Thursday 29 October 2009

Easy as falling off a log

I was prowling the secondhand book stall at a local fete on Sunday. I was very strong and didn’t buy anything, but I couldn’t very well go past without even looking, could I?

So I’m cruising along checking spines and the two ladies cruising the other side of the table start discussing Matthew Reilly.

“You read any of his?” asks one, gesturing at Ice Station.

“Yeah, I read that one set in North America.”

“I’ve read a few, but they’re pretty bad.”

The second lady laughs. “I’d like to be that bad, if I could have his money.”

I’m not sure if people outside of Australia are familiar with Matthew Reilly but he’s a young guy who self-published his first book, sold enough to get noticed and has gone from strength to strength. He’s not “literary” but he sells like hot cakes, and good luck to him.

The first lady didn’t seem to understand the point her friend was making.

“Well, it’s easy, isn’t it?” she said dismissively. “Anyone could write them. I could write a better book myself. It’s just a matter of finding the time.”

Wow, I thought. My first real-life experience of what so many authors have talked about – this popular perception that writing is so easy anyone can do it. As long as you’ve got the time to “waste” on it, anyone can sit down at their computer and knock out a bestseller.

I’m still gobsmacked thinking about it. How can people take so much hard work for granted? Just because reading a book is easy doesn’t mean writing one is.

5 comments:

  1. Ah, yes, the old 'if only I had time' excuse.

    Me, I tell them if they think it's so easy to write a best seller, then why haven't they? And if they don't have the time, why don't they make the time.

    Ya know, it's funny, but they usually leave in a huff.

    Do you think it's something I said?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Should have asked her to do nanowrimo and find out just how hard it is...

    BTW, what's your nano buddy name?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jaye, frustrating, isn't it! Although I have to say, you make it look a lot easier than it is, with your enormous wordcounts!

    Glenda, I'm emeraldfin on Nano. I'd be thrilled to be your buddy!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well, there ought to be a provision at law whereby folks like this could be locked in solitary confinement with a box of Bics and a ream of paper and told, "Now, babycakes, you've got the time. When you've written a publishable novel, you can come out!"

    Actually, come to think of it, that sounds like something I'd kind of enjoy.

    Love the blog, hugs to the Ducks

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sounds like heaven to me too, Texanne! Nice to see you here.

    ReplyDelete