SECTION 6. WHAT MAKES A BEST-SELLER?

Task 1

1.1. Read the article. Put the tips about writing a best­seller in the correct places 1-9 in the text.

• Make your first page special.

• Expect rejection.

• Try to write something every day.

• Write a plan for your book.

• If you really want to do it, just start writing.

• Really target your agent.

• Don’t be too possessive about your work.

• Research your market.

• Don’t underestimate the power of the title.

So you want to write a best-seller?

They say everyone has at least one book inside them. But is it true? Could we all turn our hands to writing blockbusters for a living? Debut novelist Claudia Pattison shares her secrets for literary success.

Claudia Pattison, author of ‘Wow!’ and ‘Fame Game’, believes we all have potential. And she should know. Claudia wrote ‘Wow’ – a satire on the world of celebrity journalism – in eight months, and was taken on by the second agent she met. Her very first book sparked a manic bidding war between rival publishers, and it’s a sign of her potential that the winners, Pan Macmillan, offered a six-figure sum for a two-book deal – the average a debut author can usually expect is between £5,000 and £10,000.

‘I really believe that everybody has a book in them,’ says Claudia, who describes her genre as ‘chick lit’ – stories aimed at young women. ‘I think the hardest thing is starting. You don’t have to have a mad life or incredible experiences. You just need to be able to make different scenarios interesting.’

Claudia’s tips on how to write a novel and get it published:

1

Claudia says: ‘I knew chick lit was a growing arena and there was room in the market for more of the same, so I devoured every bit of it I could get my hands on. I also knew, however, that I couldn’t just jump on the bandwagon; I needed to have a new spin. The obvious thing for me, with my background, was to write about celebrity journalism. If it all sounds very calculated, that’s because it was. I thought about what would sell, and what would stand out in a crowd.’

2

Even if you’re not sure what the plot is going to be or what comes next, just get something written down. Claudia says: ‘What put me off originally was the idea that I had to have a clever plot. If you can just do good scenarios and interesting relationships, you’re well on your way.’

3

If people aren’t grabbed by the first page, they won’t go any further.

4

Claudia says: ‘Some people don’t (Stephen King for one), but I think I would have found the whole task too daunting without one. I would’ve panicked.’

5

Even if it’s just three lines, it helps you keep in touch with the characters and the plot.

6

Try to think of something original and think hard about it. Don’t do it as an afterthought.

7

Claudia says: ‘Look in the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook for brief explanations of specialities. Also, try to find a book that you like or feel is similar to yours. Many writers thank their agents so you can find relevant agents that way. There’s no point in targeting your crime book at an agent who specialises in romantic fiction.’

8

Lisa Jewell, author of ‘Ralph’s Party’, went through nine agents before the tenth saw her potential. ‘Harry Potter’ writer JK Rowling was turned down bу two publishers before Bloomsbury snapped her up. Says Claudia, ‘If you expect it, you won’t be disappointed. Just keep trying. Obviously, though, if you get twenty rejections all telling you there’s no market for your book, you do have to tаkе note.’

9

If you do get to the stage where you have an agent or an editor, listen to their advice. They have a wider overview of the market and the insider gossip on what people are looking for. They are the experts in their field. ‘I followed every bit of advice,’ says Claudia. ‘I think the book is one million times better as a result.’

1.2. Read the article again. Are these statements true (T) or false (F), according to the article?

1. Claudia Pattison thinks that anyone can write a book.

2. She used to be involved in celebrity journalism.

3. She earned at least £1,000,000 in advance for her first two books.

4. You need to know how the story is going to end before you start.

5. Stephen King never writes a plan for his books.

6. It’s best not to waste time thinking about the title until after you’ve written the book.

7. Bloomsbury was the third publisher that JK Rowling sent her ‘Harry Potter’ book to.

8. Agents and editors are useful because they have access to information that the writer doesn’t have.

1.3. The three boxes below contain useful vocabulary for writing about a book. Match each title to a box.

• types of book

• adjectives to describe the writer

• adjectives to describe the story/book

1.4. Complete the sentences below about a book you have read recently. Notice that there are three paragraphs: the introduction, the story, and your opinion, and that you need to use the Present Simple for telling the story. Make good use of the vocabulary in the three boxes above.

One of the best books I have read recently was …………………….............

............................ by ........................ . It is a ………………(type of book) and I read it because ………………… . It is set in ………………….. (place), in …….

……………….. (time) and it is about.... …………………. (general topic).

The story follows the relationship between ........................ or the events that take place .............................. or the adventures of ……………………………. .

At the beginning of the bооk, ……………………………… then, …………

…………………………………. and at the end, ……………………………. .

I found the book ………………………… and I think ……………. (name of the author) is a really ………………….. writer. I’d certainly recommend it to anyone who likes …………………………………………. .

Task 2

2.1. Read the text about JK Rowling and decide if the statements after the text are true (T) or false (F).

Harry Potter’s magician

‘In my wildest fantasy I could not have imagined anything like this,’ JK Rowling said of the frenzy that surrounded the release of her last book. Her magical tales of wizards and witchcraft have prompted the biggest publishing sensation of modern times.

Joanne Kathleen Rowling dreamed up the story of Harry Potter, the bespectacled orphan blessed with magical powers, on a delayed train to Manchester in 1990. It has been a high-speed journey. Less than fifteen years ago she was an unemployed single mother, scribbling away at her first Potter draft in an Edinburgh cafe, dreaming of the day she could take up writing full time. Now she is a publishing phenomenon, with the series selling over 100 million books, translated into 42 different languages around the world. In 2001 alone she is estimated to have made £70 m.

However, the best-selling author had difficulty coming to terms with the fame that this success brought her. ‘For a long time people would ask me, “What’s it like to be famous?” and I would say “I’m not famous.” Now this was patently untrue, but it was the only way I could cope with it, by being in so much denial that I was virtually blind at times. Fame does have nice aspects, but for me personally, the negative outweighs the positive. It’s a very odd and isolating experience. I know some people crave it, but I find that very hard to understand. It puts a great strain on your relationships.’ Most of Rowling’s friends have been doorstepped and offered money for stories about her and she feels guilty about that. She is also fiercely protective of her daughter Jessica’s privacy, never using her in publicity or taking her to film premieres. She rarely talks about her, although when asked in an interview why she bought her London house, she laughed and explained that ‘my daughter was getting a bit too used to room service’ in the hotel where they had been staying.

The author is also not without her critics. One derided her work as having merit ‘scarcely higher than a Spice Girls lyric’. Her characters, he said, were ‘one-dimensional’ and her appeal a product of over-hyped marketing. Accusations of arrogance have also been levelled at her. She refused to allow the BBC to shorten her work – an unprecedented move which encouraged Radio 4 to broadcast actor Stephen Fry’s eight-hour reading of ‘The Philosopher’s Stone’ at Christmas in 2000.

There is also a darker side to Potter mania. Some people are obsessed with the idea that her books are teaching children about evil, and a few even believe that Rowling is a witch. ‘I found death threats to myself on the Internet,’ she says. I came across a Potter-hater site where people were being advised, well, to shoot me, basically. It was not a nice thing to find. It is bizarre. But what can you do?’

1. JK Rowling always knew that the Harry Potter books would make her famous.

2. She has made about £70m since she started writing.

3. She used to try to convince herself that she was not famous.

4. Rowling’s attitude to fame is more positive than negative.

5. She tries to keep her daughter out of the public eye.

6. Her writing has been compared unfavourably with the words of a Spice Girls song.

7. Actor Stephen Fry read a shortened version of ‘The Philosopher’s Stone’ on the radio.

8. Some people think that her books have a bad influence on children.

2.2. Without looking back at the text, match the two halves of the phrases. Then read again and check.

best-selling powers

to dream up premieres

magical phenomenon

a single time

a publishing author

film mother

full threats

death a story

Task 3

3.1. Read the article. Which of these superheroes are being described?

Batman

The Incredible Hulk

Spiderman

Superman

Wonder Woman

Xena, Warrior Princess

The X-men

Greatest superheroes of all time

With their simple stories of good versus evil, comic-book superheroes are as popular today as when they first appeared. So who are these much-loved characters?

Here is a brief introduction to four of the greatest superheroes of all.

1 ___________________________

In 1939 ‘America, DC Comics’ seized on the public’s desire for escapism during a period of social and economic deprivation, and developed a new superhero. The creators of the ‘Man of Steel’ wanted a hero in a colourful costume who would look good in a comic book. Although there had been superheroes before, this was the first ‘total package’ with a costume, secret identity and abilities beyond those of mortal men. Born in a far-off galaxy, the baby hero discovers as he grows up that our sun gives him extraordinary powers: he can fly ‘faster than a speeding bullet’, has incredible strength and X-ray vision, and can only be hurt or destroyed by a green rock from his original planet, Krypton. He is adopted and brought up by Martha and Jonathan Kent to uphold truth, justice and the ‘American way’. Whenever danger calls, he is never far from a telephone box and a quick change, ready to save the world. He’s had several TV and film incarnations, the most successful of which starred Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder in 1978. Ironically, creators Siegel and Shuster signed away their rights to the character for $130!

2 ________________________

Born on Paradise Island, youthful and immortal, this princess has been blessed by ancient gods and goddesses with powers of super strength and speed and the ability to fly. The superheroine made her first appearance in 1941. It is said she was invented by William Marston for ‘DC Comics’ as a role model for girls and to raise the morale of US troops in World War II. Her alter-ego, Diana Price, works as a hospital nurse, but transforms herself by flicking her lasso. As well as the lie-detecting lasso, she has bracelets which can stop bullets, but unfortunately she loses her powers if she is tied up with her own lasso. She is instantly recognisable by her stars and stripes costume and in 1976 her adventures were brought to life in a three-year TV series starring ex-Miss USA Beauty Queen, Linda Carter.

3 __________________________

Created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger for ‘DC Comics’, the stories combined superheroics and a secret identity. This character cannot stop bullets, fly, or look through walls. He is a normal man who becomes one of the greatest crimefighters ever because of his detective skills, highly trained physical abilities, amazing gadgets, and of course, his ‘batmobile’ car, kept in a hidden cave beneath his mansion. By day he is rich socialite Bruce Wayne, but at night he turns into ‘the caped crusader’, accompanied by his side-kick, Robin. He was memorably brought to life in the 1960s TV series and in the film of 1996 starring Michael Keaton, Kim Basinger and Jack Nicholson – a film that featured four of the series’ best arch-villains: Catwoman, The Joker, The Penguin and The Riddler.

4 ___________________________

Like many other superheroes, Peter Parker is an orphan, although he has an uncle (Ben) and aunt (Mae). Part of his appeal is that both adolescents and adults can readily identify with him. A poor school student, he goes on to become a regular working guy: a high-school teacher with both girlfriend and money problems. His world is turned upside down when his Uncle Ben is murdered. He gains his superpowers during a high school science demonstration when a radiated spider bites him and gives him superhuman strength and reflexes and the ability to stick to most surfaces. In the movie, which was the biggest money spinner of 2002, Parker grows webslingers which shoot and spin webs, and puts on his red and blue costume to fight arch-enemies such as the Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus.

3.2. Read the article again and answer the questions.

1. How was Superman different from previous superheroes?

2. Where do his powers come from?

3. What is Superman’s only weakness?

4. Who is Martha Kent?

5. Who gave Wonder Woman her powers?

6. Why was Wonder Woman created?

7. What is an ‘alter-ego’?

8. What three things can Wonder Woman’s lasso do?

9. In what important way is Batman different from the other three superheroes?

10. Who is Batman’s alter-ego?

11. Who is his companion in crime-fighting?

12. What happened to Peter Parker’s parents?

13. Was he born with his superpowers?

14. What two things can he do which give him the name Spiderman?

3.3. Read the text and the following statements on its content. Mark whether they are true (T) or false (F).

my first book

by Dick Sharples

“How did you get started?” is arguably the most commonly-asked question to an established writer by newcomers to the craft, and, in my experience, most professional writers will come up with totally different answers. In my case, I didn’t start out as a writer. I was originally a cartoonist who was often compared to Ronald Searle. As one magazine editor put it, ‘Compared to Ronald Searle, you’re rubbish.’

It was then that I made up my mind to try writing and I joined a Manchester advertising agency, writing copy for local businesses such as H. Read & Son, owned and run by the late comedian H. Read.

H. Read & Son made meat pies, sausages, and a range of mysterious Cornish-type pasties called Frax Fratters: “potato and meat, simply heat”. After an exhausting day producing brilliant catchphrases such as that, I used to drop into a local bar to refresh my creative talents with a drink before they faded away completely.

Which is where I bumped into a remarkable man called Archie Carmichael. Most writers I know can point to a certain chance meeting and say that it was the turning point in their careers. Unfortunately, in my case, this wasn’t it.

Archie was a jobbing printer with his own small printing plant in Manchester’s Great Ancoats Street. When business was slow, he published the odd pulp-fiction novelette and when I mentioned that I wrote advertisements for a living, he immediately asked me to write a 40,000-word Western. To Archie, a writer was a writer.

I hesitated, of course. Advertising writer or not, I still tried to maintain certain standards and the thought of having to turn out 40,000 words of utter rubbish for what – ten shillings? Twelve shillings and sixpence per thousand words? It was hardly worth compromising one’s creative integrity for.

‘I pay twenty-one shillings a thousand,’ said Archie, and six weeks later ‘The Man Who Rode by Night’ hit the local bookstalls. As a Western, written by a fresh-faced young lad still in his teens, who hadn’t been further west than West Lancashire, I thought it wasn’t a bad effort.

Statements:

1. New authors often want to know how experienced authors began writing.

2. An editor told Sharples he was good at drawing cartoons.

3. He was already an experienced writer when he started at the advertising agency.

4. He wrote the slogan ‘potato and meat, simply heat’.

5. He met Carmichael in a pub near the agency.

6. This meeting was the most important event in his writing career.

7. Carmichael’s company only produced its own books when it had nothing else to print.

8. Carmichael thought any writer should be able to write any kind of text.

9. From the very start, Sharples let money come before his principles.

10. He was quite pleased when his book was published.

PART III

Date: 2015-02-03; view: 2368