Celebrity

According to today's New York Times, comedian Craig Ferguson is about to become a published author. Nothing unusual about that, considering the towering 'platform' that a gentleman with a television show can stand upon.

Publishers Weekly has already given his novel a glowing review, citing its "ebullient picaresque" quality and then there's the reverie and humor on top of all that. All in all, the work is a literary confection, and probably not the sort of thing that Ferguson's fans would expect - or probably even read.

Mr. Ferguson never returned to the classroom, but he eventually began to design a syllabus of "Great Books" for himself to read, partly to plug the gaps in his education but also to ward off loneliness, particularly during long stretches on television and movie sets.

And the quote that I cite brings up an interesting point.

Craig Ferguson never went to writing workshops, and he certainly did not earn his MFA. He learned how to write by reading, and not by reading the toss-away nonsense that is the New York Times Best Seller list. What remains to be seen is whether or not the man can, indeed, write a novel that is readable. I'm pulling for him on that one. The best way to learn how to write is to read good books, and if Craig Ferguson can earn out his advance and garner a strong sell-through, I'll be feeling quite clever and smart.

Chronicle has given Mr. Ferguson's book a first printing — 30,000 copies — that would be considered quite large for a first-time author who was not a Hollywood celebrity. But Mr. Ferguson said that far more important than the modest advance he received — probably less than he would earn for a night of stand-up comedy — was the freedom the publishing house gave him to tell his story with minimal editorial interference.

Of course, he's going to get a bigger first printing because he is a celebrity, and that counts for something to the bean counters. As for the last part of the above quote, well, I don't quite get it. I'll have to wait until I'm published to find out if the big houses actually interfere a great deal with an author's story.

Come to think of it, I doubt that I'll ever know if there's much difference between the editorial freedom of self-publishing or traditional publishing. Wouldn't try the former and don't expect to experience the latter. Anyone have any experience that could be shared?