Money for Nothing

Writer J. A. Konrath has an interesting blog. His favorite hobby-horse is the need for authors to promote themselves; he loves to ride that one. Last week he had an entry all about the need for hard work in order to achieve success:

Let's talk for a moment about successful people.

They have a commonality, whether they're Brittany Spears or Michael Jordan or Bill Gates or Nora Roberts. It isn't genius, or talent, or luck, though they may have some of that.

No, the thing that most success stories have in common is: Hard work, perserverence, and sacrifice.

Nobody gets handed a successful career.

Really? Two words: Paris Hilton.

Not convinced? Try Johnny Knoxville, Kelly Osborne, Jessica Simpson, Sienna Miller (what does she do, anyway?) I know, these aren't writers, but if Konrath is going to bring Britney Spears into the debate, anyone is game. I work my butt off, and I'm sure Konrath does too, but Hayley Duff doesn't have to get a job.

I can see where Konrath is going - his whole point is that you have to work hard and write a good novel - but his logic is naive. Writing a good novel will not guarantee you success. Writing a good novel and promoting it also will not guarantee you success.

What guarantees success? Nothing, sorry. Even I know that.

When I read Carla Kelly's books, I'm tempted to quit writing, but Carla Kelly is without a contract. I'm not being cynical here. I'm sure Carla Kelly is frustrated or disappointed at the state of her writing career, but she never says so. She writes articles, raises her kids, whatever. Life goes on.

Success isn't everything, and this is where I fundamentally disagree with Konrath. Every word he writes on that blog is about how to be successful, how to make a successful career. Lots of people find it very valuable, but for me I'm not sure. Even the writing is a means to success, not an end in its own. Why can't writing be an end in its own?

I write when I'm down, I write when I'm stressed, I write to keep myself sane. I write because by doing so I get to open the door to another world and go visit. It's awesome. Can Paris Hilton say that?

Abby