Not too sure if this has gone up somewhere else.
It has. Post #17 in this very thread.
Not too sure if this has gone up somewhere else.
I will read the first two again of Rothfuss's trilogy, before Doors of Stone comes out. I understand exactly what he's saying: things do happen in the first two books that, whilst not detracting from the story, do bear more telling/explaining. I have read them at least 3 times each, because I enjoy the hell out of them, and I'm sooooooo looking forward to book 3. And wondering exactly why it's taking so long, we ne'er get an explanation. Only been 7 years.... Stephen King left us on a deranged train for how long, before finishing the Dark Tower? I had to re-read the first four books, I'd forgotten so much.
It has. Post #17 in this very thread.
I will read the first two again of Rothfuss's trilogy, before Doors of Stone comes out. I understand exactly what he's saying: things do happen in the first two books that, whilst not detracting from the story, do bear more telling/explaining. I have read them at least 3 times each, because I enjoy the hell out of them, and I'm sooooooo looking forward to book 3. And wondering exactly why it's taking so long, we ne'er get an explanation. Only been 7 years.... Stephen King left us on a deranged train for how long, before finishing the Dark Tower? I had to re-read the first four books, I'd forgotten so much.
*eyes all the authors here*
How many of you say "I write for my fans," when they are trying to break into the scene?
A big part of the problem for many authors is having the guts to lose fans.
A few thoughts on the not-finishing: Martin is extremely wealthy, and Rothfuss, I think, has a full-time job that he seems to enjoy.
Less and less writers write to make a reasonable wage - a few make vast sums, and most make very little. I'm not sure how that works re financial incentive, but I can't see it having a good effect.
Maybe the death of the mid-list has also killed the culture of workmanlike professionalism that accompanied it, leaving only part-time amateurs and mega-successful stars.
*coughs* Jean Auel took 31 years from the publication of the 1st Earth's Children book (Clan of the Cave Bear - 1980) to publication of the 6th and final book (Land of Painted Caves - 2011) - all of which were bestsellers. *coughs*.
Publishing a book a year seems is an infamous feature of genre fiction, and arguably a weakness of it - quantity over quality. If we step outside of that and look at literary fiction, there seems to be no such demand - certainly not traditionally.
Yes. But that's an average of 5 years between each book? Both Rothfuss and GRRM have sailed past 5 years at this point and it's going on a decade now in the gap between the previous book and the book fans are awaiting.
Not to mention that before reading the first in Rothfuss' series, he mentioned in an interview that all three of the trilogy were written.
*coughs* Jean Auel took 31 years from the publication of the 1st Earth's Children book (Clan of the Cave Bear - 1980) to publication of the 6th and final book (Land of Painted Caves - 2011) - all of which were bestsellers. *coughs*.
Publishing a book a year seems is an infamous feature of genre fiction, and arguably a weakness of it - quantity over quality. If we step outside of that and look at literary fiction, there seems to be no such demand - certainly not traditionally.
I think Jordan can be forgiven for his recent lack of output...True. Since genre fiction typically relies on predictable story tropes and recurring characters, it can be turned out (and is expected to be turned out) at a higher rate than literary fiction.
Literary writers often have day jobs (like teaching at university) that pay the bills, so they don't need to publish regularly. Also, literary authors tend to agonize over every sentence and paragraph in a way that genre authors don't, and that dedication to masterly crafted prose is one of the values readers get from literary fiction.
But I guess I don't see anything special about the work of Martin or Jordan to suggest they fall into the literary writer camp rather than the genre writer. Their prose isn't masterful. They don't seem to be delving into their psyches to plumb the ineffable truths of human experience. They're writing stories about knights and wizards.
Most successful professional writers have regular routines. Schedules and word count targets. By all accounts, those two don't.
True. Since genre fiction typically relies on predictable story tropes and recurring characters, it can be turned out (and is expected to be turned out) at a higher rate than literary fiction.
Literary writers often have day jobs (like teaching at university) that pay the bills, so they don't need to publish regularly. Also, literary authors tend to agonize over every sentence and paragraph in a way that genre authors don't, and that dedication to masterly crafted prose is one of the values readers get from literary fiction.
But I guess I don't see anything special about the work of Martin or Jordan to suggest they fall into the literary writer camp rather than the genre writer. Their prose isn't masterful. They don't seem to be delving into their psyches to plumb the ineffable truths of human experience. They're writing stories about knights and wizards.
Most successful professional writers have regular routines. Schedules and word count targets. By all accounts, those two don't.
I have read the first 3 of the Earths Childrens books and then gave up but I remember the attention to historical detail was very rigorous and would to me, be a valid reason for a slower output. I think Auel wanted a high level of authenticity.