It is most profitable to be a writer in Montenegro. The more you publish, the less people read you. Money pours in from all sides, from parties, organizations, ministries and businessmen, whoever comes along. Writers without readers, that category is patented. It would be good to protect this profession before we enter the EU.
That's why there are more "writers' associations" than individual members of those associations have sold copies of books. Some of them have more published books than readers. As if there is an audience of millions who can't wait for their next work, they show off and publish without stopping. Probably to justify their title and privileges.
They don't have an opinion on everything, they have a book on everything. About Yugoslavia, Duklja, nationalism, about Montenegro, Balšići, To the Vojislavljevićs, To the Petrovic family, and everything they write is primarily about themselves, and unfortunately, that is neither interesting nor of high quality.
And everyone is guilty of something. They get money from the state for the cultural upliftment of the people, because no one is allowed to deny their talent because they will write that it is persecution on ideological grounds. Too often, that book is printed and distributed only to friends and relatives, and most of the circulation ends up on some terrace covered with a tarpaulin until the pages turn yellow from humidity or sun. But the title of “famous writer, member of the association of so-and-so” continues to ring whenever he has something to say. So, writers in our country are famous not because they are read, but because they shout loudly that they are writers. They are guest writers, they are constantly on morning programs and “consider” something, but in fact they are just annoying. Caravan.
Sometimes they are sent to foreign festivals to show off their talent there. They are always photographed on stage, and you never see the audience, because there is none. It is all posted on social media, and it seems to you that "the whole world is reading this," but they don't even read it at home. It's all a pose, an imitation of literature, books without content. Empty.
It must be admitted that in all this, men are at the forefront. They appear and play mediators, they strive to be on the defense of the homeland (this or that) all in order to create a role for themselves. So they are more actors than writers. Their works serve only as an alibi for political engagement and appanage. They will never admit that they sold between 3 and 7 copies of their book, but will say that they were deliberately sidelined, that they are hiding them because of ideology and not allowing the public to hear about their capital work. As if a good book can be hidden from the public at all. The desire to read exists, but there are no writers, they have become agitators, just enough and just boring.
But in two large cities of the former Yugoslavia, Belgrade and Zagreb, I saw books by two writers from Montenegro in the window of bookstores. Jasenka Lalović i Olja Knezevic They write books, and imagine, people read them! And they are read by people who are not even friends with them, and are not even relatives. What a miracle.
After promotions, they sign books for a long time, and most of those waiting in line for a book signing are asked for their names so they can write a dedication, because they really don't know all their readers by name, like some do. They are not pushed around by the state, ministries, and parties. Writers without readers will certainly try to deny the importance of their books, envious that they are selling and that people are reading them. But people love what they write, so isn't that nice and normal? Some books do have readers.
That's why journalists would do well to be careful about how they label writers. Because very often, "famous writer" also means "noisy" or "bookworm." These are writers of unsold and unread books, forced to build their careers in alternative ways. "Writer without readers" sounds harsh, but it's true.
Bonus video:
