The holy grail, or something like it

Looking over the New York Times fiction bestseller list this morning, I notice that only four of the top 16 titles can't be classified as mysteries or thrillers. Those include "A Thousand Splendid Suns," Khaled Hosseini's book about the enduring friendship between two Afghan women; and "Bungalow 2," Danielle Steel's book about, well, what most Danielle Steel books are about.

I suppose that's good news for writers of mysteries and thrillers, particularly if you happen to be named Janet Evanovich or James Patterson. Surely it must mean there is a vast demand for the genre we've chosen. The rest of us can brood over the list, nursing our lukewarm coffee and lukewarm talent, and vaguely imagine the sequels for the breakout novels we have not yet written.

But really, while the bestseller list is every writer's fantasy, it probably shouldn't be any writer's goal. That path leads to imitation and formula, and practically guarantees even deeper obscurity. If not, it leads to books like "The Quickie," the No. 1 bestseller soon to be available at yard sales all over town -- 50 cents in hardcover, barely read once.

Or so I tell myself. In writing, I believe, success lies in telling the story you were born to tell. Or, failing that, in telling the poignant story of your adorable but misbehaving little dog. Anything else, and the pinnacle of success will be forever receding on the horizon. Unknown writers can only say what they have to say and hope for the best. Sometimes, the mountain must come to Mohammed.

Comments

Peter Rozovsky said…
How about a thriller involving foreign agents who threaten the life of an adorable but misbehaving little dog?
==============
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Anonymous said…
I am struck by your sentence; "I believe, success lies in telling the story you were born to tell."

That could make a good line for the first sentence of a piece of writing. It also rings a chord with me. People often ask me why I don't leave the past in the past and stop writing about it. Perhaps I was born to live this life this way so I could tell the story. Interesting thought! Thanks Dave.
Dave Knadler said…
Well, in a sense all we are is the past -- the sum of every choice we've ever made and every experience we've ever had. No writer can really leave the past behind, I think.

And thanks for commenting, Marilyn. Hope you'll stop by again.
Dave Knadler said…
Peter: You might be onto something there. And make it so the little dog, when provoked, has powers of telekinesis that can cause the foreign agents' heads to explode.

Popular posts from this blog

Sleuths are only as good as their sidekicks

A farewell to copy

Wall Street and Willa Cather