Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Bestseller or Award Winner?


During one of the many holiday get-togethers, someone asked me if I’d rather be a bestselling author or an award-winning author (we had already been talking about how the two don’t always go hand-in-hand). I announced “both,” which didn’t surprise anyone. However, my friend went on to ask which I would choose if I could only have one.


Tough choice.


A writer’s job is to entertain, right? So, imagine the joy that must come to an author when her book lands on the bestseller list. The knowledge that lots and lots of readers are escaping into this novel must be pure satisfaction after the countless hours of love, blood, sweat, and tears that went into writing that story. And what if that novel lingers on the bestseller list? Or people stand in line, waiting for a bookstore to open, just to get their mitts on that book? That’s the kind of crazy that most authors would love to experience.


But just because the buying public has become infatuated with a story doesn’t mean that the reviewers and critics will praise it.


Most writers I know strive for critical approval. They work hard at the tricky and often frustrating balancing act of juggling how a story is structured with developing characters that breathe, settings that exist, and situations that engage, all while creating layers of meaning and painting prose that enraptures. When all of these elements synchronize just right, a book reaches a level of success that often leads to rave reviews and awards. Why wouldn’t an author embrace this sort of acknowledgment?


But just because a story is a literary masterpiece doesn’t mean that the buying public will fall in love with it.


So, which would you choose, if given the choice? Would you prefer to be the author of a best selling book, or to be an author of a book that wins awards for its literary merit?


As a reader, are you more likely to read a best-selling novel or one that has won a fabulous award?

36 comments:

  1. I want to touch as many people as possible, so I think I'd have to go with the best seller. For me, the award is that somebody just like me spent their hard earned money on something I wrote and I delivered for them.

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  2. Owww, don't make me choose!
    I want it all! :-D

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  3. I agree, Julie! : )

    Ha! Good for you, Ebony! And I hope you receive it all.

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  4. Oh it's a TOUGH choice!! TOUGH!! I'd go for the literary award or three cos I'm embracing my inner snobbishness! LOL!

    Take care
    x

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  5. Well, like you, my first reaction is . . . Both! But, being able to choose just one, I guess I would go with award-winning. I know that in my own reading choices I tend to stay away from bestsellers but am drawn to award winners.

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  6. This IS a hard choice! But when I think about the real reasons I write, I would choose best seller, because I want to connect with readers, not just critics.

    But of course, like you said, both would be ideal. :)

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  7. Inner snobbishness. . . that's funny, Old Kitty. Somehow I don't think you're the least bit snobbish. ; )

    Interesting that you're more drawn to award winners, Alissa.

    Yup, I understand, Janet. And I think all writers would choose both. ; )

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  8. I like to read both, but when given the chance, I'll pick up the best-seller. I'm not a huge literary fan, so at least I know the best-seller will keep me entertained and give me a lot of bang for my buck!

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  9. Boy, you DO ask the hard questions! I would LOVE to win an award, but the problem inherent with awards is that they represent the opinions of just a few people, and who knows what might factor into their thinking at a given point in time? So, like many others here, I care more about having my book find its way into many, many hands, so if I had to choose, I would choose best seller.... that would reflect the fact that many people enjoyed it, not just a few ..

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  10. Good point, Emily. I also find that I am curious about what the masses are reading and enjoying.

    That's true that awards often represent the opinions of a few, Melissa Ann. Also, I know I've often wondered what factored into a critic's thinking, usually when someone has been negative about a novel I've loved.

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  11. Hmmm...this is a tough one. A bestselling author would reach more readers but then an award winning author's books would be a permanent fixture in the libraries and maybe added to school reading lists...

    Oh crap, I'm like you. Why can't we just be both? Ha.

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  12. I always try my best, but honestly? I think best seller because that means I touched the minds and hearts of my audience. And above all else, I want to tell a great story. :D

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  13. Both, please! But if only one, then give me the choice that puts my work out there for the long haul. That would mean that was able to transcend the fad of the day and that was able to plug into more universal and timeless ideas. I'm pulled to those kinds of books as a reader.

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  14. This is a hard choice. But I know from my reading habits that I go with award winners over best sellers. More often than not I'm disappointed with the best sellers. So I'm gimme that award.

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  15. If I've written the best book I know how to write, then I'd rather it find more readers, *if* I had to choose. Believe me, I won't turn away awards! But I want my books to find readers.

    But if someone handed me a terrible book and said, "We can put your name on this, and guarantee it'll sell a million copies," I wouldn't do it.

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  16. Since I tend to enjoy things that the "masses" enjoy, I imagine I'd rather be a best selling author because it means that I wrote something that struck a chord with people. That would be an amazing accomplished. Think about J.K. Rowling and the love people have for that wonderful world she created. Yet, look at Stephanie Meyer who also created a world that resonated with people and see how much she's dissed. Even success doesn't mean you're immune from the subjectiveness of this business.

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  17. Best seller! Most readers don't care about the awards, and most of the time they won't know about your book even if it wins one. And if they don't know about your book, they won't buy it.

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  18. Bestseller. The Awards can be subjective, but a bestseller seems to mean it's striking some chord with many, which is my intent ... to connect.

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  19. Bestseller. Hands down. If I couldn't have both that is. The point of all this is the readers and I'd want to reach as many readers as possible. Otherwise what's the point? Also I'm more likely to read a bestseller (cause everyone is usually talking about it and I need to feel not out of the loop!) than an award winner.

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  20. You make a great point about the award-winning books being fixtures in libraries and schools, Karen.

    Ha! You're the first one to admit you're not picky, Carol. ; )

    I'm with you, Lisa.

    Wonderful comment, Cleemckenzie.

    I give it to you with pleasure, Bish. ; )

    I love your comment about the terrible book, Jenn. I wouldn't put my name to something like that, either.

    Great point, Donna. An author that achieves great success is probably more of a target for analysis and criticism.

    Another good point, Stina. A popular book is a book with lots of buzz.

    Connect is the key word, isn't it, Joanne?

    I've been persuaded to read best sellers to see what all the fuss is about, too, Lisa.

    Both is what we all want, Lydia. ; )

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  21. Both, of course.

    But I'd pick the bestseller. That means the book is really reaching the intended audience. I think it would be tough, for example, for a Newbery winner to find out that their book was just viewed as a "boring classic." Then, it's like the award was just for you and a bunch of adults.

    As for what I'd rather read, that's tougher. I need both plot and good writing, so there are books in both camps that I love and hate.

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  22. Either!

    But yes, bestseller. I'd know my books are being read all over the darn place. And that would make me pretty happy.

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  23. I'm irritated that blogger is not telling me in a timely manner when these posts are hitting, so forgive me for being a day late to the party.

    If I were a hockey player, I'd rather receive the MVP award as voted on by the players than one voted on by the media or fans. In that case, the respect of my peers would mean more to me. As an author, however, I'd rather suffer the slings and arrows of the critics and have lots of happy readers out there. Ideally, I'd like to have both, of course, but you're making me choose. I'd take the readers over the critics.

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  24. I pick bestseller, not just because of money, but the book would have a far-reaching audience. Of course both would be nice.

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  25. Great answer, Marcia. Thanks!

    Kelly, you're the first one to answer "either." Good for you! : )

    Jeff, you're never late to this party. And thanks for the fabulous analogy.

    Ah, yes, both would be nice, but bestseller is a good choice, I think, Medeia.

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  26. Hi, Cynthia, hope the new year is treating you well.

    I think I'd rather have a best seller. When I look at reviews for books that have won awards, I notice that half the reviewers don't have a clue as to what's going on in the book and don't believe it should have won anything. I believe that having an award winning book has got to put some pressure on the writer. I'd fear just what I've described above. Better to have a lot of people understand and enjoy my writing than a situation where people don't understand the work.

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  27. That's a tough call! Awards are always nice, but the people-pleaser in me says bestseller. I agree with her!

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  28. That is such a hard one. My professional pride would want award winner, while it would be financially brilliant to be a best seller. To be both would be perfect :O)

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  29. This isn't even a tough call for me. Best-seller. Why? Because your best-seller can still be award-worthy. And when you are a best-selling author, you are totally free to write all the time. No day job and you can still afford the cleaning lady!

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  30. What a wonderful point, J.L. I, too, would rather have people understand and enjoy my writing.

    Ha! I understand that people-pleaser, Adrienne. : )

    The financial end of things is part of the equation, isn't it, Madeleine?

    Ah, J.A. you have just confirmed my inclination. I think the cleaning lady was the final selling point. : )

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  31. I would love to write a best seller that really moves the reader.
    xx

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  32. Best seller for me! Actually, I just want to ditto J.A. :)

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  33. As a reader, I'm much more likely to read a best seller than an award winner, and that's what I would choose for my writing, too. Great question!

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  34. And I hope you will, Michelle. : )

    Thanks, Peggy!

    Thanks, Susan. How I choose books (and I also tend to go for the best sellers) also influenced my choice.

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