Jim Crace's 'The Secrets of My Success' (Guardian review 05.02.05)
has been running round in my mind all week. A few tips would be nice, like don't sign up for those proof reading courses - but apart from the idea that a little local colour makes up for zero research - eg in the desert one 'sleeps
like a donkey'. After that the article became an overlong if truish journey through the guy's own personal slush pile.
Crace, a 'modesty successful author' is blissfully unaware of the institutionalised corruption that helped make his name - whether he approves or not. I hate that - when those who have caught (or is it bought) the media ear - then turn round and criticise others who would like their own bite of the cherry. Like oh so radical Will Self, slagging off the internet - well yes - he doesn't need that type of publicity - so why he rants would anyone else? But maybe things are changing - journalists so love to build something up then tear it down. James Naughtie this morning (8.2.5) interviewing two rival publishers of hotel guides, one who charges for an entry, the other (The Good Hotel Guide) that does its own research. Icebergs and tips spring to mind. Or memories of a tourist board recommended guesthouse in Dorset where we were treated to an endless description of how nice the breakfast would have been had the dining room been open. And where the landlord started banging on our door from nine am sunday morning to make sure we knew we had to vacate by ten - yes we did know that. Businesses like that have to pay 'bribes' or they never get on.
Can it really be true that when you ask your friend or cousin to read your unpublished books ' . . . they will pretend they loved it or they will
affect amused indifference if your success would be threatening.' Umm, methinks another grain of truth there - friends can be jealous of each other's success? I've heard that a few times recently - maybe it was Gore Vidal who said that nothing was more pleasing than seeing great piles of your best friend's latest book in the remainder dealer's shop. - Mandrake
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment