Most book lovers from India know
Mr. Chetan Bagat, a popular writer of fiction and non-fiction. In my search to
know how Indian authors in English write books I have read his few books too. Not
only his, but a few other Indian authors too. While I am happy and proud that
an Indian author like Chetan Bagat gets an attention and distinction of being
roped in for a six-books-million dollar deal, a number of writers must be feeling
left out high and dry in the market.
A couple years ago, I had read in
a book titled: “Gutenberg to Zuckerberg” about how the invention of printing
technology during the 14th/15th century disrupted the whole
world of knowledge and how the subsequent invention of internet deepened this
disruption in immeasurable ways. One of the important unintended outcomes with
the onset of internet, among other things, is that more and more people read
and write. Write, importantly. Writers, of all grades, varieties, standards
have sprung up everywhere and these writers are craving for attention from
others. The present day social media like Facebook, WhatsApp etc., gives some
satisfaction to these writers. Yet, the attention like the one Chetan Bagat and
a few other writers got is a matter of envy for most writers, including me.
I know for sure many write well –
as decently as some of the today’s writers or maybe, even better. The problem
is: When will these writers get some attention from the larger readers, big
publishers, media, etc.?
I also have a feeling that for
most writers, as they write more and more, they start grinding the same or
similar stuff again and again and what they write is less and less interesting
to read. I have seen this happening to writers like David Baldacci, Dan Brown, and
maybe, Chetan Bhagat too in the recent days. Whereas, in the earlier years, I
have read almost all the novels written by Earl Stanley Gardner, Arthur Hailey,
Irving Wallace, Leon Uris, Jeffrey Archer and the likes and I loved every one
of them and read them with the same interest similar to the one when I read
their first book.
Most small time writers who wish
to become popular do not have the kind of marketing skills, PR contacts, Literary
Agents, Media friends to take their writings to light. And their writings
languish forever. I think the days of writing ads a job for the sake of earning
money are gone. Today, more people write to gain attention, popularity, and
acceptance of their worldviews. There are few agencies to recognize the hard work
of such small time writers.
Will we be recognized at all in
our lifetime, I don’t know. I am a writer too.
Am I jealous?