Okay, I’m not really bitter. I’m actually quite sweet (I’d offer to let you suck me and see, but I’m sure it would be misconstrued by the filthy-minded among us — of which there are many 😉 ) I have not a bitter bone in my body. I’m happy for the success of other people, I like to see them get on and make a good life for themselves — and I certainly don’t hate people for succeeding where I have, thus far, failed.
But what in the name of all that’s sacred is this about?!
My own personal impression of this gentleman aside (I think he’s about as funny as a colostomy), this still rubs me up the wrong way. I can’t blame him for biting their hands off, who the hell wouldn’t? And, yes, it’s nothing really new. Publishing has liked celebrity for quite a long time. But as I have said before, these guys probably don’t have longevity where writing (if it can be called that) is concerned. The third book in the three book deal is intended to be “a highly illustrated, lavishly-produced title”, which is probably publisherspeak for “something with which the ‘author’ doesn’t have to be too involved”. This suggests to me quite strongly that they realise this is possibly a short-term scenario, that Mr Pegg is already running out of material.
Which is fine. They’ll make the advance back and possibly a huge chunk of profit to boot, and then move onto the next questionable “big thing”. I don’t really mind except for one thing…
Noncelebrity authors in the current climate — hell, in any climate — seldom command these kind of seven-figure deals. And I don’t just mean first time authors. Many well-established literary figures (and I include genre writers in this) could never dream of demanding such sums, even though they could probably, with the right marketing, achieve equally impressive or even superior sales figures — especially in the long term. They don’t command these figures and, more to the point, the vast majority don’t even come close! I have no solid idea of what the average advance might be, and I certainly don’t want to guess, but I would be surprised if the average, based on writers I know, was even into five figures.
That’s a huge difference. The real “professionals” within the industry, the people who write as a job rather than a sideline, are being well and truly shafted, in my opinion. I don’t think it’s even good enough to say, “Well, yes, but the celebrities guarantee a quick big profit.” It’s true. They do. But let the book prove its worth before throwing ridiculous advances against royalties at celebrity authors. Drop the advances of these books and show a little more commitment to the writers who go down to the coalface every day by upping their advances somewhat.
I mean, for crying out loud, he hasn’t even got a title for his memoir, yet!
Gary William Murning Online 
Ok, I literally laughed at loud about the sucking comment. I guess I’m one of your dirty minded readers.
And I agree with you on all you said. I’m personally not that fond of celebrity written books, but that’s just me…
Sigh. But Kenneth Branagh wrote his memoirs before 30 and as an historical and psychological document they are amazing. Surely you know the publishing world doesn’t reward people for literary gifts.
I mean, you knew that, right? Chicken Soup for the Soul and all that… Sorry to burst the bubble…
Amber: one of my dirty minded readers? Somehow, I suspected as much 🙂
raincoaster:
I’m never entirely sure when you’re being ironic and when you’re not 🙂 Either way, the age of the individual wasn’t really what I was concerned about.
Naturally — doesn’t mean I’ve got to like it, though, do it?
That particular bubble got burst many, many moons ago… alas and alack.
Roger Moore, or rather Sir Roger Moore was on Jonathan Ross last night. He’s finally gotten around to writing an autobiography, at the age of 81. Fair enough, say I. He has enough fans who will appreciate it, and has lived a long and eventful enough life to actually make it interesting. But Simon Pegg? I actually like the man, but I still can’t see what he’s got to write about.
“I was in Big Train, then I was in Spaced, then every single childhood dream I ever had came true, and I was in Doctor Who, a horror film, an action film, and a Star Trek movie. Yay me.”
That’s not a story. It’s a young geek’s wet dream.
Worse still… Alan Carr’s just published his autobiography. I think it’s called “The Unholy Offspring Of Charles Hawtrey And Janet Street-Porter: My Story”, by Alan Carr.
Deep breaths… deep breaths…
LOL. Maybe that’s where we’re going wrong, mate. A lucrative market, it would seem.
Who is Simon Pegg anyway? I think I must be on another planet (as usual).
Unfortunately everyone is looking for the ‘next big thing’. Thats our immediate gratification society that we have worked so long and hard to cultivate.
And who cares if this guy has anything brilliant to say..he’s a celebrity and that means that whatever he says is automatically brilliant according to the ‘sheeple’ who do not have a mind of their own and need someone to think for them.
Ack…I guess I’m a tad bitter myself….
One does not put a pen to paper and instantly become a good writer. Sure there might be talent there to use as a base coat….but it’s a journey and a continuous honing of the talent…preaching to the choir; I know.
I didn’t want to just say “me too” and be done with it. I’m honing my bitterness and it’s a journey. ;-p
Simon Pegg is a British actor/comedian… not my cup of tea, but I suppose he does his day job fairly well.
I think you have a point. In many respects, we are told what we should and shouldn’t like — however subliminally. The media latches onto something and goes into overdrive. Occasionally — more than occasionally, if I’m honest — talent is involved. There are a lot of genuinely talented people out there being rewarded for the jobs they do, we mustn’t forget that in our bitterness 😉 Saying that, however, and I do think it needs to be made so much more clear that there are choices. You know, I have friends who didn’t really think they’d enjoy or get my work. They thought it would be too “clever” for them. They were wrong. They loved it.
And I think that’s the attitude of many people to literature (and when I say “literature” I don’t just mean literary fiction.) They just don’t know what’s available and how accessible it is. Why? Largely, I think, because the focus is too often placed on celebrity authors — from Simon Pegg to Joan Collins et al.