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define success
I know what these things mean to me, but I've got this sense that my definition is probably somewhat different than most people's. For example, in my view of things, a novel can't be a critical success if the critics ignore it -- and it's a simple fact that the major critical venues ignore most novels. There are just too many of them to review them all. Homestead, for example, first came out with a small independent press and was not reviewed by the New York Times or any other big name publication. Then it won the PEN/Hemingway award and suddenly, about a year late, the NYT did review it -- and reviewed it very favorably. But only because of the reward, of course.
As far as commercial success is concerned, that means to me (1) sales and (2) positive public awareness. How about you?
January 28, 2005 04:07 PM
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Comments
Yes, commercial success would be when a book sells lots of copies and has a high profile to the extent that people who don't read much have sort of heard of it. Its probably also one that gets made into a movie at some point .... preferably staring Tom Hanks.
On another point, Rosina, I've just read your excerpt from "Courting Eliza". I really liked it. Are you still working on it? Will it be published soon? I'd like to know what happens with Kate.
Posted by: Jacqui at January 29, 2005 03:33 PM
Courting Eliza has been on the back burner for ages. I ran into a wall (and that is a pun, though you couldn't know it unless you'd read the 1/3 of the novel already in existance). Once in a while I think about it, though, and I hope to finish it. Eventually.
Posted by: sara at January 29, 2005 05:25 PM
Success for me would be to rewrite my defination
of a Filmmaker.
Instead of what it is my CURRENT defination of a
filmmaker posted on my FGHMovieBlog
.
My rewrite would be:
b.
d.
g.
i.
j. (in modicum)
l.
o.
p.
q.
r.
t.
u.
y.
z.
And we are still hiring.
Posted by: bohemianblogger at February 2, 2005 11:43 PM