It took me fifteen years to discover I had no talent for writing, but I couldn't give it up because by that time I was too famous.
Now I have to have the biggest P.O. box in the entire post office to get all the manuscripts coming in.
How many writers in history have ever been as famous as Stephen King? He casts an awfully long shadow.
As far as fame, the everlasting fame thing. I used to think that was important for a writer... the desire to make your mark.
Being famous as a writer is like being famous in a village. It's not really any very heady fame.
After a while, you become really irritated that you're not recognised as the person who wrote 'The Full Monty.' Everyone goes on about how lovely the characters are. That's because they were written! 'What a clever title.' Yeah, that's because I made up the title!
People are interested in writing, and often there's an unjustifiable sense of people to believe my talking to them for the book is going to accord them any sort of fame. Which it won't. At the same time, they can be more circumspect if they know they're on the record.
I think there is a huge difference between writers who have very big sales, and writers who have small sales. Even writers with very high reputations, even Nobel prize winners, often sell in very low figures.
