An author’s lot is seldom an easy one. Apart from the constant rejection, the attacks from critics, the squabbles with publishers who demand changes to the text and even the sly jibes from fellow writers, there are the emotional aspects to contend with as well. When I was writing my mountaineering novel, “Traverse of the Gods,” I found the sequences on the North face of the Eiger almost too harrowing to bear. The problem from the author’s point of view is that he isn’t merely imagining the scene, he’s mentally transported there, enduring the torment of his characters, tasting their fear, feeling their pain. After each writing session, I felt physically ill. I once mentioned this to thriller writer Jack Higgins and he said he’d experienced exactly the same thing. When I finally finished ‘Traverse,’ my dear friend Catherine Cookson said, “You’ll never achieve that intensity of emotion again.” And she was right, I never did! But nor would I want to. Believe me, writing for a living isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Not only is it the toughest game in the world, it gives you an awful lot of heartache as well. So here’s a word of advice for all you would-be authors out there who dream of suffering for your art and eventually hitting the big time. It’s the best advice you’ll ever get. Marry money instead!
Posted on: Thu, 16 Jan 2014 17:31:30 +0000
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