Writer Immortality

[cathschaffstump]

I've been wondering. What is your writing dream?

Let's take a couple of them out of the equation. Fledgling writers, I *know* that you want an agent, and you want to be published. Let's take that as a given. Let's assume, for purposes of this exercise, that you have an agent, and you are publishing. From there on ,what's that brass ring you want from your writing career? Money? Fame? Recognition? Your book taught in a lit course? What is it?

For me, the answer is this: I want to write one character that people know, even if they don't know me. I want a Sherlock Holmes, or a Mr. Darcy. A Miss Marple, or a Mary Poppins. I am not so important. They don't have to know me at all. They may have to track me down on the Internet to find out who wrote the books about my famous character. They may confuse me with other authors.

However, like Dr. Frankenstein, apparently I want to create life, and let some character out into the mortal world who exists outside of myself.

And you?

Catherine

Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[erised1810.livejournal.com]

umm? i foudn outthat writing isn't in it yet for me. i had this big thing abouta trilgoy that woudl take place in early 20th-century ireland and something about deities formthe stars...humph.
i now have this bigthing about translating dutch fiction into english. there is some stuffi read that i hope hasnt' been translated yet because i'd love to pick it up and have a go. yep. i should have realized that more clearly ten years ago and gone through with it. the ni'd have the acutal phd now. but apparently there's still time enough.

[awelkin.livejournal.com]

There's always time.

Catherine

[everflame.livejournal.com]

Yours sounds like a great dream to me. I think I'll borrow it. Mind? :D

[awelkin.livejournal.com]

Happy to share!

Catherine

[redcrowkater.livejournal.com]

I want my books to be so popular that when the movie comes out, literary hipsters I've never heard of devote blog entries (with hundreds of replies either agreeing or disagreeing, with all caps and exclamation points either way) talking about how they can't believe that that Cheek woman is getting so much attention when there are so many better (read: unknown) authors out there.

[awelkin.livejournal.com]

All right! You can *do* this Twilight thing.

Catherine

[jenstclair.livejournal.com]

(I found your LJ in a search of 'rural fantasy'. Do you mind if I friend you?)

I want people to remember my characters most of all. I would *like* to be able to ditch the day job, but that's not essential.

[cathschaffstump.livejournal.com]

No problem. Welcome!

Catherine