Mar 23, 2009

Who wants to read MY stuff?

By Stacy Johnson

We pulled the family together for our weekly tradition of "Family Movie Night" lastnight. My daughter and I were anticipating finally pulling all the boys together and making them watch Twilight with us. They haven't been as excited as we have been. They got it into their heads a long time ago that they didn't want to watch any "love stories" for our family movie night. It didn't matter how many times we explained to them how exciting and action packed it was, they were determined to not enjoy it.

My youngest kids didn't have school today, so we started the movie later than normal lastnight. My oldest son, who goes to a different school district, and had to be to school this morning, said he would start watching with us, but he would be going to be early that night and wouldn't be able to finish watching it with us. About a half an hour into the movie, I told him he ought to go to bed; he ignored me. I reminded him one more time, just before the scene where they played baseball; he ignored me again. When the movie was over, he finally pulled himself together and headed to bed. When I asked him how he liked the movie, he responded with a wry little smile and said, "I knew I wasn't going to like that movie." I knew he would.

It caused me to wonder if Stephanie Meyer knew the magnitude of what her story would become? Don't get me wrong, I know she believed in her book, but did she dream that it would be come a major motion picture? (Maybe she did, I know I believe in the power of positive thinking) Did she think that she would have throngs of fans sitting in the WalMart, even in the po-dunk town of Queen Creek, waiting with their magic blue ticket so they could buy the movie at midnight? Or, that the book would be so well received by not only teenage girls, but that those girls' moms would start fan groups on Facebook and MySpace? And now that it is a movie, consider all the boys who are watching it and liking it? I know it took me a really long time to finally read those books because I didn't think I could get caught up in a "vampire love story."

I am now considering all the book ideas I have had and how I shrugged them aside, thinking that my idea wasn't good enough, or it wouldn't reach a large enough audience. How can I possibly know the impact it could have. Thank heavens for all those great authors out there who keep on writing, because they believed in their stories. I need to believe in myself more and just get it down on paper, wether I think it will become a best seller or not. We all need to.

I have to go now, my parenting book about a mother who is out of control needs some real life stories to add to it and I can see a story brewing in the kitchen...

5 comments:

  1. Who knows what will sell in this fickle market. Janette Rallison said in a recent interview, she just decided to learn the craft and be the best writer she could be. I have decided that is the path I will take, and at lease I can be proud of what I write whether it takes off or not. Thanks for this thought provoking blog.

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  2. I forced... er, um invited my husband to watch Twilight with me this weekend. He wasn't really familiar with it, which made it fun to watch him watching the movie. Afterward I said, "It's a great story idea, isn't it?" He assumed his "I Know How I'm Supposed to Answer" face (which I don't think he realizes he makes) and said, "Your books are even better."
    Sincere or not, I appreciated it!

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  3. I have a couple of teenage nephews who ripped through all 4 of the Twilight books as fast as they could get their hands on them. One of their teachers introduced them to it...not sure of the context, but there you go.

    and...you go, Stacy! I'm watching for that parenting book!

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  4. I think I"m feeling my age but I didn't actually care for Twilight although I read it because my niece is in the YWs presidency and the girls love the books. She does too. But it does go to show one thing...romance still sells.

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  5. Hmmm. I own a copy of each of Stephanie's books, but so far I haven't read them. I keep thinking maybe I ought to. But she never asked me to critique one. I have a sweat shirt that touts all my excuses: "So many books -- so little time."

    But I love to hear about books, movies, and success. Thanks for your message.

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