Today was Beatles day. That made today’s sing along choice easy.

People who know my family’s obsession–mine, too–with the Beatles would have a question now: Why haven’t I posted this song sooner?

Well, here’s the thing… I actually don’t like this song that much.

Last time I told anyone that, they stared at me like I was crazy. Huge Beatles fan, writer, and I don’t like Paperback Writer?

Am I insane?

Well, yes, admittedly, but that’s not really why I have issues with the song.

It’s based on a novel by a man named Lear. This bothers me because you have write your own stuff. Not catering to the masses, no knockoffs of what’s already been done. Yes, it’s all been done before, but make sure that you have a unique twist, a different take on your idea. And it had better not be plagiarized in any way.

I need a job, so I want to be a paperback writer. It’s not like being a writer is something you can do without skill or that everyone should be a writer. Some people have no talent for it, and it’s not something that everyone gets. Writing takes more than putting words on a paper, and if it was all that easy, we’d all do it, right?

I can make it longer if you like the style, I can change it round. This sounds to me like this person is willing to do anything to sell their story. I’m not saying that the stories don’t need edits. What makes sense to a writer doesn’t always make sense to the reader, and I’ve learned that the hard way. Still, one of my biggest pet peeves is when the integrity of the characters is compromised for the sake of some plot point or to “keep the series going” and there are some things that should not be changed no matter what. It needs to be as it was written for the sake of the characters and the story, and there is something to be said for integrity.

If you really like it you can have the rights. Personally, I’ve seen some terrible adaptations of books when they take them to movies, and I’ve also read about some things that should never have happened to books or authors or even characters because some publishing house has the rights. I made a vow years ago not to give up any of the important rights to my story no matter how good the deal was. I want the characters and story to maintain its integrity.

Still…

I want to be a paperback writer.

Kabobbles Sing Along is just what I think when I hear songs. I sometimes see images when I hear lyrics, pictures or movies in my head. Sometimes I relate it to stories. My interpretation of the songs and lyrics are probably nothing like their original intent.