THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB discussion

I have always loved stories. When I was a little kid my father asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. Without hesitation I happily replied, “A famous writer.” When I graduated high school and was applying to colleges my father asked me what I want to go to school for? I replied, “I want to be a famous writer.” To which he replied lovingly; “Better have a backup plan.” I spent four years majoring in psychology and philosophy.

When I graduated college my father gave me a book on how to succeed in a corporate interview. He thought it might come in handy when I went out looking for a job. I told him I appreciate all he’s done and his advice, but I wanted to be a famous writer. A week later, I moved to Seattle WA, to live out the hippie-writer life. That was in 1993.

I always dreamed of hitting it big with my books. Selling millions of copies and spending my days sitting on a dock in Key West living out the Hemingway dream while tourists and fans come up and asked for my autograph. All through the 1990’s and well into the new millennium I worked obsessively; writing, querying, making publishing connections, always with that dream of getting famous pushing at the back of my mind and driving me to sacrifice a normal, non-writing life.

For twenty years, I’ve penned novels, short stories, poetry, screenplays, and blog posts. I’ve been recognized by several prestigious writing groups and contests, been interviewed by television, newspaper, and magazines, had a top NY agent for five years, and sold enough books to say I’m mildly successful. But is that enough? I’m not famous.

As I sit here getting older, spending my days trying to get the world to notice my work, I’ve come to the realization that I no longer want to be famous. Getting famous is not so much about possessing raw talent anymore, it’s about interviews, and skyping, and tweeting, and keywords, and twerking, and surrounding yourself with promoters and marketers who are only interested in you making them money. Ask Miley Cyrus what she went through to make her new album premier at #1 on the charts? A whole lot more than I’d want to do.

I no longer want to be famous because I’ve discovered that I enjoy my anonymity. Recently, I attended a social event in which several people there had read some of my books. I actually felt uncomfortable at the attention they gave me. I would have rather talked about something other than myself that night, but that’s just me.

I don’t write to inflate my ego or attract attention. I write because I have to. I’m hard-wired to do it. I don’t want to invest the tens of thousands of hours and dozens of people it takes to make me a super-star author. I just want to write my books and tell my stories. To all the authors out there spending thousands of hours and dollars trying to hit it big, I applaud your efforts and hope you all become famous. Personally, I prefer living in the shadows.

To read more about me and my books please check out my blog: ALWAYS WRITING

Click here to read my blog!
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com

You have an interesting way of putting it. While I would love it if more people would read my book, do I really want to be that famous and lose my anonymity? I like my quiet personal life. I love to write from the heart. I have been getting lost in all the marketing and social promotion. Am I thus losing myself by trying to get on the bandwagon? I am. I am forgetting that I want to write. So glad that I read your post. Thank you.

Well-said, Neil---

You no longer wish to work for fame---but would you reject it if it were thrust upon you? Like The Hunt for Red October?

It was just an also ran until a newsman noticed Regan reading something and asked him what it was.

The president held up the book for the world to see and said, "The Hunt for Red October. It was a gift from someone who saw me in Hellcats of the Navy
and thought I'd enjoy it. It's quite good and exciting." And the rest is history.

I love you.

Larry Winebrenner
Timaeus the Tracker

Thanks, Sylvia and Larry. I do enjoy my solitude.

I'm 82. I could enjoy being famous for a while. I have three award-winning booiks and enjoy talking about them.
Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.
William Shakespeare
I'm willing to be thrust upon, or just achieve it.

Someone recognized me at the vegetable counter the other day in a supermarket. Apparently they saw me scrape the door of their car in the parking lot.

I gave them an autographed copy of my latest novel, which they threw in the trash. I was sobbing intensely but I think I heard them say, "We'll see you in court!"

John





http://amzn.to/122cnyF

I love to write, do I want to be famous? No, it would be nice if my books and writings sold and I pray they do in time. But being famous is not my goal, writing is my goal.