A writer colleague of mine was asked by a prospective agent whether he wanted to write to earn lots of money or win prizes. Apparently, the two tend to be mutually exclusive (to a degree, anyway), and I can understand that. Prize winning novels don’t seem to sell in huge numbers, while best sellers tend not to win prizes (although there are, of course, exceptions. The wonderful Eleanor Olliphant is an example). I’ve read some dire Booker prize winners, and some magnificent novels that would never win prizes.
To any writers reading this: which would you prefer (prizes or riches)? As for me, I’ve long since given up thoughts of either (though what I do earn is very welcome). What I most want is for people to read my books and enjoy them. And that’s the truth 😊
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Riches, as they are an honest measure of popularity.
ReplyDeleteOkay, Adrian. Then I’ll go with the riches 🙂
DeletePrizes or money are probably not the principal motivation for any good writer. Like you, they are, first and foremost, storytellers. As an author, you have a story (or fragment of it) in your mind, and it wants out.
ReplyDeleteIf one can earn money with their writing, all the better for them. If they win prizes, that may be good for their self-esteem and marketing, but in my experience, it is not necessarily a measure for the quality of the book. Like the humour in a book (referring to your recent post), that is very subjective.
Meike, apparently the latest Booker winner is so complicated that it’s best understood when read aloud. I think I’ll miss that one.
DeleteFor some totally unknown (to me) reason the only Booker Prize winning novel I can ever recall reading at the time it won the prize was Anita Brookner's Hotel du Lac. As I'm not a writer I think I would probably accept Adrian's point.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Hotel du Lac, Graham. But did it deserve a prize? As for John Banville’s The Sea, or On Chesil Beach....these were, for me, insipid novellas. All very odd.
DeleteI read your reply a while ago but really was not sure how to respond. I don't have enough experience but I remember that at the time I have read some prize-winning books I do recall wondering why they had won anything.
DeleteBefore I reached your last prizes, I had already decided: Neither, I would want readers.
ReplyDeleteIn that vein, the most important thing required of a leader is followers.
Grrrr. Not last prizes. Last paragraph.
DeleteNever mind, RWP. I got your drift!
DeleteI don't write the kind of books which win prizes (that's not modesty, I'm referring to genre) so I'll take the cash, please.
ReplyDeleteI think I’m in the same boat as you, Patsy. We can celebrate our non wins with cash (and cake for you, of course).
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