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Friday, January 28, 2011

Happy Writers Society: What If Writers Were Rockstars by Renee Collins

Renee Collins is one of the very first people I met on the internets, and since then she has become a very dear friend. A real life friend! Renee recently signed with Molly Jaffa of Folio Literary Management, and I am so excited for her to join me in agentland. Today we'll be introducing you to one of Renee's regular blog features—Photoshop Friday. These always make me smile, so I thought it'd be perfect for Happy Writer's Society!


What if Writers were the new Rock Stars?
by Renee Collins

I think we in the writing community are pretty supportive of our authors. We buy their books, write rave reviews on our blogs, and come up with complex, educated reasons why this author or that book is so great. But what if the rest of the world got as into these books and authors as we did?

For one thing, they definitely couldn't go out without being thronged by screaming hordes of fans. Look at poor John Green, signing autographs on his way to the grocery store.

Kids would decorate their rooms with all the latest paraphernalia of their favorite YA novels.

Instead of debating on message boards and Amazon, the masses would take their opinions to the streets.

Even celebrities would get in on the craze. Beyonce has paparazzi cameras flickering with her stylish support of the writing community.

And book readings/signings? They couldn't take place at a table in Barnes and Noble anymore.

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37 comments:

  1. Michelle D. ArgyleJanuary 28, 2011 at 10:45 AM

    Hehehe, I love this post! Renee, you are so brilliant. :)

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  2. Leah Rae MillerJanuary 28, 2011 at 10:48 AM

    I had kind of a similar thought last night. What would an American Idol for authors be like?

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  3. B.E.T.January 28, 2011 at 10:52 AM

    Ha!! That is awesome. It would be nice if authors became celebrities instead of visa versa for once. Regardless though, we'd probably have a hard time finding time to write with all those busy schedules and public appearances and and...you pretty much covered it!

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  4. Josin L. McQueinJanuary 28, 2011 at 10:54 AM

    ROFL.

    The photoshops were all great, but that last one had me laughing. With that many people, the author would have to break out the stamp pad to save her writing hand, and then the "fans" would be grumbling that she was a snotty sell-out who couldn't be bothered to sign their books by hand.

    :-P

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  5. Teralyn Rose PilgrimJanuary 28, 2011 at 10:54 AM

    I've wanted to see a writer's version of American Idol all my life!

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  6. writergal24January 28, 2011 at 11:03 AM

    That would be totally awesome! And so would an American Writer. I would sooo watch that.

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  7. Sage RavenwoodJanuary 28, 2011 at 11:13 AM

    If only...Love this post! (Hugs)Indigo

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  8. Some Screaming FangirlJanuary 28, 2011 at 11:26 AM

    Very awesome. Though it might be slightly terrifying to read an arena...just saying...

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  9. Misha GerrickJanuary 28, 2011 at 11:29 AM

    Hahaha I have the same opinion as Fangirl.

    Almost a good thing that we aren't the new rock stars.

    :-)

    Almost.

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  10. KristanJanuary 28, 2011 at 11:39 AM

    I'm not sure if that's a writer's dream come true... or nightmare! But fun Photoshop work, either way. :)

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  11. JeighJanuary 28, 2011 at 11:43 AM

    Hahaha! I love Beyonce's Neil Gaiman shirt! I need one of those.

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  12. Janet JohnsonJanuary 28, 2011 at 11:45 AM

    Ah, the world the way it should be. :)

    Fun pictures!

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  13. IliadfanJanuary 28, 2011 at 11:54 AM

    Ha ha, LOVE the kid's posters. Some of my favorite books and bands...

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  14. Red Boot PearlJanuary 28, 2011 at 11:55 AM

    I like the picketing! As long as there are good chants to go with it...

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  15. Suzie F.January 28, 2011 at 12:15 PM

    LOL! Those are great. What's funny is that some of those authors really *are* like rock stars to me. I can't think of any singer I'd like to meet ahead of J.K.Rowling or Neil Gaiman.

    @Josin - Did you know that Suzanne Collins actually had a special stamp made to "sign" Mockingjay due to a hand injury? I don't think she stamped them at a stadium though :P (

    though Rowling did have a book tour, one stop being Carnegie Hall, after Deathly Hallows was released)

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  16. IliadfanJanuary 28, 2011 at 12:54 PM

    I'm with Suzie F. I've spent my entire life squealing and babbling over brilliant books and "rock star" authors. My friends think I'm crazy. But then they read the books, which is kind of the point. :)

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  17. ReeshaJanuary 28, 2011 at 1:21 PM

    Ah, good imagination food for the last brain-dead hour of work before the weekend begins.
    Thanks for making my day.

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  18. HeidiJanuary 28, 2011 at 1:34 PM

    You mean we're NOT rockstars?? *cue shock and horror*

    Haha, this is brilliant. Thanks!

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  19. UnknownJanuary 28, 2011 at 2:19 PM

    Wait, you mean author's aren't rock stars? Shoot.

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  20. Renee CollinsJanuary 28, 2011 at 3:20 PM

    Thanks everyone! Glad you enjoyed it.

    And hey, writers really are rock stars to me. I was totally head banging as I read Hunger Games.

    And my husband and I formed a spontaneous mosh pit while reading Harry Potter.

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  21. NickJanuary 28, 2011 at 4:59 PM

    Agreeing with some other posters. Guess I missed the memo about writers not being rock stars??!

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  22. Ruth JosseJanuary 28, 2011 at 5:15 PM

    Yay for rockin' authors! Fabulous Renee:)

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  23. Family BlogJanuary 28, 2011 at 5:16 PM

    Hilarious, but no thanks.

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  24. CandiceJanuary 28, 2011 at 5:32 PM

    Renee,
    You are a rockstar! Period. And Natalie is a Ninja rockstar!

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  25. Julia Muldoon (PiscesMuse)January 28, 2011 at 5:35 PM

    I'm an introvert although I fake extravert really well when called for. One of the things that delights me to no end about writing is the idea of a reason for my introversion. Like can't socialize - must write. This would take that concept and completely turn it on its head. LOVED the idea non the less though. It completely amused me.

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  26. AnonymousJanuary 28, 2011 at 5:49 PM

    Well some of those Twilight pics. are real! If writers were rockstars we would never get time to write. Rockstars have people to do the work for them.
    Natalie... I love your blog. It's really helped me with my own writing. You're amazing. Please post more about anime you've got me hooked. -Lynna

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  27. Jennifer Morian FryeJanuary 28, 2011 at 6:53 PM

    Too fun! I think that authors are so much more interesting than rock stars generally speaking. That said, I am kind of glad they aren't treated the same. : )

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  28. AlysonJanuary 28, 2011 at 8:12 PM

    My room, and the rooms of many of my friends, look just like that. Harry Potter/John Green/Suzanne Collins/Neil Gaiman posters and paraphenalia EVERYWHERE. =D

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  29. Jennie EnglundJanuary 28, 2011 at 8:26 PM

    Art is truth, right?

    Awesome pic of John Green.

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  30. Sophia ChangJanuary 29, 2011 at 12:24 AM

    LOLOL!

    I love how that boy has a Wicked Lovely poster in his bedroom.

    Um, I kind of act like this when I interact with authors I worship, I mean feel pleasantly towards.

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  31. Anita SaxenaJanuary 29, 2011 at 12:15 PM

    Too funny. You know I'd rather meet an author over a rock star any day.

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  32. WhirlochreJanuary 29, 2011 at 10:56 PM

    I pray for the day when writers make impossibly deluded presidents and governors rather than movies stars.

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  33. alexiaJanuary 30, 2011 at 9:06 AM

    LOL! This is great!

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  34. Sara B. LarsonJanuary 30, 2011 at 7:32 PM

    Ha ha! love it! :)

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  35. William KendallJanuary 31, 2011 at 8:47 AM

    Love it! Particularly the Gaiman photoshop!

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  36. Kelly BrysonJanuary 31, 2011 at 10:55 AM

    I love it. I like to watch the auditions on American Idol- it gives me hope that most of the queries agents receive are the equivalent of off-key versions of "Don't you wish you girlfriend was hot like me" or "Bohemian Rhapsody". Thanks!

    And ps- if anybody is looking for a crit partner/beta reader, I've opened the comments in my blog for people to put their blurb on and try for a love connection;) I hope it's okay to spam you like this, Natalie. Thanks!www.bookreadress.blogspot.com

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  37. Jennifer GriffithJanuary 31, 2011 at 12:59 PM

    Pure dead brilliant post.

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