In Which I say "Heck Yes, I Want To Write the Next Twilight"

I was reading a clever blog post the other day that listed the funny/irritating/inspiring things people say when you tell them you're a writer (I can't, for the life of me, find the link) and one of them was that people always ask: "Oh, you're a writer, so you want to be the next Stephanie Meyers?"

It goes without saying that I read a lot of blogs. And this is not the first time I've read something like that. I'd say, I've read that in a blog post over a dozen times. I've experienced it in my own life. "I'm working on a young adult novel," I say. "Oh, like Twilight?" They ask.

It should come as no surprise that people ask this, given the success of the series. But what I'm more interested in is the reaction. After people relay this encounter of being asked whether they want to be the next Stephanie Meyers or write the next Twilight, they're usually offended or annoyed.

Am I the only one who isn't?

I've only read the first of the Twilight books. I had a good time with it, truly enjoyed the read-- I just didn't care to move on to the rest of the books. They are what they are. I didn't go into the read thinking I was going to find the next "To Kill A Mockingbird" for goodness sakes. The critics have spoken, the masses have spoken, so I don't have anything to add to the conversation and I don't have any strong feelings about the books. In my mind, the craze is over, or maybe I was just never a part of the craze to begin with.

But, this visceral reaction to being asked if you're going to write the next Twilight, all angsty, angry, and roll-your-eyes-y, I don't understand it.

When someone asks me if I'm going to write the next Twilight, I cross my fingers and say: "GOD I HOPE SO!"

I mean...seriously! Why the hate people?