When we love a book, we want everyone else to love it too. It's a natural response, since it's fun to squee and carry on and gossip about the characters with someone else who fell in love too.
Unfortunately not everyone feels the same way about a book. Even people who like the SAME book may not like the same things in it that I do. Yet we feel the need to convert them, as if it is easier to create a new fan to join our club than to seek out others who already love the story with the same passion as we do.
"You're gonna LOVE this!", we say, even though there's no guarantee they will. But that's how intense our love for this story is. It convinces us we can make everyone else adore it like we do.
I have had to fight off folks who proselytize with the fervor of zombies desperate for a taste of brain cells. I'm glad they feel that way, because that means a book has captured their heart and soul, and I'm delighted for the author who has accomplished that feat. It makes me wonder how it was done, and how I can do the same with my stories.
My goal with the books I write is to make people happy, mostly for the few hours they spend reading the story. I like hearing that someone laughs and falls in love with my characters the way I do. I truly feel like I've accomplished something magical and wonderful.
I also hope to entice and seduce readers until they cannot think about anything but my story, impatient for the ones coming out next. It would be an utter delight if readers of my stories wanted to grab everyone they know and exclaim, "You have to read this!"
That is the ultimate in reader love.
"Impatient for the ones coming out next" is definitely pretty close to my daydream for what a reader might tell me one day. But then I know I better have several projects written to pull off my "overnight success" story! LOL
I guess I have felt the need to convert/recruit (so that's what "proselytize" means? Thanks for the new word!)people to experience a book I found amazing. And I've been a bit deflated when they didn't "get it." The humor was "too dry" or the plot "unbelievable" or something.
But this is a great reminder not to take criticism on our own work too much to heart. If they didn't get someone else's brilliance, then it's comforting to hold on to the possibility that it's not just me they don't like. LOL
And this might not be what you intended a reader to get out of this post, but it's what I love about it. :)
Posted by: Melissa | December 09, 2011 at 10:21 AM
Melissa, you're welcome for the new word. :) I don't have much opportunity to use it so decided this was a good spot for it. LOL
I think your interpretation of my post is perfect. I want everyone to love the same things I do, and sometimes it feels like I'm the only one who loves a certain book or TV show. LOL So it's bound to happen with my stories. Hopefully I'll have more than one chance to change a reader's mind. :)
Posted by: Donna Cummings | December 09, 2011 at 10:41 AM
I love that you and Chance both used "proselytize" in your blogs today. LOL!
Hellie has broken me of the "You have to read this, you'll love it!" thing. She almost never likes the books I love. LOL! Even books that are buzzing all over and multitudes of readers are raving about it online. She still hates them. So I've learned the lesson the hard way.
But this is exactly what I want to create in readers. That frenzy to read another and another. If a reader ever sends me an angry message that I made her lose sleep, I will be smiling for days. LOL!
Posted by: Terri Osburn | December 09, 2011 at 02:23 PM
Oh, and to be fair, Hellie also recommends books to me that I dont' like. So this goes both ways. Just to be clear!
Posted by: Terri Osburn | December 09, 2011 at 02:24 PM
Terri, I didn't even notice that we both used "proselytize". LOL It just goes to show you there aren't enough opportunities to use this word on a daily basis!
I think it's hilarious that you and Hellie like such different stories, because at some point, if you go back far enough, there was SOME common ground, right? LOL The same thing happened with a friend of mine, and I couldn't figure out where she got steered wrong. We both liked the same books for the longest time. LOL
I would LOVE to get a reader message like that too. I don't think *I* would sleep for days afterwards. :)
Posted by: Donna Cummings | December 09, 2011 at 04:48 PM
Coelho the Brazilian writer has described his writing as 'making love to a computer'
The way that you become emotionally involved with the words and scenes that are created is indeed reminiscent of making love. Even to the extent of worrying about performance.
Reading on the other hand must be the passive counter balance to writing! LOL
After reading your stories Donna, I feel very relaxed and happy. *smile*
Posted by: Quantum | December 11, 2011 at 04:09 PM
Q, I guess I do become emotionally involved with my stories, and their words and scenes -- but I'm not sure I would consider it making love to my computer. LOL Although I'm chuckling about the performance anxiety aspect!
I'm glad my stories make you relaxed and happy. LOL It would be terrible if I increased rather than decreased your stress!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | December 12, 2011 at 12:00 AM