Books have been a part of my whole life. My parents had a library and I could freely read whatever I chose. Whenever I could, I would encourage reading.
I have published, collaborated, even managed to publish some short stories (more of an ego passion project), and anyone who has done the latter knows that the pay is negligible and it's a lot of work. It's also getting harder; professional fiction writers, not only have to go on tour but are expected to manage advertising, marketing and maintaining websites.
Meanwhile, the industry is changing, there will be no more mass market paperbacks and digital renting is increasing. It's not wishful thinking, when people realize that e books will become problematic, both will continue to run in parallel. I'm going to be right on this one. I grew up at a time where high quality TV programming existed AND everyone read. Lots to choose from. People are starting to read more again, paper books are increasing again and with what's on digital offer declining in quality, people will turn back to books.
In my twenties, where the majority of my course load and life was science, I took it upon myself to read world literature. Every summer I picked an era or country; Russian lit, German lit, Austin, Bronte, Allende, Canadian lit, American lit and so on. It was eye opening. I'm very much a snob about books in general. And today I feel like cathartic venting about the ignorance people have about anything to do with research or writing in any genre.
Here's one of my more bizarre encounters. My thoughts are in brackets.
1. I was buying writing supplies. It's my ritual when I start a new project. The cashier, was a woman in her fifties, who had helped me find a few things in the store. Cashier stops scanning. What do you do?
I write. (Please continue to scan)
Ooooooh. What kind of books?
Non fiction. Research. Very boring.
Oh. I have an idea of a book we could write together.
I don't write those kind of books.
Let me tell you about my idea. It's about all the experiences with crazy customers I've had. You wouldn't BELIEEEEEEVE the stories I have to tell. It's going to be a bestseller.
(Please tell me she's kidding. Scan lady scan.)
I think that's already been done and I don't write those kind of books. (I vaguely recalled a recent bestseller. Indeed there was a 2011 bestseller My life on the tills.)
Yeeeees. There was a bestseller. I can do that too. We're going to be rich. I'll tell you the stories and you write it. Well go 50/50 after that.
(Oh dear lord for the life of monk illuminated palimpsests and parchments; she's not kidding.)
I don't write those kind of stories. You need to write it and see if you can find a publisher. Alternatively, you hire someone to write it for you. That's at least $20,000 for a book.
You want how much?
I don't want anything. I.dont.write.those.type.of.books. (Please scan and ring me out). I need to go.
You'll regret not saying yes to this.
What's wrong with people?
Any unusual writing experience or comments about books or writing?
How irritating of her to suggest that. If she wants to write abiut her experiences, then she should go ahead, but not try to rope you in especially after you already told her you don't write that type of book.
ReplyDeleteI grew up reading but only what people call "pop fiction" with maybe an autobiography or three along the way. Real literature, to me, is stuffy and long-winded and I can't get into it. I'm shallow.
Codex roping in is a good way to put it. It was weird and really happened.
DeletePeople like what they like. I don't judge. I like scifi. So what?!
I wonder how many times she has pitched her idea to customers.
ReplyDeleteI'm a reader and I prefer physical books to e-books, I prefer reading to listening. When we were children our mother would take us to the library, I was reading Edith Hamilton's Greek Mythology in 3rd grade. In high school I read Gone With The Wind, Gods Graves and Scholars, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich among others on my own while my english teacher had us read The Mill On The Floss and Tess Of The D'Ubervilles ( the only two I remember) and discovered science fiction which I read almost exclusively for at least a decade. Joined book clubs. Hesse, Steinbeck. Then I ventured into the origins of religion and spirituality, new age stuff, Theosophy, Jung, Campbell for a decade or longer. Then back to general fiction across all genres, contemporary fiction, mostly women authors though I do have some favorite male authors. I don't buy books anymore, use the library instead. If they don't have a specific book they can usually borrow it for me from another library.
Maybe I was just lucky. Weird and pushy.
DeleteSimilar reading experience. But always stuck with scifi. If you like someone fun have you read butcher dresden files series? Urban wizard who just keeps being pounded by supernatural stuff.
I love the Dresden books and have them all. I enjoyed the TV series too
DeleteI'll have to check them out.
DeleteCodex: @Ellen. They are fun, witty fast paced. First time I read urban fantasy. Each book complete within itself but should be read in sequence. I found them very entertaining and original.
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