The career novelist

13

CHAPTER

The Bottom Line-.

Storytelling

WHY TRASH SELLS
IT IS ONE OF THE ETERNAL FRUSTRATIONS OF PUBLISHING:
exquisite stylists languish on the shelves while popular novelists
like Harold Robbins, Sidney Sheldon, Jackie Collins, and Robert
James Waller (The Bridges of Madison County) skyrocket to the top of
the best-seller lists.
Why?
Before answering that question, let me clarify that I am not sug-
gesting you write so-called "trash." I firmly believe that every novel-
ist should follow his or her own destiny; nevertheless, it is undeni-
able and puzzling that trash sells. I believe that there is a reason,
and in exploring it I think we all might learn a thing or two.
First, a statement of fact: trash does not sell because it is well
written. It may be smoothly written, even deft at times, but wonder-
ful word craft, haunting description, and deep and complex charac-
terization are not among the attributes of trash. So why do people
bother with it? An important point to accept is that people do both-
er with it. Millions of them do. Clearly it is getting through to them
on some level. It must. If it did not, it would not sell. So, here is my
main thesis: Wfcat most people want from a novel is not fine writing but a good
story.
Many authors, I am sure, will disagree with my use of the word
good. What is good about the plot of Sidney Sheldon's The Other Side of