A few things to think about today, the first a point made in the article What happened to the page-turner novel? by Harry Mount:
"Too much respect for the novel is part of the problem. In an age of literary festivals in every provincial town, and writing courses at every red-brick university, everyone is encouraged to be a writer, and writing is considered a sacred art. Well, if everyone writes, there'll be more bad novels. And if writing is thought sacred, they will become more boring."
I don't follow that reasoning, but what do you think? I asked recently whether we had too many literary festivals, but if there is a superfluity, that would affect the lit. fest. market, not the novel per se, and yes, creative writing courses do seem to be multiplying, but are more writers being published than ever before, and is the general standard lower than it was and if so, is that a direct result? The economics of the publishing industry must dictate levels here. And surely if there is greater respect for the novel that would mean better quality overall, not worse?
Harry Mount refers also to Martin Amis and says of his latest work:
"His editor should have got the red pen out, but he was far too respectful of the Great Middle-Aged Man of English Letters."
Yes, the red pen. We talked about that in this post and the many excellent comments. Lack of editing seems to apply as much to debut novelists as to those of standing, but can it really be respect and that alone that's to blame?
(As to page-turning novels, I've just read one, and as far as I can see, they are alive and well).
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On the subject of creativity and imagination, if you haven't alread heard this programme, do listen. It includes Rose Tremain talking briefly about her novel Music & Silence, Grayson Perry and his "inner shed", and the polymath Raymond Tallis, a man who as both poet and neuroscientist can look at creativity in different ways.
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Last call for entries for our Buy A Friend A Book draw and I'll pick the winner tomorrow (the 8th.). There's a wealth of good reading listed in the comments on that post, and amongst other things some interesting reactions to Wolf Hall, a good idea for whiling away a tedious drive, and how best to read when you have a baby to feed.
