Writing For (or against) The Masses

You wanna know how scary writing for the masses is?

Well, in the words of George Carlin, "Think about how stupid the average person is; now realize half of them are dumber than that."

Television, books, and movies alike have all been in recent years pandering more and more to the lowest common denominator of our culture. The horror/thriller movie genre has changed from action, suspense, and mystery to torture, rape, and murder. Reality shows have as little to do with reality as 'sunshine units' have to do with sunshine.

Go back; read a Heinlein or a Bradbury. Pick up an Asimov or a Burroughs. All are cornerstones of the Science Fiction and Fantasy markets. But look at them through the filters of a modern editor. Historical anachronisms aside, would any of them even be publishable nowadays? If Heinlein were still alive and he sent in a short story to a magazine under a pseudonym, what are the chances he'd get past the door? No, he'd get, like countless other great talents the world will never ever see, a rejection letter saying that "It's good, it's just not what the market's looking for nowadays".

Now, novice writers and friends alike, don't get me wrong. I know that my work will be nullified, mutated, and dumbed down. I know that if words and story were DNA, from the point of my ending Draft 1 to the point where (hopefully) a book gets published, the two versions will share as much in common as a hummingbird and a hippo. And I'm even ok with it, in a sort of detached Stockholm Syndrome sort of way.

So... I'll tow the line like a good little word soldier, but you won't find complacancy from me. I can't do it and still be a writer - I don't think it's possible without becoming a hack. Loose too much of your desire to express yourself, and you know what you get?

Serial Romance Novels.

________ held ________ against his _______, glistening with sweat as he worked the _______ of the _________. "I'll take you away from all this, _______. You'll never have to worry about ______ or ______ ever again once we get to _______."

"Oh, ______!" She cried passionately, holding her prone ______ close to his _______, feeling his ________ through his rippling ______. "I can't believe I nearly ________ to _______ because of ________. I'm so happy you found me in time!"

It's like MadLibs, except even more horrifying. And the sad thing is, you can insert that scene and dialog into almost any romance novel you find and it'll work.

This is why, to me at least, 'edit' is a four letter word. To be absolutely clear, I hate editing. It's what stopped me from every attempting to write a book before, and if I am defeated in my attempts this time it will doubtlessly be by editing. And not the "I before E except after C unless it's Tuesday in the month of May" kind of editing - I no I'm not prefect. Mispellings happen, liek it or knot.

No, I'm talking about "Gee, this is great and all, but do you think that perhaps you could..." editing. Anyone who wants to truly understand a creator's pain should watch The TV Set, a movie about what all this poor guy's script has to go through in order to get it produced. It's a very Shakesperian comedy (so sad it's funny). Anyone who's ever been creative should feel this pain.

And I know, there are those who will argue that it's the cost you go through in order to be successful (looking at you, Impy). I liken it to being a parent of a daugher - you know she's going to grow up and do some unspeakable things, you try and force yourself to hope for her sake she enjoys them, but you really REALLY don't want to think about it, especially while she's three.