It Begins On the Page: How Relationships Between Readers and Writers Are Made
We don’t usually understand literature as a dialogue. Typically, when publishing professionals think of readers, they think they need to entice them to buy the book so they may have hours of pleasant or enriching cultural entertainment. The author’s name
The relationship between readers and writers is often misunderstood in the publishing world. Authors' names are frequently repeated on covers, spines, and various pages, as if emphasizing their sole ownership of the work. An epigraph, usually a quote from another author, serves to establish the text's lineage and connection to its predecessors, but when it's narcissistic or unattributed, it merely highlights the writer's biography.
This overemphasis on the author's role can create an imbalance in the relationship, positioning writers as the dominant force in the interaction with readers. However, this was not always the case. Fictional texts have the power to awaken unique personal resources of imagination in both the writing and reading processes, making each reader's interpretation of the book distinctly their own.
The lines of power struggle between writer and reader are etched within the pages, and one might question whose book it truly is. As a reporter, I am intrigued by the psychology and neuroscience behind the creation of literary works, hoping to delve into this subject more deeply upon retirement. While I may not have the opportunity to conduct a comprehensive study, the editor's role involves being attentive to readers from the beginning of their relationship with an author.
This responsibility entails providing support and alleviating concerns regarding the reception and commercial success of the work. Drawing from Sigmund Freud's insightful work, "Creative Writers and Day-Dreaming," writing can be seen as a form of fantasy or daydream that mirrors the playful exploration of childhood, yet it carries profound significance.
As adults, we often lose the ability for such imaginative flights, instead resorting to daydreaming as our adult form of play. Writing and fantasy serve as a means to alleviate the guilt associated with this self-indulgent activity, fostering a strong connection between author and reader through the shared appreciation of someone else's imaginative journey.
Written by urgent.news from Literary Hub's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
