Feb 4 2009
Wednesday Day Night Links of No Love
- Stephen King laid the smackdown on Stephenie Meyer in an interview yesterday.
[Thanks Emmy]“Both Rowling and Meyer, they’re speaking directly to young people… The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can’t write worth a darn. She’s not very good.”
The comments to the above post have turned into an awesome smackdown between the Meyer/King/Rowling fans with some embarrassing quotes of Meyer coming to the fore.
- Grace Draven explores the concept of covers. She calls it curb appeal which I think is a great analogy. A great cover of an upcoming book is Jory Strong’s Ghostland. I have also seen a propensity toward using the man’s shirt: Talk Me Down, Talk of the Town, and Smooth Talking Stranger. Or maybe it’s just books with “Talk” in the title that get the white man’s shirt.
- David Plouffe, Obama’s campaign manager, got a $2 million book deal. Too big? Just right?
- Women might not have liked the Teleflora ad, but the more mysognistic of the commercials were from GoDaddy. Christian sites, disgusted with the flesh peddling, are dropping the host provider. That’s okay, though, because we all know that the internet is for porn.
- Borders cut 16 executive positions. Borders is still a penny stock on the NYSE. Barnes and Noble is sitting pretty good. It has no debt and had only a 7.7% decline in holiday sales. [Thanks SB Sarah]
Send to Kindle
Feb 04, 2009 @ 20:43:59
Excellent ownage by King.
And these Christian sites are just pulling out of GoDaddy now? They’ve been running commercials like these for years. They’re customer service is good though, so the hoochies in the commercials don’t bother me.
Feb 04, 2009 @ 21:24:48
Holy Crow!! 965 comments and counting. Some very interesting ones there from the few I read. If they’re all like that…WWE, here they come!!!
Feb 04, 2009 @ 21:43:56
Is there a way to read all the comments? Only a few seems to be available. I don’t see a link to the previous ones.
Feb 04, 2009 @ 21:47:38
I didn’t see one when I was looking. Interestingly enough, the blog author’s click here link doesn’t seem to be working so I’m wondering if they broke the link and took King’s comments down for some reason.
Maybe the comment count was way more than they expected. Who knows?
Feb 04, 2009 @ 22:08:44
King is exactly right.
Feb 04, 2009 @ 22:35:31
“Stephenie Meyer can't write worth a darn. She's not very good.â€
So the heck what?
She’s obviously struck something special in the hearts of millions of readers. Whether she has writing skill or not, she is a master storyteller for that reason alone. And I say that as one who has never read any of her books and never intends to. Zero interest. Nevertheless, I admire her intuition.
People often ridicule what they do not understand.
Feb 04, 2009 @ 23:07:29
Wow. Imagine being so ungodly successful that you could just speak your mind about anything — and slam-dunk any big name in your field — without fear of repercussions. (Seriously. Imagine it. That fantasy is almost as juicy as winning the lottery! *sigh*)
Feb 04, 2009 @ 23:08:52
“Stephenie Meyer can't write worth a darn. She's not very good.â€
Funnily enough, I’ve heard many critics say the same thing about King. *shrugs*
Feb 04, 2009 @ 23:27:53
And the Twilight fans are going nuts. There’s at least one promise to throw something at King should paths cross at some con or another, and a whole lot of “he’s just jealous!” overall.
Feb 04, 2009 @ 23:34:30
It takes one to recognize one? grin
The argument that King is just jealous should be ludicrous even to the Meyer supporters. Maybe if she’s still around in 30 years we can talk again. My bet is she’s a flash in the pan.
I haven’t read either, no intention of ever doing so, so I have no fish to fry either way, just thought the idea that he’s envious totally ridiculous.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 01:34:28
I haven’t read Stefanie Meyers, but my teenage granddaughters have, and they are enthralled. Ms. Meyers hit her mark, er . . . market, so good on her. As for Stephen King, I think he’s an incredible writer–for THE STAND if for nothing else. He also hits his mark more often than not.
I’m not sure why he decided to comment on other popular writers’ work, but comment he did, which will probably sell a few thousand more books.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 06:35:23
The comments were part of an interview that’s going to be printed in the USA Today supplement out this weekend and were in response to a series of questions the interviewer asked about does he think he’s influenced other writers much in the way he was influenced himself.
The truncated version of the interview I read was interesting and while I think that on the subject of writing King can take himself a wee bit seriously, as far as I’m concerned, he’s earned the right, given that he’s been around for close to 45 years and has outlasted many of his critics. And while he may be remembered primarily for his horror, it’s certainly not been his only genre (remember that Stand By Me and Shawshank Redemption were based on short stories of his).
As far as not understanding Meyer– if you read his comments, he understands exactly what her appeal is. He understands that the she’s a good storyteller and what aspects of the story may appeal to the rabid teen girls. What I particularly loved about his comments is that he said one of the reasons teen girls were drawn to the series was because they weren’t ready for a “real, adult romance yet.”
Feb 05, 2009 @ 06:47:12
Whoops– small error in what I said. The interview isn’t going to be out until the March 5-6 issue of the USA Today Weekend magazine.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 07:21:47
I’m not a huge Twilight fan, but honestly, in the bit that I read, I didn’t think that King was being insulting. I took “she can’t write” as “she’s not a superb stylist.” Obviously she can come up with an interesting story, and like Ms. Ferrer, I liked his comment that young teens aren’t ready for adult love and romance yet. They aren’t. They’re just learning. It’s a magical, painful time in their lives, and Meyer can obviously still tap into that, which is great. I was thinking last night that, as an adult, with a few failed romances and now a happy 8 yr marriage, under my belt, I can’t really go back to that early, whole-hearted intensity. If, God forbid, I ever have to go back in the dating pool, I know it won’t be with the same hopes, desires, and romantic dreams that I did when I was 16. I’m smarter, more jaded, and more practical. I don’t have time for all-encompassing emotion. They do, and it’s great that Ms. Meyer can appeal to that (or to the memories of that).
I also thought King was right about Patterson. I read one of his books, and all the while I was thinking, “dang, I can write better than this,” but I couldn’t put it down, because the plot was fantastic.
I like Stephen King, too…but there are times when I think his books would be better if they were trimmed a little…..
Feb 05, 2009 @ 07:35:57
At least millions of children and teens have picked up a book or books because of Stephanie.
And when I was a teen I picked up Stephen King, so both have added a great deal to the publishing community.
And JK Rowling is just sitting back very happy. All three should be happy of their accomplishments.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 08:25:19
Yeah, but you know, katie, I have to say, it bugs me– the “Kids are reading, who cares if she can write?” defense. Perhaps it’s the former teacher in me, but while I do appreciate that kids are reading, what I’d hope they’d do is use something like Twilight or Harry Potter or Diary of a Wimpy Kid as a springboard from which to expand their reading horizons. To learn how to read both critically as well as for enjoyment– to be able to say, “Yes, I LOVE Twilight” and be able to articulate why beyond “It’s just soooooooo cool,” and be instantly dismissive of anything that’s not their favorite book/author or have a knee-jerk reaction to any criticism without actually hearing it. It’s a lost skill, it seems
Argh. Don’t mind me. Cranky twelve year-old at home sick and not enough coffee in the world.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 08:48:54
What Barb said. The first step is to get kids to read, and a badly written book is better than no book. But what’s wrong with wanting them to go on after that and read well-written books? If you read a Patterson, or the hack stylist of your choice, and recognize that it’s not well-written but it’s a good story, or satisfying in some other way, that’s fine. Genre fiction has lots and lots of barely serviceable prose that contains an emotional or other payoff. But if you don’t get *why* it’s a badly written book, then your reading skills are pretty unsatisfactory.
I think my favorite comment was the defense of the Twilight books that said that she *couldn’t* change her writing style after the first book in the series, so she was stuck with the bad writing, as if the style was what was drawing readers, and as if no one ever grows and improves over a series of books.
If you’re going to go with the vague generalizations, they should at least be accurate. King’s comments make it clear that he *does* understand what makes Meyer’s books appealing, and they show a nice insight into how teenage readers’ experiences shape their reading choices. Also, I think that a writer who has written one of the best books on craft out there (See “On Writing,” available in HB, TF, and MMB at your local bookstore) is entirely within his brief to talk about writing quality.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 09:38:14
My 13 and 17 year olds say the same thing about the Meyer books. Not well written but addictive nonetheless. They call them book crack.
And sorry, but The Internet Is For Porn is FAR better when sung by Sesame Street type muppets. Avenue Q = Hilarious!
Feb 05, 2009 @ 11:16:59
I haven’t read Meyer, and I love Stephen King, so I’m not disagreeing with his assessment. I’m not sure it’s relevant though. Personally, I find superb prose to be distracting at times. In genre fiction, good writing is “invisible.” Meyer’s fans aren’t bothered by her (alleged) lack of technical skills.
When a story is addictive and characters are vibrant, adequate writing is plenty good enough. IMO.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 13:29:39
For me, there’s no such thing as “invisible” writing, regardless of its quality. I always see (or perhaps I should say “hear”) the writing, and sometimes it’s beautiful, other times it’s plain but smooth enough that although I’m not enthralled, I can keep reading, and other times it’s just, sorry to say this, the literary equivalent of chalk on blackboard, and then I usually put the book down about a chapter or two in.
“Adequate” differs from reader to reader. And personally, while I enjoy an addictive story with vibrant characters, I enjoy it even more when the language is also stellar (and if the writing is really weak, the story won’t addict me no matter how eventful the plot is). I don’t see why writers can’t shoot for all three. I think the genre can only benefit if writers strive to improve every area of their writing.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 14:19:54
I made it through a chapter of the first Twilight book. Any book that starts with a weather report–and one that makes me go “bzuh? has she ever BEEN there?”–is not going to hold me.
In the space of a few pages, the main character managed to annoy me, make me want to slap sense into her, and remind me of exactly how I was at 9-26 because of repressive religion and “Submitted Wife” nonsense. (Another good reason not to buy: SM is Mormon and we’re boycotting giving Mormons money)
My 16 year old hated the first book. She promptly plunged right back into Stoker as an antidote.
And a $2 Million book deal? Let’s hope it goes better than Mary Cheney’s.
(ignore the schadenfreude)
Feb 05, 2009 @ 16:10:29
I think King has a right to his opinion, and I think Rowling is better than Meyers, but if she “can’t write worth a darn” that’s insulting a large chunk of the readership out there since many of them think she can.
I think technically she’s a little lazy, but she still writes a compelling story that makes you keep turning the pages and transports you. And that’s supposed to be the point.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 17:21:32
Okay
1st…what have you writen that was sooo darn good?
2nd …. If she’s sooo bad then why is almost every girl in the world in love with her books?
3rd……you have no reason to critisize her because your own life isn’t good enough for you.
Thats what I have to say about your stupid comments!!!!!!!!!!
Feb 05, 2009 @ 17:23:06
Megan, Who are you talking to?
Feb 05, 2009 @ 17:51:38
@Megan Cullen Just wondering what member of the Cullen family you married.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 17:54:15
@ Jane,
I’m sorry but…
ROFLMAO!!!!!!
Feb 05, 2009 @ 18:06:34
Jane, how can you be so dull? Naturally she did away with Bella and married Edward herself! :) Sorry, couldn’t help myself.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 18:29:41
@Megan Cullen @Jane: This has to be a regular poster who just managed the funniest impression of inappropriate Twilight FanGirlism ever. I laughed out loud.
Kudos, whoever you really are. I wish I’d thought of it.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 18:32:11
But what if it’s real? I totally believe it.
Look at this:
http://www.cinematical.com/2009/02/05/fan-made-bellas-womb-from-twilight-aka-creepiest-fan-made/
Feb 05, 2009 @ 18:36:29
BWAH!!!! Oh man, I’d heard about it, but I hadn’t seen pictures.
My husband just said, “I’m not sure why, but I suddenly have a strong urge to buy a Sham-Wow.”
Feb 05, 2009 @ 18:37:47
hehehe. I loved the article that went with it too. I was a CRAZY Buffy fangirl, but I never got this bad. I wasn’t hand-carving wooden stakes, or anything like that.
And I’m going to sound really stupid probably, but what is a Sham-Wow?
Feb 05, 2009 @ 18:46:40
@Zoe
You’re not from around here, are you? KIDDING!!! :-)
https://www.shamwow.com/ver8/index.asp
Feb 05, 2009 @ 18:53:11
LMAO, wow! hahaha, yeah I dont’ watch TV.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 18:59:32
You’re not missing much ;-) In the wee hours of the morning, when I can’t sleep, the TV is good for something to stare at because the little grey cells don’t want to fire.
That commercial runs every fifteen minutes. He used to shout, really loud, but people must have complained…
Feb 05, 2009 @ 19:02:57
Yeah, and the headset microphone in the studio kills me.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 19:05:47
I know! What is it even there for? Makes no sense.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 19:06:09
Zoe,given that you were a Buffy fangirl, have you seen this?
Feb 05, 2009 @ 19:20:14
lol Theo, yeah they complained because they were trying to SLEEP! :P
The other night my husband was in the other room playing WoW (yes, I’m a WoW widow), and he’s on voice, and I’d be just about to fall asleep when he’d say something, and finally I told him and he turned voice off.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 19:21:19
OH MY GOD. Barb, I HAVE to have that T-shirt! Holy Crap that’s awesome!
Oh and they have it in a Women’s Tee (babydoll tee style) Okay that’s it, I am buying this shirt. hahaha
Feb 05, 2009 @ 19:30:02
@theo – the headset is to distract from the fact that he’s cross-eyed. My 3 year old does a dead-on impression, start to finish, of that whole commercial. Disturbing.
I couldn’t finish Twilight. I literally got bored and wandered off. I had been reading one of the many awesome commentaries courtesy Livejournal along with each chapter, just to keep myself reading. Whatever SMeyer tapped into in the teenage girl psyche, I must have been out with a bad case of feminism that day.
Maybe Borders’ slash of execs will pull them out of the tailspin.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 19:30:19
I wonder if I could make a widget out of that T-shirt…
XandraG, You need to tape that! I have to see it. :lol:
Feb 05, 2009 @ 19:46:16
Heh– Yeah, I bought it too. Couldn’t help myself. It appeals to my perverse funny bone.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 20:24:27
Let’s see, at about 13 I read “Flowers in the Attic.” Loved it. Devoured it. Read as many more as I could get my hands on. I would say that series in the 80s was equal to “Twilight” right now, wouldn’t you?
And guess what? It didn’t hurt me. I didn’t want to have some incestuous affair.
In fact, I ended up reading “Gone with the Wind” not too long after that. Reading is entertainment…whether it be soap opera quality or literary. Who cares about the quality if Ms. Meyer’s writing? People seem to be enjoying her stories.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 20:29:45
@Zoe Winters: Oookay. Bella’s womb in felt. That has to be the most incredibly sinister thing I have ever seen.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 20:31:12
LMAO, I know, right? Some of her fans scare me.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 20:33:29
I wonder if I should be concerned about having pissed off Megan Cullen… that felt womb gives a rather sinister interpretation to my earlier statement of hypothesis, doesn’t it?
Feb 05, 2009 @ 20:44:05
@GrowlyCub
I don’t think you should worry about it. A friend of mine, who is really into all the vampire myth, responded to a poll on sodahead tonight.
The question was: Who is your favorite vampire in Twilight?
Her response was: The one who comes at the end of the last book and kills them all. (she likes to push their buttons)
The 15 year old messaged her and told her if she responded again, this girl would block her because she only wants ‘positive answers’, so no, I don’t think you need to worry at all. They’re fangurls…in love with a fictional character.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 21:04:55
Theo, to be fair, I sort of have a crush on my own characters. But that’s my own psychological issue. :P
Oh, and Spike from Buffy, haha!
Feb 05, 2009 @ 21:05:54
I’ve read King, Rowling and Meyer and I have to say that I like all three of them, but as for talent I agree that Meyer has the least. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions.
I also agree with the person who said that Meyer is getting people to read and especially, she’s getting teenagers to read when they usually stop, so Kudos for Meyer for that.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 21:19:21
@Zoe
I have a bit of a crush on mine too. :-) I think any writer has to love her characters or she can’t write them well. However, even at 10 or 11, I realized the difference between a fictional character and one that lives in a book and the imagination. I wonder how many of these fangurls do. *shakes head*
I never, at any age though, threatened anyone because they trash talked a character I love(d). A character! That’s the thing I don’t get. Well, I might have taken offense if someone said anything not nice about Wilbur, but he’s probably the only exception ;-)
Feb 05, 2009 @ 21:35:15
hahahaha! In the Buffy fandom there were people who would freak OUT if you preferred Angel and Buffy over Spike and Buffy (or vice versa depending on what side of the fence you were on), But as far as I know there were no threats flying around, lol.
Wilbur?
Feb 05, 2009 @ 21:40:31
@Zoe,
Sorry, Charlotte’s Web :-D I think I was in 3rd grade when I read that one and just adored the whole story, well, except for Charlotte dying…
Feb 05, 2009 @ 21:51:38
awwwww. Yeah, I was thinking Charlotte’s web, but I wasn’t sure. I cried when Charlotte died. That’s brilliant writing right there, to make you mourn the death of a spider.
Feb 05, 2009 @ 21:57:14
And I *still* cry when I read it, some…45+ years later…and I am SO not a spider fan! lol
But you’re right. That really is brilliant writing.
Feb 06, 2009 @ 00:31:23
O M G! The good news – I’m no longer undecided about reading the Twilight books. The bad news – every time I see one in the store I’ll have flashbacks to a felted womb. O_O
Feb 06, 2009 @ 15:00:52
To be honest, I thin King is just being honest and not trying to be hurtful or vindictive. He’s like any other writer or person who comments on the popular writers and writing of his time period. Of course, since he, himself, is also a writer, people are naturally going to take his opinion with a grain of salt but I have read enough of his books to know that the man knows how to write. And I like that he’s a voice for popular fiction and I think he has always supported the idea that popular fiction can include good writing, the kind lauded in literature by literary critics.
Of course, the definition of good writing is very subjective but I still think King is still a pretty good authority on the matter.
I read Meyer’s first book and, in my opinion, she has the magic of a true storyteller and I think she’s going to have a long and successful writing career. However, I do agree with King’s distinction that a good storyteller who can keep your attention doesn’t necessarily mean a good writer; Meyer certainly doesn’t have the same kind of magic with words that Rowling and Dean Koontz do.
I hope Meyer doesn’t let this bring her down.
Feb 06, 2009 @ 15:04:24
I’m laughing so hard right now I’m nearly crying.
Megan Cullen. Just brilliant. The Twilight fanatics are almost as crazy as J.R. Ward’s fans. At least…well, Stephenie Meyer might write in the first person, but she doesn’t visit her forums as her characters.
Bella’s womb in felt, complete with mutant fetus.
And Stephen King, who, when I was a teenager, got no respect whatsoever, now the judge of who can write and who can’t.
And no, I don’t think Twilight is as bad as “Flowers in the Attic.” Stephenie Meyer is a person, not a franchise with ghost writers. And there’s no incest in Twilight.
Although…one character comments in the beginning of the series that with two couples being paired off among the Cullen foster “children” it’s almost incestuous.
Feb 07, 2009 @ 12:02:54
If Meyer’s poor fragile artist’s soul can’t handle criticism or the fact that people out there think she’s a poor writer, then she needs to grow a thicker skin or stay on the parts of the Internet where people worship her.
Feb 07, 2009 @ 18:28:20
CH, I’m guessing most authors *hurt* when they, or their books, are criticised; probably no different than anyone else in that respect. But most shrug it off, and accept that it comes with the territory. I’m sure Ms. Meyer is up to the task.
Feb 07, 2009 @ 18:48:20
Hey EC Sheedy,
That’s about what I was thinking. Just because an author becomes famous doesn’t mean they cease being a human being with all the normal range of emotions as all other human beings.