April 20, 2008
Writing a best-selling novel seems pretty easy
Last semester, I taught the acclaimed novel The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom (Tuesdays with Morrie) in my ESL reading class. I didn’t like it the first time through, but having now read it several times, I think I understand why people consider it so uplifting: it really makes you believe that with a little determination and a little imagination (and I’m talking about a very little), just about anybody can write one of the most popular books of the decade.
I’ve been so inspired that I’ve decided to give it a shot myself. Over the next few months, I’m going to add one chapter per week to a serialized novel in blog form. After it’s done, I’ll submit it to Oprah’s book club and wait for the checks to roll in. Chapter one is up. So check it out and let me know what you think:
Yeah, ok. The title’s a little bit derivative. So sue me (unless you are Mitch Albom, in which case please do not sue me). But I think the titular gimmick’s still got some legs. I mean, there’s a whole aisle of greeting cards at Vons that you can mine for material.
You shouldn’t need to read the original to appreciate this parody, and I wouldn’t recommend it. In fact, you should think of this novel less as a parody of Albom’s book and more as a cheap knock-off. Sure, it may not replicate exactly the flavor and texture of the brand-name novel, but on the other hand, I’m giving my version out free on the internet whereas Hyperion charges 18 bucks for a tiny little hardcover.