Salman Rushdie: ‘Write for readers, not for critics’ | Big Think | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The author discusses his evolving perspective on readers and the importance of making complex ideas accessible through comedy, while also acknowledging that criticism is inevitable and anonymous online forums can enable both creative expression and toxic behavior.

Key Insights

• ✍️ Writing a book and considering reader reception simultaneously is incredibly challenging, so the author chooses to focus solely on his writing process.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Understanding how people read and what engages them has become a more significant aspect of the author's writing approach as he has grown older.
• 💄 Comedy is an effective tool for making complex ideas accessible to readers and increasing their engagement.
• 😄 Critics and negative feedback do not deter the author, as he recognizes that not everyone will appreciate his work and a clear artistic direction is more important than pleasing everyone.
• ☺️ The author has developed a relaxed attitude towards critical response, having written multiple books and knowing that some criticism will inevitably come his way.
• 😑 Anonymity online can have both positive and negative implications, allowing for creative expression but also enabling rude behavior, which can contribute to troll culture.
• 🥺 The author reminisces about a time when literary magazines published anonymous reviews, as attaching a critic's name led to more courteous reviews.

Transcript

You can’t really afford to think about criticism when you’re writing a book. It’s actually just too hard to write the book, to try to also second guess how people will respond to it. But I think I have quite a good sense of readers. And I think as I’ve gotten older I’ve become more and more interested in exactly how people read and what is likely t... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the author view criticism while writing a book?

The author finds it impossible to think about criticism while writing as it adds unnecessary pressure. He knows that not everyone will like his work, and this realization has made him more focused on writing for himself rather than worrying about negative responses.

Q: How does the author view the importance of readers in his writing process?

While the author used to focus solely on his own perspective when writing, over time, he has become more interested in the phenomenon of reading and what engages readers. He acknowledges that comedy is a valuable tool to make difficult concepts accessible to readers.

Q: How does the author handle negative criticisms or reviews?

The author firmly believes that not everyone will enjoy his work, regardless of its quality. He does not bother with critical response and chooses to focus on his own direction. If readers don't enjoy the journey, he accepts it and moves on.

Q: What is the author's opinion on anonymous online platforms?

The author sees both positive and negative aspects of anonymity online. It allows for creative expression and liberation, but it also enables rude behavior and trolling. He expresses concern about the creation of a generation of very rude people hiding behind screen names.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The author emphasizes the difficulty of writing a book while trying to anticipate reader responses, but has become more interested in how people read and what engages them.

• Comedy is seen as a tool to make complex ideas relatable and accessible to readers.

• Critics and negative feedback do not deter the author, as he believes that not everyone will like his work and that a clear direction is more important than seeking approval.