What NOT to Say to Your Readers

During an interview in The Hollywood Reporter, George R. R. Martin was asked about finishing The Winds of Winter, the next book in his A Song of Ice and Fire series. Unfortunately, a quoted snippet has been taken woefully out of context by many other media outlets.

"...I'm not in the mood for that."

And ran with it they did. Esquire laments about Martin messing with his fans by not finishing the series.

I find myself a little irritated with George. As a reader, it's been fourteen years since A Dance with Dragons came out. I hate it when an author doesn't finish a series. So yes, I totally get that anger and disappointment from the fans.

On the other hand, I understand as a writer sometimes life gets in the way. It certainly did over the last six years of my life. The COVID-19 pandemic, the deaths of parents, breast cancer still being treated, the Genius Kid getting deployed and Grandpuppy moving in with us, assisting a cousin with estate planning, and the list goes on.

Not once did I not feel like writing! Even during the two-plus-year gap between A Hint of Thief and A Cup of Conflict, I was writing. Just not very fast. Frankly, I was doing good some days to get a sentence or two written before I dropped in my bed, totally exhausted. And yes, there were some days I worked on a light and fluffy story because my days were depressing enough that I couldn't work on anything deep and juicy without crying.

As a I told a reader who asked when "Coming Soon" will be for A Barrel of Vintner, I told her I always mean it when I'm working on a book, but I don't know what or when the Great God Murphy will drop another life roll on my head.

For example, GK is getting promoted to sergeant soon, and DH and I want to attend, but it's a day-long drive one-way to another state. A close relative contacted me about staying with her for a major surgery that's coming up. And I promised my cousin I'd drive her around to visit assisted living places later this summer.

That's while editing the one book that's completed and writing nine other novels before December 31st.

So I'm pleading to you Murphy, GIVE ME ONE DAMN BREAK!

As for A Song of Ice and Fire, fourteen years is an awfully long time to wait for the next book. And part of the problem I believe is George is overthinking his story. It doesn't help that the show-runners for Game of Thrones didn't stick the landing of the finale in the fans' view. So, George is probably putting so much pressure on himself to stick that landing that he ran head-first into the balance beam of his own ego.

So I do get why he's working on other projects. There's not so much pressure internally and from the fans to perform. But, George, if you're listening, maybe you need to just let the project go. Sure, you'll get some blowback, but honesty to your readers is much better than saying, "I'm not in the mood for that."

Are Recent Books Boring Or Is It Just Me?

I belong to several newsletters that advertise new books. I'm always looking for a new read. A new author to love.

But for the last few years, it's been weirdly difficult. It's common knowledge that trad publishing goes for the lowest common denominator. Rarely do they take chances on something different.

I truly believed with the advent of indie publishing and no gatekeeping, I'd find more different, engaging stories. Boy was I wrong. I'm seeing indie writers do the same thing as the trad publishers--they're following the herd.

Then both sides wonder why they're not making any money and sales are down.

First of all, we're in the weird recovery period after the COVID-19 pandemic. People expect things to go back to the normal they were pre-2020. It's not going to happen, folks. The post-apoc writers don't seem to realize that we spent the last three years living through a plague that killed millions of people. I honestly think that's why romcom is starting to make a comeback.

(Folks, that doesn't mean you should jump on the writing romcom bandwagon. Do it if you love the subgenre. Otherwise, leave it alone. We readers can tell when your heart's not it.)

Secondly, we in the U.S. are not getting any more stimulus checks. That means with the higher food prices, your average reader has less free cash for entertainment. Writers aren't competing with each other. We're competing with streaming and gaming. So unless writers figure a way to stand out, the general population isn't going to give a rat's ass.

Thirdly, the U.S. presidential election is this year. Setting aside the bullshit of the 2016 and 2020 elections, presidential election years have had notoriously slow sales over the last century because a good chunk of the population is paying more attention to politics. That's fine, and normal. Except the last two elections turned into a circus, and 2024 promises to be the same. Which means even fewer eyeballs are available to read out books.

Last, but not least, is the problem I mentioned above. A majority of writers, regardless of who their publisher is, are playing it safe. They're writing the same pablum over and over again. They use tropes as a write-by-the-numbers guide. It waters down their stories until you can't taste anything new and delightful.

So, if you're an indie writer seeking attention and discoverability, give us readers something new and different. I know I'd love to curl up with something new to read. Something so engaging Miss Bella can have a nice long nap on my lap while I read.

Readers, Writers, and Characters

Darling Husband finished A Hint of Thief last night. Of course, he found a handful of typos I missed. But more, he asked when some things will finally be resolved.

I looked at him. "You do realize I've got four more books to go?"

"Only four?" His expression was reminiscent of an abused dog.

"I told you there were thirteen books. This is Book #9"

"Yeah, but you could write some more if you wanted." More puppy dog begging eyes.

Honestly, I've asked a few readers what they like about Anthea. According to some early writing instructors, she's the proverbial unlikable protagonist. She's crabby, broken, and harsh.

DH says she tries to do the right thing. Another reader says Anthea puts on a front that everyone knows isn't the real her. But the general consensus is she comes across as a real human being, both the warts and the good stuff.

It goes to show that a writer never knows what's going to resonate with readers. Or which characters.

And I admit I'm toying with the idea of doing another series with Anthea and one with Shi Hua. I'm not ready to let go of these characters just yet.

What about you? Do you want more of these types of books?