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I'd DO hardcore porn and commit several violent acts to see my name on a book cover, but if Lit Idol promises to do for literature what Pop Idol has done for music, I'll steer well clear...
There, that's my two cents worth.
James
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Dee, I have every intention of entering - I won't go into it, but my reasons are.......... personal, and they know who they are.
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Nell, I don't normally do autobiography but if that's what it takes...
No. Seriously. I wasn't thinking about hard core porn, although I'm not sure whether, in the literary form, it is illegal or not. Why did you think I was suggesting that? I suppose its legality would depend on how you define hcp. And I wasn't suggesting violence either, although, in literature, it certainly isn't illegal. You can't get much more violent than Stephen King or Val McDermid but they aren't illegal writers.
I was refering to a metaphorical 'illegal'. Merely to suggest that a determined writer would go a long long way to achieve their ambition.
Pulling punches never made a hit.
Dee.
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Dee, You've misunderstood. I wasn't taking your statement literally (hard corn porn/violence is almost certainly legal), just wondering exactly how far you'd go.
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Come on though, I'll bet you guys anything that the result of this competition will be your usual, bog standard, middle of the road bull**** that dogs the rest of these 'Idol' shows.
As for having to read it out in front of a panel...do they mean the entire 10,000 or so words? It'll make for pretty boring entertainment, and as you said, reading for oneself and orrating a tale are two entirely different skills.
Look at how many young people have had their dreams shattered by these shows. There certainly isn't much credibility for the winners. Why should Lit Idol be any different?
<Added>
At the end of the day, seeking publication IS a competition in itself. If you're good enough a writer, you don't need this. You'll do it anyway.
<Added>
Oh, I meant narrating, not orating.
<Added>
Oh, I meant narrating, not orating.
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James, I looked at the web site, and it's by no means clear exactly how the comp. is structured, or even whether it'll be televised in all stages. I understood that the 10,000 word entries will be given to readers and five authors will be shortlisted. Each of these will read from their novel at the Book Fair in front of a panel of judges and an invited audience. I'd imagine that part will be televised. The site states that they're looking for the next commercial blockbuster (surprise surprise). There's a £10 entry fee.
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I'm stunned to hear that writers have such a low opinion of their reading skills in public.
Does this suggest that anyone who can read in public is unlikely to have the skills to be a writer? I think not.
Take the news readers on TV, for example ( I've not owned a TV For eight years, so forgive me if I'm out of date ) but I was led to believe that these people had done a certain time as journalists before being able to qualify for the job! Ohh...to be that bad.
As long as facility is made for the disabled to present their piece who could be at a real disadvantage ( stammering, for e.g. ), I see no harm in this.
Forget not, that there are many talented people who have not had the same opportunity to be noticed as even me or you.
It doesn't mean they do not exist.
Hilary.
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And remember, stammering didn't deter Gareth Gates.
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Hilary,
You should not be stunned. The fact that many writers are very poor at reading aloud should surprise nobody.
The vast majority of the General Public lack verbal presentation skills.
The point you raise about the disabled is a valid one that only underlines this problem of writer/presenter basis. I know a number of disabled people who can certainly write but - because of their disabilities - they would not be able to verbally present their written work and do full justice to that work.[b/] How the Organisers intend to address this is not known.
I don't think anyone has suggested that good speakers cannot produce well-written work; of course some can - and do!
Len
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Sorry...
I meant to make BOLD only 'and do full justice to that work'.
From your Expert IT geek on the WW site....old friend, Len
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That point about Gareth Gates with a stammer rings true. I tell my pupils with a stammer to sing to me ( if it helps them). Most, however, just prefer to take question and answer sheets home which they complete in their own time on paper.
All comes down to individual preferences, I guess.
Len, I hope anyone from TV is reading these comments and is thinking of taking them on board for the programme.
Hilary.
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Fair points one and all. However, writing a story is still a totally seperate thing from reading a story. A professional narrator has a different skill from a writer, though I agree sometimes these two skills do intersect.
This Lit Idol sounds as if it's going to be like Jackanory for adults. As for the entry fee - pah!
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Good point somebody made earlier about lots of good writers entering to raise the standard. I still like the fact that initially, your work will be read anonymously- it won't be judged by your age, your visual image, your gender, etc, but solely on quality. And how do we define a blockbuster nowadays? Would you call Zadie Smith's White Teeth or Monica Ali's Brick Lane blockbusters, in terms of sales and massive publicity? how about the Booker winner, DBC Pierre's Vernon God Little, which sold hugely on the back of publicity? isn't it a good thing that these 'literary' books have sold in large quantities and will influence newer writers who don't want to embark on a career that means poverty? And don't forget, the reason writers aren't always good readers is largely confidence...
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Just because the initiative has 'Idol' in the title, it shouldn't be assumed that it will operate in the same way or even attract a similar audience. How many teens do we know who would want to watch some authors' doing a reading. And to imagine ITV putting it on at a peak viewing time would be ludicrous.
Personally I'll wait with my normal optimism and see what happens. If it does turn out to be some PR fiasco, I'll chose to ignore it then. Innocent until proven guilty?
Darryl
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Anna,
There are few occasions when I might disagree with you but your last statement is certainly not correct. It is not just a matter of confidence. 'Confidence' forms a very small part of the abilities and this will develop as one becomes more proficient in so many of the fundamentals involved with being able to 'speak'.
However within this competition context we are talking about (hopefully) really 'good' writers... five excellent examples of the art of writing. Then the FINAL judgement will be made by a TV viewers' vote on the vocal presentation.
Quite a few years ago I was involved in something similar but to do with one-act plays... one after another presented to an audience. The 'winner' was a play that made the audience LAUGH! It certainly was not 'the best', it most certainly was not the 'best acted'! I know because I was in it! But it made the audience laugh... I predict that the 'winner' of this Pop Idol will be 'a funny one'.
Len.
This 54 message thread spans 4 pages: < < 1 2 3 4 > >
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