Way back in 1686 Newton, the English physicist and mathematician, stated in his third law that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
How does that apply to the everlasting conundrum of which came first; an attempt to preserve a thought or action in an enduring shareable form or a thirst to find out what someone else had recorded?
Well, for every writer there is surely an equal and opposite reader. It seems likely that every writer has at least one person who likes what they write (even if it’s only their Mum) and at least one who hates it. If a writer is very lucky the likers will outnumber the haters but this can’t be counted on.
So how should a writer set out to find the equal readers? Should they try to analyse what it is about what they have written that people like? Should they try to emulate other, more successful writers? Or should they continue to write what they like writing?
Equally, how should readers set out to find books they will like to read? Should they go for the same genres or writers that they have previously enjoyed or try something new or as recommended by friends?
The answer is most likely the same - there is no answer. Writers will always write and readers will always read and mood, situation and idiosyncratic aspects specific to the individuals will always come into play. There go the laws of physics!
How does that apply to the everlasting conundrum of which came first; an attempt to preserve a thought or action in an enduring shareable form or a thirst to find out what someone else had recorded?
Well, for every writer there is surely an equal and opposite reader. It seems likely that every writer has at least one person who likes what they write (even if it’s only their Mum) and at least one who hates it. If a writer is very lucky the likers will outnumber the haters but this can’t be counted on.
So how should a writer set out to find the equal readers? Should they try to analyse what it is about what they have written that people like? Should they try to emulate other, more successful writers? Or should they continue to write what they like writing?
Equally, how should readers set out to find books they will like to read? Should they go for the same genres or writers that they have previously enjoyed or try something new or as recommended by friends?
The answer is most likely the same - there is no answer. Writers will always write and readers will always read and mood, situation and idiosyncratic aspects specific to the individuals will always come into play. There go the laws of physics!
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