Not an Oprah’s Book Club selection.

It’s been tough, but you’ve managed to earn the highly exclusive “not an Oprah’s Book Club selection” merit badge.

That’s right, you’ve achieved something even the likes of McCarthy, Steinbeck, and Tolstoy were unable to.

Do be careful, though. There are still fifteen months between now and the end of The Oprah Winfrey Show. If you slip up and land your novel in front of the book-buying kajillions before then, you’ll have to hand in your badge. And we both know that would break your heart.

This is part of the merit badges for writers series, and may be posted on your site or blog. Have you earned this badge? Will you never earn it? Tell us why in the comments. (No whining, Franzen. Rules are rules.)