Harlan Coben says he has 'imposter syndrome' on Desert Island Discs
Author Harlan Coben told BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs that only bad writers think they are good. His book The Woods is due as a Netflix adaptation next year.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Author Harlan Coben, 64, said on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs that he feels "imposter syndrome" about his work. Evening StandardN “Writer Harlan Coben has admitted he feels an “imposter syndrome” around his work” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “The author Harlan Coben has admitted to experiencing "imposter syndrome"” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2Speaking to presenter Lauren Laverne, he said: "I actually think only bad writers think they're good." Evening StandardN ““I actually think only bad writers think they’re good.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “Speaking to Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2He described a paradox: he is always thinking "I suck, I'm terrible, I hate this", yet has the "hubris" to believe readers should spend £20 and five or six hours on his book, and he said the two feelings are not a contradiction "inside of a writer". Evening StandardN “I have the hubris to think ‘you’re going to spend 20 pounds, and you’re going to spend five or six hours reading it” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “And those seem to be a complete contradiction, but they’re not inside of a writer.” Read at The Independent ↗
Mixed · 2Coben said he calls his books "the novel of immersion rather than crime or thriller", wanting readers to start reading at 11pm intending ten minutes and look up at four in the morning. Evening StandardN “the novel of immersion rather than crime or thriller” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “the next thing you know, it’s four in the morning, and you’ve been reading.” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2His novels The Stranger, Fool Me Once and Safe have been adapted for the screen by Netflix, and his Myron Bolitar books are a long-running series. Evening StandardN “novels such as The Stranger, Fool Me Once and Safe adapted for the screen by Netflix” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “popular book series including Myron Bolitar” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2His chosen records included Bruce Springsteen's Thunder Road, Ain't Nobody by Rufus and Chaka Khan, and Teddy Swims' The Door. Evening StandardN “Bruce Springsteen’s Thunder Road, Ain’t Nobody by Rufus And Chaka Khan and Teddy Swims’ The Door” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “Bruce Springsteen’s Thunder Road, Ain’t Nobody by Rufus And Chaka Khan, and Teddy Swims’ The Door” Read at The Independent ↗
Mixed · 2The Woods is set to be Netflix's next Coben adaptation, released next year and starring former Coronation Street actor Michelle Keegan; the full interview is on BBC iPlayer. Evening StandardN “The Woods is set to be the latest of his books to be adapted by Netflix when it is released next year, starring former Coronation Street actress Michelle Keegan.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “The broadcast can be heard in full on BBC iPlayer.” Read at The Independent ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Light entertainment piece led by Coben's imposter syndrome remark, with the Netflix adaptation of The Woods as the hook.
- Emphasis
- The claim that self-belief is found only in poor writers; the upcoming Netflix adaptation.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Nothing substantive beyond the Standard's account.
- Charged language
- “suggested self-belief is a quality found exclusively in poor writers”
- For example
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“suggested self-belief is a quality found exclusively in poor writers” — The Independent
“Coben’s book The Woods will be the latest to be adapted by Netflix next year” — The Independent
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Showbiz item built around Coben's quotes from Desert Island Discs, with the Netflix adaptation mentioned at the end.
- Emphasis
- Coben's quotes on imposter syndrome and his 'novel of immersion' description.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Little context on the plot or cast of The Woods beyond Michelle Keegan.
- Charged language
- “hubris”
- For example
-
“said he thought only bad writers believed in themselves” — Evening Standard
“Coben’s The Woods is set to be the latest of his books to be adapted by Netflix” — Evening Standard
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Coben, 64, spoke to Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.
- He said only bad writers think they are good and that he has imposter syndrome.
- The Woods will be adapted by Netflix next year, starring Michelle Keegan.
Harlan Coben person
Says he doubts his work while believing readers should spend time on it, and calls his books novels of immersion.
“We all have a little bit of that imposter syndrome” — Evening Standard
“I want my novel to be the one you take to bed tonight” — The Independent
Netflix organisation
Netflix is named as adapting Coben's books, with The Woods the next release next year; no statement from Netflix is reported.
“adapted for the screen by Netflix” — Evening Standard
“The Woods will be the latest to be adapted by Netflix next year” — The Independent
Left1 article
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Harlan Coben on imposter syndrome and why only bad writers think they are good
Neutral Near-identical quote-led report, with a headline and lede foregrounding the Netflix adaptation and 'bad writers' line.
Centre1 article
-
Writer Harlan Coben says he has ‘imposter syndrome’ about his work
Neutral Quote-led report on Coben's Desert Island Discs remarks, ending on The Woods.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 25 Oct 12:26 First Evening StandardN Writer Harlan Coben says he has ‘imposter syndrome’ about his work
- 25 Oct 13:53 +1h 28m The IndependentLC Harlan Coben on imposter syndrome and why only bad writers think they are good
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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