[ChrisW]

I don't know if this has been asked before.

Who's a better author. Someone who appeals to the masses or someone who only appeals to a minority?

[LadyLuna]

Now thats a tough question to answer. I don't know how to answer it based on only that criteria. There are a lot of very excellent authors that never make the bestseller list but then again there are a lot that do. It seems like on this forum the more popular an author the more they are critized and insulted. I don't know whether thats done purposefully or whether those are just the authors that attract the most attention. I'd say it has to do with what minority the author appeals to and if it was done on purpose. Just in my own personal opinion that I am not trying to convince anyone else, I think it would be a lot easier to try to appeal to a minority than to a larger number of people. But its also true that an author could just use some kind of fad or style that is popular at the time to appeal to a larger number so it really is a hard question to answer.

[Alucard]

Depends on the point of view. From the readers point of view, of course, it would be what appeals to him/her. From the authors point of view, depends on what he/she is trying to accomplish. Some authors would probably feel more pleased with sales, other would probably feel more pleased by critical acclaim. Others could probably care less about either. Hard to say. As for the publishing companies, in their eyes it would naturally be sales. So, it's really all subjective to where your standing.

But in the end, for me, I give the most credit to those who write a good story. Popular or not.

[Bardos]

That goes down to personal taste, but some creteria I think are:

a) Real characters
b) Real world
c) Logical plot
d) Good writing.

Note: that "real" mean's that it would seem "real" to the reader, for of course it's fiction.

[estranghero]

That's an interesting question. Lemme ask you another: of those fantasy books that are considered classics, which ones appealed to the masses and which ones to a minority?

Authors at the top of my head: Tolkien, Lieber, Moorcock, Lewis, etc. I think Moorcock kinda appealed to the minority though I could be wrong. Fantasy experts out there wanna correct me?

I figure this would be a better way to categorize 'a better author', i.e. classic fantasy writers, coz the best judge of great fantasy works is time.

Of course that's entirely subjective, I know.

[saintjon]

Personally, I've read obscure authors and vastly popular ones, and I can only say what makes a good author to me. I see no correlation between appealing to the masses or a minority and how good the book actually is. Generally, if I have moments in a book where I am "moved", whether that means choked up, worked up or uplifted, I will think the book had some value. There's nothing worse than worse than reading a stale book where by the end you couldn't care less about the characters.
At the same time, what I think makes an author good may have little value to a different reader.

[JohnH]

I have to agree with saintjon. Certain mainstream, bestselling authors appeal to me. Many do not. Some of my favorites have a very small audience. One or two authors I like quite a bit seem to only have an audience of one. Asking what works for me is like asking why I don't like mushrooms. It is all subjective and internal and rather defies descriptive efforts in the long run.

[Elessar]

As most things in life, there is no easy answer to such a.. general.. question; for it all depends on the point of view, the time we live in, our culture, experience, etc.. blah, blah ..

of course, it matters wheter I like his work. And even that is hard, for one does not know an author's work if he only reads one book and does not like it.

still, though, only me liking an author does not make him better; well, not absolutely. In my eyes, of course; and my opinion shall be of most importance to myself, but denying other's opinions would be arrogant.
I like other's opinions not to argue about stuff and have confrontation, but to gather new points of view, for I think this is very important.
I'll leave it at this.


-- Elessar

[Vroomfondel]

I would venture to say that it depends which minority or mass the author is appealing to. Frankly, I think most people like authors who are original, or who appeal to them as individuals.

[Rob B]

Ideally, the best authors entertain you, give you a story you enjoy with characters you can relate to; and educate you - not in the school sense but if you can learn something new from a book while getting entertained, well..

Its more than that, but its been a long day...