The biggest thing Rooney has besides writing talent is an outgoing personality and clearly stated political views that inform her work. Not unlike Dickens, Shaw and Wilde in the 19th century.
I’ve read two of her novels. They are well written but I’m not certain she’s a genius author. She is reworking Jane Austen’s themes for the 21st century. But I don’t know if they are timeless works of literature.
I think it’s that she writes coming of age novels for the literary fiction crowd. Instead of YA, she’s writing it for a more sophisticated audience. Plus, she’s young, beautiful, Marxist and not American. The industrial machine does choose its darlings. Not certain how or why they choose certain people but it happens. I’m also not exactly sure why Marxism is so sexy when it’s caused so much damage in its 20th century attempts. I wish there was a better alternative to unchecked capitalism. But whatever…that’s a personal opinion.
The not American part is interesting. I'm working on a piece that might speak to that but it's interesting that you mention that as a part of her popularity.
Also, a writer friend of mine thinks she’s popular because of the sex scenes she writes within the literary fiction genre. She feels that if you can write a decent sex scene it will move a book off the bookshelf.
All very interesting points, as always. I have no theory on why Rooney is so popular, as I can’t tell you why Harry Potter, Twilight, or Fifty Shades of Grey was so popular. I never followed those trends, so never read those books. I enjoyed reading Rooney, but not to the “brilliant” degree. So much more glad to learn from you.
Publishing houses with their data analytics and AI can't produce consistent new author's that will have million book sales. Publishers take the sensible portfolio approach; they gave advances to a wide selection of authors who they believe have MAY have success in order to diversify their risk, many will fail of course their business targets, but they only need one or two author outliers with modest sales to recuperate their outlays and make a decent profit
The writing:
The writing has to be compelling and unique: it has to have some new offering not done before ( that is not flogging to death a concept already written ) but not straying too far from genre boundaries -- you do not the writing to be "too out there" and weird. Also The "angle" has to have unusual and surprising connections eg turtles and ninjas - who would of thought that connection !
The author:
Charisma and "star quality" personality are not possible to predict or put into words. But you may sense it when you see it perhaps.
Author strategy:
Who knows what writing style or approach will be famous and that the public adores ?
Star quality certainly is impossible to predict or put into words, but it is also worth betting on once you do feel it (because I don't think it's something you see). But as I mentioned in a precious comment, without some of those other elements we've both mentioned, Nicholas, I don't think star quality matters.
the author may write ordinary works after initial success; having made the grade so to speak, but regardless of the quality of latter works will maintain sales because of author's "star personality"- anyone else would not be able to do this - look at recording artists, people will still buy because of the artists name more than the album quality.
This was very thought-provoking. I love the questions you ask in your posts… why does one writer blow up in the cultural lexicon versus another is such a valuable one to consider.
I agree that Ireland is a powerhouse for writing. I‘d add Donal Ryan and Claire Keegan to the list of current greats from there. I also wonder if your point about her being unafraid to tackle intense topics means she‘s bold in her storylines in a way people can feel? There always seems to be something people are longing for in books that skyrocket, whether it‘s escape, a revolution or kinky sex they can read on the train. Pair that with an attractive articulate author and people are bound to take notice, right?
Yup, all of those things. The one thing I didn't mention because I wanted this to be based on imperical evidence is the "it" factor. Some people just have it, but I don't think the "it" factor works without the other pieces I mentioned, especially timing.
The biggest thing Rooney has besides writing talent is an outgoing personality and clearly stated political views that inform her work. Not unlike Dickens, Shaw and Wilde in the 19th century.
Agreed. She is not afraid of a conversation at all.
I’ve read two of her novels. They are well written but I’m not certain she’s a genius author. She is reworking Jane Austen’s themes for the 21st century. But I don’t know if they are timeless works of literature.
I think it’s that she writes coming of age novels for the literary fiction crowd. Instead of YA, she’s writing it for a more sophisticated audience. Plus, she’s young, beautiful, Marxist and not American. The industrial machine does choose its darlings. Not certain how or why they choose certain people but it happens. I’m also not exactly sure why Marxism is so sexy when it’s caused so much damage in its 20th century attempts. I wish there was a better alternative to unchecked capitalism. But whatever…that’s a personal opinion.
The not American part is interesting. I'm working on a piece that might speak to that but it's interesting that you mention that as a part of her popularity.
Also, a writer friend of mine thinks she’s popular because of the sex scenes she writes within the literary fiction genre. She feels that if you can write a decent sex scene it will move a book off the bookshelf.
Hmmm, that's actually not a bad take. Especially with the popularity of romance right now.
All very interesting points, as always. I have no theory on why Rooney is so popular, as I can’t tell you why Harry Potter, Twilight, or Fifty Shades of Grey was so popular. I never followed those trends, so never read those books. I enjoyed reading Rooney, but not to the “brilliant” degree. So much more glad to learn from you.
I hazard my humble guess. We know the following.
From the publishing side:
Publishing houses with their data analytics and AI can't produce consistent new author's that will have million book sales. Publishers take the sensible portfolio approach; they gave advances to a wide selection of authors who they believe have MAY have success in order to diversify their risk, many will fail of course their business targets, but they only need one or two author outliers with modest sales to recuperate their outlays and make a decent profit
The writing:
The writing has to be compelling and unique: it has to have some new offering not done before ( that is not flogging to death a concept already written ) but not straying too far from genre boundaries -- you do not the writing to be "too out there" and weird. Also The "angle" has to have unusual and surprising connections eg turtles and ninjas - who would of thought that connection !
The author:
Charisma and "star quality" personality are not possible to predict or put into words. But you may sense it when you see it perhaps.
Author strategy:
Who knows what writing style or approach will be famous and that the public adores ?
Star quality certainly is impossible to predict or put into words, but it is also worth betting on once you do feel it (because I don't think it's something you see). But as I mentioned in a precious comment, without some of those other elements we've both mentioned, Nicholas, I don't think star quality matters.
the author may write ordinary works after initial success; having made the grade so to speak, but regardless of the quality of latter works will maintain sales because of author's "star personality"- anyone else would not be able to do this - look at recording artists, people will still buy because of the artists name more than the album quality.
Agreed! Once the star power kicks in, it runs its course.
This was very thought-provoking. I love the questions you ask in your posts… why does one writer blow up in the cultural lexicon versus another is such a valuable one to consider.
I agree that Ireland is a powerhouse for writing. I‘d add Donal Ryan and Claire Keegan to the list of current greats from there. I also wonder if your point about her being unafraid to tackle intense topics means she‘s bold in her storylines in a way people can feel? There always seems to be something people are longing for in books that skyrocket, whether it‘s escape, a revolution or kinky sex they can read on the train. Pair that with an attractive articulate author and people are bound to take notice, right?
Yup, all of those things. The one thing I didn't mention because I wanted this to be based on imperical evidence is the "it" factor. Some people just have it, but I don't think the "it" factor works without the other pieces I mentioned, especially timing.
Totally agree. Plus it‘s so hard to quantify it.
Thank you so much forvthis! I am so encouraged by this piece. I love to read about Writing Circles and how encouraging writers are for one another.
The only thing I have to say is that it is not Capitalism that I'd the problem. Government regulation and weak anyi-trust laws are the problem.