For a guy who writes mediocre poetry and has read one volume of Proust, I’ve always been pretty okay with capitalism. But the Fifty Shades of Grey Inner Goddess Journal (list price $16.99) is making me change my mind.
Before I saw the ad for this excellent product in The New York Times Book Review this morning, I regarded capitalism as not necessarily a good system, but the system which in practice has created the most wealth for the largest number of people so far.
Its dynamic of winners and losers was necessary to reward hard work, innovation, and risk-taking as well as to discourage free-riders (although I’m no free marketeer and I think the United States’ level of social protections is inadequate to ensure we get the most from all our people, not just those of privilege).
Capitalism certainly generates a large number of crappy products, but I’ve never been able to side with the critics who makes this point because (1) their definition of “crappy product” is “crap I don’t buy” and (2) they tend to talk as if they are the only ones who see through capitalism, while everyone else is its slave-drone-fool or an active participant in its malevolence.
But you know what. I was wrong.
It’s not just the breathtakingly cynical whoring after profit the Inner Goddess Journal represents that’s changed my mind because, honestly, you see whoring after profit going on all the time all over the place.
It’s that the Inner Goddess Journal includes “tips for writers” and plenty of blank pages for “aspiring writers” to “express their own Inner Goddess” according to the product description.
E.L. James offering tips for writers is like Genghis Khan handing out advice on how to live in peace with your neighbors.
Okay James wrote the books, and people liked them, and she made money, and everyone was happy. Fine. I’m okay with that. I read the first one. I thought it was hilariously awful. I moved on. It’s a free country. I’ll read the books I like. You read the books you like. God bless American. Amen.
But this. James wants to metastasize herself and Vintage Books is her enabler. Ladies, gentlemen, please. Write all the erotica you want. But don’t follow her advice. Because if you do, I’m going to have to move to a commune or see if the Pennsylvania Amish will take me in. And my wife won’t be very happy about that. I think.
Peter Galen Massey 
Actually, Peter, I am so impressed by that capitalism thing every time I start a new series I am seriously tempted to grey up my words. That I am still able to escape the urge is proof enough that a part of my soul is still alight with literature.
Now, I am not even a fly in the Amazonian jungle that ELJ’s world is, but still.
I loved that Genghis Khan statement!
I’m thinking about going genre, but it wouldn’t be erotica. However, I’ve always thought I had too much talent to be a bad writer, but not enough to be a good one. Always a problem.
You are being modest. I’d like to borrow those words!
Go ahead, with my blessings. Very weak copyright protection on the internet, anyhow. Unless you register material with the copyright office, in the US.
It’s worse in India, Peter. Nothing works here.
Best wishes.
In this case, it’s not capitalism that’s to blame. (Although most people don’t realize that capitalism started out as an experiment & I’m afraid it’s failed because our founding fathers envisioned small town business instead of heartless world corporations.) No, the real issue here is shallow people who are so desperate to look cool that they’d waste money on something like this, and fantasists who think writing is easy so they dream of becoming the next best selling author, despite a lack of talent and ignorance of basic writing skills. And James sold more books because of the publicity than she did due to her ability as a writer. Everyone I know who read this book was amazed that it became a best seller, but when I watched my (not so bright) niece making a big deal about buying this book when she normally wouldn’t go near a book if you paid her to do so, I knew she bought it more to be a part of the ‘in’ crowd than anything else. Doubt she actually even read it, just displayed it. And that’s the saddest thing of all: buying a book to show off instead of for the pure love of reading.
Actually, considering how bad “50 Shades” is … it’s not a fantasy to think that anyone could become a bestselling author. Which is either a depressing or an encouraging thought, depending how you want to look at it.
Just check if there’s room for any more at that commune…
The Amish eat more meat, however.
There are always drawbacks
If there are 50 shades of grey why is the good colour Blue being used to sell this Journal? She has already ruined grey for me; SIGH.
Usually in design questions like this for the “Journal” … you want a “family” feel. You want the journal to look related to the novels, but not be confused for them. So there’s that key, simplified and stylized. The typeface is the same. The color has shifted. The “A Journal” pops out in red at the top. All sound, sensible business practice. But you are right. If they keep going, they’ll corrupt every color of the rainbow. Wonder what topic will get orange?
Now, that is a good question! Let’s keep our eyes peeled for that!