We've all seen the excitement that spreads amount the book community when an author says the words: 'I'm writing another book!' but the reaction can quickly turn sour when the author further states that it'll take place in a world they've already written about. Call me naive, but why is this a problem, and why do some authors get praise, excitement and happiness, while others get the shit hauled at them from big 'I ams' behind their computer screens?
Why are some authors penalised by 'fans' for writing more about their imagined world, following new and known characters, while others are celebrated?
Let's get real for a second and take three rather popular childrens and young adult authors: J.K. Rowling, Rick Riordan, and Cassandra Clare.
J.K. Rowling has 7 full-length novels set in the Harry Potter universe, 3 smaller companion textbooks written for Comic Relief, and a to-be-released stage script (not a novel, not a sequel, not a prequel) of a play set in the same world, following similar characters in the future, not written by her.
Total number of books: 10 books
Rick Riordan currently has 4 mythology series: Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus, Kane Chronicles and Magnus Bane, a new to-be-release series Trials of Apollo, a small crossover series Demigods and Magicians, and at least 5 further additional companion books.
Total number of books: 20
Cassandra Clare currently has 2 complete series in the world: The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices, a recently started series: The Dark Artifices, two short story series: The Bane Chronicles and Tales From the Shadowhunter Academy in the form of bind-ups, and one short companion book.
Total number of books: 13
Here's the clincher.. Out of those, why does Cassandra Clare get so much shit, when others get party poppers?
Authors write books because they enjoy doing it. It's not a job that pays well, unless you get movie rights sold or worldwide success, and even then, it's tough. If you found something you were good at, and people paid you for it, you'd keep doing it, and if people really enjoyed what you did, and you had more you could give them, you're going to do it, right? You're going to keep doing what you're good at, that thing that is special and unique to you, especially if people are going to keep enjoying it.
It's time to stop beating the shit out of authors who are just doing their job, and doing it well.
There is no limit on imagination. There is nothing to stop you writing what you know. I know a fair amount on Picmonkey and Google Analytics, and I know people want more posts on them, so I'm going to keep sharing what I know, diving deeper and further into these programs to provide content my 'fans', my 'followers', my 'readers' want. Being an author isn't so different, there's just more spotlights, more room for error, more people to call you out on doing what you're good at, what you're paid to do.
No author has to stop writing something because you don't like.
No author is better or worse for continuing to write what they know and love.
No author should be penalised for doing what they're great at. No author. Not one.
I don't follow a lot of series but one of my favorite authors, Gail Carriger, has written three series with the same world setting and I absolutely love that she's done this! It adds another layer to the newer series and also makes re-reading the original series more fun :) I didn't realize some authors got grief for this, doesn't make sense to me!
ReplyDeleteI do find that sometimes it works really well because you just learn more about the world and the little layers like you say. It's like an onion. Some really do, and it sucks. Thanks for your thoughts though lovely, really helps :)
DeleteTo just add my little POV I would say that the first two were better writers. But really 13 is not all that many, I think it is only when you get to the series of books that go on for ever like with over 20 books in one series that they just get so repetitive, and probably the quality was not that good in the first place, but saying that there are always exceptions. But I do like it when writers have a few different series set in the same world, and when they take care that their stories are not to similar to other stories that they wrote.
ReplyDelete13 definitely isn't as many as some authors have written, and Rowling was just used as an example, but I do totally see your perspective. The quality of the writing of course plays a part in peoples opinions and the selling of the books. I think that's the most important part though, making sure the series aren't too similar. That's the big thing. Thanks Clare! :)
DeleteWhen I saw title for this post, I thought it would be about authors who write 3-4 or more books per year. Because when it comes to "big authors" who write big series though out the year and decades, there is nothing to complain about. But from my experience, I noticed lack of quality when it comes to authors who write more than one or two books a year. To be honest, I will rather wait a year and have one great book by author than read 3 or 4 weak mediocre books by the same author. I stopped reading many authors because of this "phenomenon"
ReplyDeleteOh, I never thought of THAT subject Lucia, it''s a good one to consider. I have to say, I do like your perspective - I find that too. Stick to one series and one book and make it fabulous! Otherwise, they can mix into one another and that makes for confusing stories. Thanks Lucia! :)
DeleteI totally agree! I'm such a huge fan of Cassandra Clare's works, and I absolutely hate how she's shamed for writing more books, when you've got other authors who write as many, if not more, books set in the same universe! Now I'm not saying we should go hate these authors as well, but it's so frustrating to see some authors get singled out for doing what they love and giving the fans what they deserve.
ReplyDeleteI love how inspired and original this post is - thank you for pointing this out!!
There's definitely room for everyone's opinions, and for people who've had enough, it's okay to say so and explain, but the hate, to cause pain and spread hatred around to other people is just plain cruel, and shouldn't be okay. It's definitely a post I was afraid to publish over the varying opinions, but I'm glad it's been accepted well, so thank you Geraldine :)
DeleteI think it comes down to one thing: are they dragging out a specific plot line or not? Like, did they promise you'd get an end to the story at Book 3 but then wrote it out to 5 books instead? I think this is where a lot of readers draw the line. As an author, I try to deliver on what I promise. I promised a 4-book series that would end at the end of the 4th book. That's what I delivered. If I want to continue writing in this world, I will start a whole new plot because it's not fair to readers to drag the story out in an effort to just sell more books. I'm totally not familiar with Clare's or Riordan's work so I can't say that's what they did (though it looks like Riordan has written several plot lines as several different series in the same world, which is what I would do). Anyway, that's my view on this! :)
ReplyDeleteI definitely see the perspective on that, and if it's been said that the series would end after a point, it should end, totally end completely, so that's definitely in agreement. Plots definitely have to differ I find, or it's recycled, and we see that a lot on completely different series by new authors using the same tropes, and it sucks. If the plot are different, no matter the world, it shouldn't be a problem I find. Thanks for sharing hunny! :)
DeleteI think it's 100% about the quality. A lot of the authors you mentioned do a fantastic job of creating different, unique plots, or advance the overarching plot.
ReplyDeleteBut others go on to write 20 companion novels in the same universe. Particularly with new adult.
Book #1 is awesome, introduces a character, that character falls in love, has some difficulty to overcome, but then all is well.
Then the author writes 10 more books focused on that first character's friends. They all follow the EXACT SAME pattern. Fall in love, some drama gets introduced into the relationship, then they overcome it.
Then you end up with 10 characters who are all friends and have ridiculously hot boyfriends/husbands and they all went on the same journey to get there. It's literally repeating book #1 with different names.
I think THAT'S the problem.
Of course authors can do that if they want. There's nothing stopping them. But as much as authors are allowed to keep writing, readers are allowed to not like the books because they feel repetitive.
Oh yes, I recall your post on that Ashley, or was it a review? Either way, I do definitely agree, if it's recycled, and reused every single time, what's the point in doing it again other than the keep getting the income. It's a shame. You make a good point in that last part - we definitely don't have to like it just because they do it, just leave them to do it :)
DeleteThis is so, so true! I've seen people bash authors mindlessly on Goodreads because of writing more books or a lengthy series. Seriously, I don't understand how they feel entitled to bash someone, do those people have no feelings at all?! I actually love it when there are different books with the same setting but well that's not the point. People should seriously stop discouraging authors of something they love to do, but it's really shameful that still some people continue to do so.
ReplyDelete- Poulami @ Daydreaming Books
It's definitely a case of, if you don't like it, then leave it alone, you know? You can share your opinion for sure, that's a right, but you don't get to, and shouldn't, out of respect, bash your hate someone for doing something you don't like. There's a line, you know? Thanks Poulami! :)
DeleteI 100% AGREE. I wrote a post aaaages ago about why do we get mad at authors for doing this (although I was asking too, why we say "oh they're just doing it for the money"...because...hello??? Why is that bad??? Writing is a career and it's ridiculous to expect writers need to be poor and starving to be acceptable). SO YOUR DISCUSSION JUST BASICALLY YES. I think people pick on Cassandra Clare so much because she started off in fanfic. Which is ridiculous because Marissa Meyer did too. And for goodness sakes no one gets onto her about it. *growls*
ReplyDeleteI think if a person doesn't want to read more books by an author then they should just NOT read them! And not spoil it for the rest of we fans!
(Plus it baffles me that a contemporary author can write 93839 books in the modern/our-world and no one cares about that?!)
I recall that post, it was a GREAT post Cait. I didn't even know that most of them started in fanfic, but it's a great place to start, you know? I do have to agree though, the contemporary companion things are getting a bit silly, and no-one says anything about that, but for some reason, the bigger the author, the more likely the hate.. *cries*
DeleteSO GLAD YOU LIKED IT. Thank you! :)
You know, I wonder that same thing! I'll be honest- I am sooo over Shadowhunters. BUT. That doesn't mean that everyone is! Why on earth can't Cassandra Clare write about whatever she pleases? Obviously people are still reading her books. That's like telling a doctor who has perfected his or her technique in heart surgery to "move on to other organs". NO! She can write 127 books about Shadowhunters if she's so inclined. And if people buy them, good for her! She is trying to make a living too. I don't understand. Yeah, I will admit that I cannot imagine what she could have to say about them since I was bored by the end of TMI, but again- that's just MY preference. I hope she does well, I would never want someone to NOT be able to write what they wanted, or to be successful at it. I say good for her- and the rest of the authors you mentioned too!
ReplyDeleteOh, I like that Shannon. I shall have to keep that phrase for things: 'That's like telling a doctor who has perfected his or her technique in heart surgery to "move on to other organs".' I like it very much! I feel the same though, I might pick them back up, because I used to like them, but that doesn't mean she can't write as many as she likes, if her FANS like it, then it's all good, you know? :)
DeleteI don't mind when authors write different series in the same world. Kim Harrison who writes supernatural novels did it so well that I devoured her Women of the Other World series...=)
ReplyDeleteMelanie | Blog: Toots + Dill
It has to be done so right, doesn't it Mel? Thank you for sharing your thoughts :)
DeleteGreat post and such a good point! I agree that authors should be treated the same re: writing lots of books in the same world/series. I'm not 100% about all of the hate surrounding CC and her new series but I don't think people should assume and/or bash her just because her new series is in the same world as other, popular series.
ReplyDeleteThanks Eva! There's definitely a case of people taking liberties and thinking it's okay to bully an author for making a living doing something she's good at, you know? Kind of a shame that people do that..
DeleteGreat point! I never really thought about it before. Most of us who love Harry Potter would do just about anything for more books - about ANY characters or parts of the world. I have noticed lots of hate for Clare for expanding on her universe. I think a lot of fans get excited about it still, though. I'm not sure what to think. Many of the commenters are saying it has something to do with quality, which I agree with. At some point the author will hit the same tropes and plotlines for the characters and it feels pointless.
ReplyDeleteQuality definitely has a part to play, and hitting the same tropes and the same plot lines is always a problem, but it happens just in the genre, and it's a shame even then too. It's a tough balance between being honest and insulting, but people plain cruel and hating on someone for it, definitely sucks. Thanks Lauren! :)
DeleteTHIS. POST. I definitely agree 100%! I see no reason why an author has to hold back on writing books they want to write, especially if it keeps getting better and better. I don't really mind if Rick Riordan writes another mythology book, or if Cassandra Clare writes a ton of other Shadowhunters books, or if JK Rowling writes another companion novel or something. What matters is if it's going to be good, and the fact that they've been written in a setting that's the same as the author's other books don't really matter to me at all.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one with the same opinion. Really great post, Amanda!