Writerly Ways

[cornerofmadness]

I do have a bit to say about writing AND reading series/serial works. I'm in the process of publishing my first chaptered Prodigal Son story and was a bit sad that it wasn't getting the looks and kudos that my non-chaptered stuff was. (It's picked up now) and I realized that one of the issues is a lot of people won't read WiPs. I can understand that but some times they never get finished and that's disappointing.

Then at the same time Chuck Wendig made an off-hand tweet that read something along the lines of 'to all of your who say you won't read a series until it's finished, here you go.' And that set off a twitter-storm of commentary, things that both authors and readers should know.

It used to never be a problem having to wait a year for the next book. And if you're like me, into mysteries and comic books, there never IS an end to the series unless the author finally gets bored or it stops selling. If we waited to 'binge-read' it would never happen.

Binge- reading, however is a problem (and it's becoming a problem with binge-watching too). While no one wants to wait forever for a book (yes, Martin half the fantasy world is waiting on you) if readers wait until the series is done, changes are it never WILL be. Publishers expect a certain amount of readership for each book. If it doesn't get it because you're waiting to binge-read, waiting for the series to finish, the series gets canceled. (I've been hearing Netflix and the like are doing the same. If people aren't binging, a show gets cut)

But on the face of it, it's an unsustainable model. Readers/viewers waiting to binge a series and publishers/producers unwilling to invest in a series unless each portion of it does well (and oddly TV producers are more willing to do it or at least buy half a series on spec, which is what Prodigal Son's situation. They're busy filming the second half as I type)

The binge-habit is likely to kill many a decent series and that's a shame.

Have some more links from Betty

Podcast
251 – What Does Genre Me

Never Burn a Bridge!

Last-Minute Holiday Book Sales Strategies

Expect the Unexpected: Creating Plot Twists

The Fun of Pantsing

Plot Generatorthis is silly fun

And from elsewhere on the web

Calming My Demons: How Writing My Novel Unexpectedly Helped My Recovery

When Your Brain is the Enemy: Life as a Writer with ADHD

Writing and Other Jobs

Nature and Writing: Water

Monsters

Desperate Times, Desperate Measures: How Innovative Use of Language Can Serve to Discover New Ways of Communicating Difficult Topics

Give Yourself Permission To Slack Off

Yearly word count- I am doing so bad this year

39086 / 75000 words. 52% done!

Comments

[aaronlisa]

I am on the fence about binge-reading & binge-watching. I realize how detrimental it can be to both media forms. That said, I try to make sure with a book series, if I am really into it, I will buy the books shortly after they are published in my preferred option (i.e. hard cover or paperback) and then I read at my own pace. Sometimes I am just not in the mood to read an epic fantasy and a lot of the serial published fiction that I read tends to fall into that genre.

When it comes to fanfiction, I tend to be wary of WIP. I will read them if the author looks like they do regularly post. It doesn't have to be every week but something consistent. I hate getting involved in a fic and then having to start from the first chapter every time the author posts a new chapter because I don't remember things. Especially for stories that have really complex plots or are very AU.

I am not going to even talk about TV because I know that the fact that I am not a huge TV watcher means I can be a disservice to a TV show's survival especially on a streaming service. Since watching TV is such a low priority for me

[cornerofmadness]

Yeah the way you're dealing with book series is just fine. I do the same. I actually don't LIKE binging for the most part. I'm easily bored even with things I love so I have to mix it up

I don't blame you with fanfic. I mean look at the last 2 years and me getting back into Buffy, that was entirely to finish 15+ year old WiPs that my jackass self never finished

I can't even stream way out here in no man's land so...

[aaronlisa]

Admittedly, if an author is really good and I am late to discovering them, then it's hard not to binge read their work. But I try not to do that as I find I burn out far too quickly on either the author or the series.

To be honest, since I am a weirdo, if a WIP is highly recommended, by an author I love, etc, I will read it even if it's been apparently abandoned.

I think streaming kind of sucks and isn't that great for TV. There's been far too many shows canceled because not enough people binge-watch it. Or issues with a network releasing it super late after airing it.

[cornerofmadness]

I hear you on the burn out. I won't do more than 2 in a series in a year. (manga aside, that's different somehow to me)

ha, well if a story is good

I'm not arguing this at all. I agree. I'm not happy with the 1001 streaming options either.

[aaronlisa]

I wonder when people will have enough and all of these streaming companies will have to realize that they either need to package things together or offer their shows (at least some of them) on other providers after a certain period of time.

[cornerofmadness]

From some of the reports I'm reading we're already there. Most homes only have 2 streaming services in spite of all those that are available

[aaronlisa]

We have two and I can't always justify the need to have Netflix & Amazon. I currently have a free 1 year trial to Apple TV but it's so confusing so I doubt I will be using it much.

[cornerofmadness]

Netflix is what I have (dvd) Amazon I can see adding if you already use prime a lot