Fame or fortune, which would you prefer?
by Suzanne Anderson
Both, of course!
This question reminds me of the old: ‘what would you wish for, if you had three wishes?’ Well, I’d wish for three more wishes.
Fame and fortune for a writer are both good things, I’d argue.
Fame means the fulfillment of every writer’s greatest desire, to not only see their work in print, but to know that many readers are not only reading the story, but by inference of its popularity, enjoying it and recommending it to others. (I’m assuming you’ve attained fame via your book’s popularity, not through other, perhaps less savory means.)
Knowing what great pleasure reading a really good book brings me, and wishing to achieve the same in my own writing has been one of my great motivators. Writing a book that gains popularity and is enjoyed by readers would be a wonderful indication that I’ve achieved my goal. And of course, that is the caveat of the quest for fame. One would want to achieve it as evidence of a book’s positive impact on the reader.
The flip side, becoming infamous for something I’ve written such as James Frey’s evisceration after the revealing of A Million Little Pieces, is a much less appealing way to enjoy fame. Although one could argue that Mr. Frey’s fortune from the same book went miles to assuage his discomfort.
Which brings us to fortune.
Wild riches, perhaps on par with J.K. Rowling, or on a lesser scale, with a New York Times best-selling thriller writer, might bring a lot of time-consuming duties that would cut into one’s writing time. After all, someone has to be found to manage all that money. But, the greatest gift of fortune, or let’s call it ‘financial independence’ is: freedom.
Financial independence allows the writer the time to write without the burden of simultaneously carrying a full-time job, while keeping the house clean, and being the primary caretaker of children or aging parents. It truly makes ‘a room of one’s own’ possible. It provides the writer with the psychological and physical space to breathe and think and dream and create new stories.
I have never wanted to be rich, but I will always strive to create enough monetary wealth to provide freedom. As for fame…only if it comes from readers who love my books. As an avid reader myself, that would be the nicest gift of all.
When you feel as if you’ve been abandoned in God’s Waiting Room, this 31-day devotional will provide comfort. Each day features Bible verses for meditation and a short essay for your personal reflection and prayer.
If you’ve ever cried out in desperation, “Help me, Jesus!” You will find comfort in this 31-day devotional for women as we walk together through God’s Word. By the end of our month together, you’ll find Jesus calling you into a relationship that will be a lifelong source of comfort and strength.
Waiting is often when God draws us closest to Him, to receive the gift of His companionship. Instead of waiting on God to fix your life, you’ll find that you are working with God to create the life He’s planned for you all along.
God is with you. God loves you. God will never abandon you.
Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink,
He will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with
your own eyes. Your own ears will hear him.
Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,”
whether to the right or to the left. ~ Isaiah 30:20 -22
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Genre - Inspirational Devotional
Rating – G
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