"The Writing Life"

So I read this amusing article in the Washington Post book reviews, penned by novelist Chris Bohjalian. It's a great article about how writers are equally obsessed and fearful of their reviews, the twist here being the critics are the comments posted on amazon.com. As Chris points out, even the smallest criticism - and 1* rating - is enough not only to damage the writer's ego (and possible future writing), but it can put of other readers, affect sales, and generally dampen the excitment of having a book out there!

The ideal reader, of course, is not always the same person who picks up the book! And the reader who 'endures' a novel gets some compensation, no doubt, in wielding power over future readers - vindication!

Recently, I had a comment on my Bookhabit page and as Chris described in his article, for better or worse I felt compelled to respond!

"The Writing Life"

So I read this amusing article in the Washington Post book reviews, penned by novelist Chris Bohjalian. It's a great article about how writers are equally obsessed and fearful of their reviews, the twist here being the critics are the comments posted on amazon.com. As Chris points out, even the smallest criticism - and 1* rating - is enough not only to damage the writer's ego (and possible future writing), but it can put of other readers, affect sales, and generally dampen the excitment of having a book out there!

The ideal reader, of course, is not always the same person who picks up the book! And the reader who 'endures' a novel gets some compensation, no doubt, in wielding power over future readers - vindication!

Recently, I had a comment on my Bookhabit page and as Chris described in his article, for better or worse I felt compelled to respond!

The Hutchings!

Voila my beautiful nieces, the gruesome twosome. Say cheese, Grace & Beatrice!

At Beatrice's christening, 2006. Beatrice is the surprised-looking one!

My sister, Kate Hutchings, in Yorkshire with G & B!

The house near Wetherby, Yorkshire - Grace has recently figured out how cameras work!

The Hutchings!

Voila my beautiful nieces, the gruesome twosome. Say cheese, Grace & Beatrice!

At Beatrice's christening, 2006. Beatrice is the surprised-looking one!

My sister, Kate Hutchings, in Yorkshire with G & B!

The house near Wetherby, Yorkshire - Grace has recently figured out how cameras work!

Where'd all the pieces go?

If you prefer your chess with pieces, check out my novel (and now screenplay) The Pride and the Sorrow at http://www.mattfullerty.com/

The novel recently won the Bookhabit Unpublished Novel Competition 2008 http://www.bookhabit.com/competition

Thanks!