as a novelist, I've come to believe we are only in competition with ourselves when we strive to do our best; there is plenty of room for a multitude of successful endeavors in the ever changing world of books and readers, and there always will be.
I think a lot of people believe that Rowling had success handed to her on a plate, but she didn't. If memory serves, Harry Potter was a slow grower. It's the readers that have put her where she is, and theirs are the only opinions that count for anything. If a writer's book is worthy of success, in the mind's of readers (if they discover it) it will find it's own level.
She had the first 3 out I think before her success really took off. I remember a big hullabaloo for the 4th book but not the 3rd and definitely not the 1st or 2nd. So it didn't happen overnight. I guess she was lucky that someone linked to the film industry read the book and thought that would make a great film.
I have seen much worse things written about artists. But it was a stupid article with no value. A good writer can write anything well and should do so. The whole idea of writing one genre your whole writing life was created by marketing people and publishers and has little to do with the art of writing.There is a problem in publishing of well known people writing 'anything' and getting it published. But readers buy them so I blame readers *g*
I'm surprised actually at how unbitter the original article is but it's still daft. Apple didn't ask Microsoft to move over and give them a chance.
I really can't get my head round authors who don't support one another. Not just authors but anyone! You only make yourself smaller by standing on someone else's back, I reckon.We had someone in the group who targeted another author in some very nasty ways.
He removed himself from the group when he found out I knew what he was up to, thankfully.
Just despicable.
She's speaking the language of entitlement. I'm surprised she hasn't lectured readers for being unworthy of her.
I actually didn't buy The Casual Vacancy because JK wrote it. I love HP so much that I think I would be disappointed with something that wasn't HP (as silly as that sounds). Then a pal of mine struggled to read it which put me off completely but I would be tempted to try a future book of hers now that the pressure of publishing the first book after HP is over.
What a spud. I think the very fact that Rowling branched out into other areas rather than sticking to similar lore to Potter should be applauded. Rather than sulking about Rowling's success, perhaps Ms Sherpherd should up her game somewhat?
I just checked her out on amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Treacherous-L...The first book in the series isn't there anymore. I wonder if she removed it because she got so many 1 star reviews in retaliation.
Hmmm. It's come back to bite her on the bum, hasn't it? But what can you expect? You don't make yourself big by belittling others.
Sounds like a case of someone writing an article as click bait.
Reading the real reviews it seems that she makes her living as a writer by basing her books on author writer and exisiting books (one review mentioned Mary Shelley and another Bleak House).It made me laugh to think she is asking a successful author to stand down so that she has a chance to make a success of working off the success of others!
Jud (Disney Diva) wrote: "Reading the real reviews it seems that she makes her living as a writer by basing her books on author writer and exisiting books (one review mentioned Mary Shelley and another Bleak House).It mad..."
My thoughts exactly.
On a newspaper forum, somebody made the brilliant point that because publishing is profit driven, and Bloomsbury made millions out of HP, Bloomsbury now have the money to take more chances on unknown writers and experimental fiction. So, JK Rowling's success has actually done a lot to help niche fiction and new talent. We could do with more like her.
Not only that but she got a lot of people reading who will then turn to other booksFrom the point of view of writers (and readers) JK is a win-win :-)
R.M.F wrote: "Jud (Disney Diva) wrote: "Reading the real reviews it seems that she makes her living as a writer by basing her books on author writer and exisiting books (one review mentioned Mary Shelley and ano...On a newspaper forum, somebody made the brilliant point that because publishing is profit driven, and Bloomsbury made millions out of HP, Bloomsbury now have the money to take more chances on unknown writers and experimental fiction. So, JK Rowling's success has actually done a lot to help niche fiction and new talent. We could do with more like her. "
In theory yes... in practise, the experimental novel, at least in the UK, is dead as far as conventional publishers are concerned.
Marc wrote: "R.M.F wrote: "Jud (Disney Diva) wrote: "Reading the real reviews it seems that she makes her living as a writer by basing her books on author writer and exisiting books (one review mentioned Mary S..."Just you wait until my experimental novel is unleashed upon an unsuspecting publisher:
'Navel fluff from the abyss,' a story of mutant navel fluff terrorising High Wycombe :)
And Ford should stop making cars to give the others a chance.
Potatoes? Hogging the plate. Other carbohydrates are available.
Brave writing... I have to say though (as a massive fan of Harry Potter) that "The Casual Vacancy" is the biggest disappointment ever... I am still stuck on chapter 5 because I can't stand the content! I should never have bought it and it should not have got the hype it did. I can understand the bitter grapes, but no one can tell anyone what they can write. If people want to buy it, then it will sell - the end! However, I will never buy one of her adult books again - that speaks louder than anything else. If an author does not deliver, another one will.
We live in a world where people will do what advertising tells them to... If word of mouth tells you something is good you will read it, if they tell you it's terrible you will be even more curious! Human nature - we are irrational! I love it! :)
I heard another author - C. J. Lyons I think it was - say that writers shouldn't regard themselves as in competition with each other, because he readers read far faster than any of us can write. So we need each other to keep readers in the habit until our next book comes out.Rowling - almost singly-handedly - brought a whole generation into reading (including both my daughters and maybe my son too) and for that we should be grateful.
Totally agree, David. Any author who encourages folk to indulge in books deserves praise, whether that author be a Rowling, Dickens, or even the much maligned likes of Stephanie Meyer or EL James (who has had a similar influence on a more mature demographic than Rowling did). History tells us how dangerous the printed word has been regarded of in creating free thinking people, I declare Ms Shepherd to be no better than Hitler.I may be overreacting somewhat.
Andy wrote: "I declare Ms Shepherd to be no better than Hitler.I may be overreacting somewhat."
This thread has been Godwined and now must terminate.
I've never read the Harry Potter books (I probably won't need to, my fiancée has told me all about them) but there's no doubt J.K Rowling (and I think this was mentioned already) opened eyes to a whole new generation of younger readers. There's probably thousands of kids out there who will continue to read because Rowling put them on that path. As a kid, Enid Blyton did it for me and in a world dominated by technology, which pulls kids away from literature, this is something that shouldn't be ignored. There's hope for young readers yet and Rowling is probably a major factor in this.
J.K Rowling may not be everyone's cup of tea but she deserves respect for her work.
Although, to be serious for a moment, I do feel Harrison Ford should have stood aside after Star Wars and let me have a crack at Indiana Jones. ("The hamster? They named you after the hamster? Ha ha ha ha!")
Richard wrote: "Although, to be serious for a moment, I do feel Harrison Ford should have stood aside after Star Wars and let me have a crack at Indiana Jones. ("The hamster? They named you after the hamster? Ha h..."This made me chuckle ha ha.
That was exactly why I didn't buy Casual Vacancy Vanessa, as her first foray into adult fiction I never thought it would stand up to the hype. Plus, it was never going to be as amazing as Harry Potter.
Just checked Shepherd's website http://www.lynn-shepherd.com/ and found this about her book A Treacherous Likeness: "One of Kirkus Reviews' 100 Best Fiction Books for 2013, and a BBC History magazine historical novel of the year. Acclaimed as "an absolute must" by the Daily Mail."This begs the questions: if these comments are an actual reflection of the writer's talent, why the rant? And why is the rant written in a style so very different from her books? Could the rant have been a form of sarcasm, or perhaps a twisted marketing ploy? (Didn't work, judging from her sales rank).
Does anyone know if she's commented further on this?
I didn't look that much in to it but would be interesting to find out.
You see this is how times change and tactics like this no longer work.In the olden days people would have to go out and buy your books before they could burn them.
Nowadays, they don't have to buy the books at all, they can just leave nasty reviews on Amazon.
Everyone has rightly I think been saying how brilliant it was of Rowling to inspire a generation or two of young readers. But that cannot explain the number of adults who were also reading the HP books, so I don't accept she can't write for adults. Yes Casual Vacancy may be pitched solely for adults, but that doesn't mean her writing in it is significantly different in terms of being appealing to adults.
I admit I am absolutely crap at marketing my own book. But I sure as hell ain't gonna try and cover for my inadequacy by taking a pot shot at someone who isn't.
See, I couldn't even get that right --- *BOOKS* plural!
She wrote something about that in her article I remember thinking "well screw you, you sour old windbag" or another similar phrase. I agree Marc, Harry Potter may not have been intended for adults but that doesn't mean adults can't enjoy them (maybe it's just those of us who never really grew up?) and I would argue that the later ones are probably more YA than kids books anyway.
The late, mostly great Linda Smith plummeted in my estimation when she tried to consign adults reading HP books to Room 101. I get just as much pleasure (probably more actually) in reading Julia Donaldson's books to my 2 year old than she does in listening to them, the same goes for Potter. Just because a reader sits outside of a supposed demographic should not preclude them from enjoying it. I somehow doubt Dickens intended his words to be enjoyed by school children and yet its on the curriculum and this is largely accepted by those who would mock us adults who read "children's books". It's like nazi Germany!
Oh buggering botherations, I did it again.
I think we can all enjoy any book as an adult... It's a personal preference. The reason I did not connect with TCV is that it was too "real". Profanity, child abuse, drugs, lecherous teenagers... All in the first 50 odd pages! Not for me! But, HP was amazing (if you have not read the series you are seriously missing out!)I just love escapism, especially when you involve trolls, dragons, wizards, magic, etc...
JK Rowling is a legend for HP, and the legacy she left behind for children is awesome.
Unfortunately, TCV just made me depressed. But, I do know a friend of mine loved it exactly because it was so raw. We are all different and entitled to like different things as readers. This is why the range of books on offer is so vast. As writers, we all want to say different things - this is a good thing :)
A lot of books for young adults, and even for kids, are just damn good stories and I have no qualms at all about reading them.Potter very clearly transitioned from being "middle grade" (i.e. a kids book) to being young adult. Something that in itself was very clever for keeping its audience -- the books grew as Harry grew, and as the readers grew. And that I think is part of the reason for its success - the readers didn't outgrow the books before the series finished.
And Teddy worried lots aboutThe fact that he was rather stout.
He thought: "If only I were thin!
But how does anyone begin?
Holds a lot more truth now than when I was six...
(A.A. Milne, if anyone is wondering. Most definitely "kids" stuff, yet I can still quote loads of it from memory! I loved those books when I was little, and still do now.)
I adore this gem from A. A. Milnehttp://ingeb.org/songs/jamesjam.html
Hey Patti - you should read THIS to your kidlets!
Susan wrote: "Just checked Shepherd's website http://www.lynn-shepherd.com/ and found this about her book A Treacherous Likeness: "One of Kirkus Reviews' 100 Best Fiction Books for 2013, and a BBC History magazine historical novel of the year. Acclaimed as "an absolute must" by the Daily Mail."..."That is interesting, her low sales ranking might just prove how utterly irrelevant these accolades actually are.
Although, there is a long tradition of authors condemning other authors, especially if they think the other author's success is undeserved and greater than their own. There is probably at least one website that features literary feuds for those that find them interesting.
I think it's almost as long standing as the tradition of slagging off an author as having 'sold out' and having no literary value because they have the audacity to sell books and make money.By that reckoning I'm pretty well guaranteed a place in the A level syllabus :-(
Jim wrote: "I think it's almost as long standing as the tradition of slagging off an author as having 'sold out' and having no literary value because they have the audacity to sell books and make money.By th..."
I still hope that one day someone will acuse me of selling out.
Jim, your books are far too readable to be set texts.
By that reckoning I fail on all levels, doomed to being populist
Well, I just know that if George R. R Martin would just stop writing, I could be the queen of epic fantasy...and a few more epic fantasy characters might stay alive! Or...not.
I can't think of a quicker way to ruin your career before it even starts.