write one book that hits HARRY POTTER/TWILIGHT hard, then drop off the face of the publishing earth,

write book after book, making a long-standing career in the writing industry?

I’ve heard this question asked a ton. By my non-writing friends. By critique partners. And I think the response could depend on where in the writing industry you stand. If you’ve already hit it big and can’t seem to make another book work as well (anyone read Meyer’s The Host?), you may long for a slow and steady career. But, I could imagine someone on the other foot, coveting that #1 NYT or USA Today Bestseller slot.

I’m not sure where I stand. I look at the Twihards and Potterfreaks and think wouldn’t it be cool to have a following like that? I could only dream of writing something so profound that it comes to life and overtakes a generation. All Rowling’s money aside (and it’d take boatloads to cast that lot aside, I’m sure), I don’t know if she’ll ever be able to write anything again, for fear it’ll inevitably be measured against Harry Potter…and fail.

Could I write one book or a series of books and be done? Could I stuff the storytelling inside me? I don’t think so…

It makes me wonder where Rowling hides her scribbling notebooks. And how much they’ll be worth when they’re uncovered.

What about you? Which would you rather write? One HUGE hit or a series of steady ones? (Not that we have any control over that, of course, but it’s fun to ponder.)