Where’s My $500,000 Contract?

Once again, here’s another example of how age doesn’t really matter when it comes to writing novels and bestsellers. We talked about this a little while ago, in regards to Christopher Paolini and his bestselling trilogy, Eragon. You can read more about that here.

Now, there’s Kaavya Viswanathan (don’t ask me to pronounce the name), who has landed a $500,000 two-book contract, including movie rights that were just sold to DreamWorks.

Although her writing is vastly different than what I write, I still find some wonderful motivation through this brief article. Heck, I’d be happy with a nice $5,000 contract. I'm daydreaming now, so I'll let you go.

Read How 'Opal' will make teen famous

Comments

[1ConfusedWriter]

Thanks Mystery Man (or Woman). :)

I went ahead and posted an update here:

http://www.writesville.com/writesville/2006/04/can_we_have_som.html

Thanks for the comment!

Vic

Just a comment… I was skeptical at first when I first heard about this whole matter but looking at the comparisons between the two books in question, it’s pretty clear that Kaavya in some way copied some phrases, just take a look if you don’t believe me (I got the comparisons off of a link in the NYTimes website)
I mean I can’t believe she got paid $500,000 for this:

Best Friend

Bridget is my age and lives across the street. For the first twelve years of my life, these qualifications were all I needed in a best friend. But that was before Bridget’s braces came off and her boyfriend, Burke, got on, and before Hope and I met in our seventh-grade honors class.

‘’Sloppy Firsts,” page. 7

Priscilla was my age and lived two blocks away. For the first fifteen years of my life, those were the only qualifications I needed in a best friend. We had first bonded over our mutual fascination with the abacus in a playgroup for gifted kids. But that was before freshman year, when Priscilla’s glasses came off, and the first in a long string of boyfriends got on.

‘’Opal Mehta,” page 14

The Bad Boy

The other thing about Marcus is that crackheaded girls who don’t know any better think he’s sexy. I don’t see it. He’s got dusty reddish dreads that a girl could never run her hands through. His eyes are always half-shut. His lips are usually curled into a semi-smile, like he’s in on a big joke that’s being played on you but you don’t know it yet.

‘’Sloppy Firsts,” page 23

Just about every girl, from the A list HBz to the stoner hoochies, thought he was sexy. The weird thing was, I didn’t see it. He had too-long shaggy brown hair that fell into his eyes, which were always half-shut. His mouth was always curled into a half smile, like he knew about some big joke that was about to be played on you.

‘’Opal Mehta,” page 48

Personal Space

Marcus then leaned across me to open the passenger-side door. He was invading my personal space, as I had learned in Psych class, and I instinctively sank back into the seat. That just made him move in closer. I was practically one with the leather at this point, and unless I hopped into the backseat, there was nowhere else for me to go.

‘’Sloppy Firsts,” page 213

Sean stood up and stepped toward me, ostensibly to show me the book. He was definitely invading my personal space, as I had learned in a Human Evolution class last summer, and I instinctively backed up till my legs hit the chair I had been sitting in. That just made him move in closer, until the grommets in the leather embossed the backs of my knees, and he finally tilted the book toward me.

‘’Opal Mehta,” page 175

Shopping

Finally, four major department stores and 170 specialty shops later, we were done.

‘’Sloppy Firsts,” page 237

Five department stores, and 170 specialty shops later, I was sick of listening to her hum along to Alicia Keyes, and worn out from resisting her efforts to buy me a pink tube top emblazoned with a glittery Playboy bunny.

‘’Opal Mehta,” page 51

http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=512948

[Sassy Brit]

I am already an embittered, old writer, that's why I crit other peoples books! LOL

It's my job!

But I'm also VERY tense, and pity those who send books to me in my condition -
a first day of giving up smoking - kind of position, that is!

Great blog!

Sassy
My review blog And other non-smoker rants.

[1ConfusedWriter]

I couldn't tell ya. I've never even touched a Chick Lit book before - afraid something bad might happen... ;)

[Jillian]

Ugh, Ugh, double ugh! I was hoping she'd have written something SUPREMELY fresh and interesting, not just another twist on tired chick lit.

Ah, but that's just me. (I WON'T become an embittered, old writer...I WON'T become an embittered, old writer.....)