Reading Preferences - CrimeSpace2024-03-28T21:55:54Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:69958?x=1&id=537324%3ATopic%3A69958&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI like both. It's refreshing…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-15:537324:Comment:724672007-09-15T05:12:00.075ZDADavenporthttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/DADavenport
I like both. It's refreshing for me to follow an author of a series and then have the occasional surprise of something completely different. I also think it gives the author a chance to stretch and not become trapped. Val McDermid is outstanding doing both. Carol O'Connell's Judas Child may have been better than all of her Mallory books, which are amazing themselves. Variety is the spice of life.<br />
<br />
Settings are important. I love books about Baltimore, D.C., Virginia, Denver and Tennessee, all of…
I like both. It's refreshing for me to follow an author of a series and then have the occasional surprise of something completely different. I also think it gives the author a chance to stretch and not become trapped. Val McDermid is outstanding doing both. Carol O'Connell's Judas Child may have been better than all of her Mallory books, which are amazing themselves. Variety is the spice of life.<br />
<br />
Settings are important. I love books about Baltimore, D.C., Virginia, Denver and Tennessee, all of which are places I either grew up or visited at points in my life.<br />
<br />
First or third doesn't matter. The only thing I don't like is first person, present tense. Annoys the hell out of me for some reason. 1. I prefer series.
2. I lik…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-14:537324:Comment:723522007-09-14T22:00:52.177ZCheryl Reynoldshttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Spuddie
1. I prefer series.<br />
<br />
2. I like reading books set in somewhat off-the-beaten path places myself. New York, LA, Chicago and London have been done to death; of course since a lot of people live in those places, a lot of people can "relate" to the setting more, perhaps.<br />
<br />
3. I'm not partial to one or the other. Some of my favorite books/series are done in each type.
1. I prefer series.<br />
<br />
2. I like reading books set in somewhat off-the-beaten path places myself. New York, LA, Chicago and London have been done to death; of course since a lot of people live in those places, a lot of people can "relate" to the setting more, perhaps.<br />
<br />
3. I'm not partial to one or the other. Some of my favorite books/series are done in each type. 1. I have a large number of s…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-10:537324:Comment:708762007-09-10T00:53:24.857Znorbyhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/norby871
1. I have a large number of series that I follow, but I do like quite a few authors that write standalones as well. When it comes to making a decision of one over the other, it just depends on what I've been looking forward to the most.<br />
<br />
2. Setting really doesn't matter one way or the other, as long the author makes it easy for me to understand where the characters are, and if they're moving around the directions are simple.<br />
<br />
3. I know there's a lot of debate about whether first person or third…
1. I have a large number of series that I follow, but I do like quite a few authors that write standalones as well. When it comes to making a decision of one over the other, it just depends on what I've been looking forward to the most.<br />
<br />
2. Setting really doesn't matter one way or the other, as long the author makes it easy for me to understand where the characters are, and if they're moving around the directions are simple.<br />
<br />
3. I know there's a lot of debate about whether first person or third person is better, but honestly as long as the book is well written, I'm open to either. This is always tough for the…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-08:537324:Comment:703882007-09-08T23:36:44.295ZGrant McKenziehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/McKenzie
This is always tough for the unpublished writer, too. When I wrote my first novel, I envisioned it as the beginning of a series. However, when that book didn't sell to a publisher, it was pointless to write the next book. The next few manuscripts became stand-alones with series potential, but they didn't sell either and I began to feel a bit limited by trying to give them an ending that would easily result in a sequel. My latest works have all been uncompromising stand-alones, but if one of…
This is always tough for the unpublished writer, too. When I wrote my first novel, I envisioned it as the beginning of a series. However, when that book didn't sell to a publisher, it was pointless to write the next book. The next few manuscripts became stand-alones with series potential, but they didn't sell either and I began to feel a bit limited by trying to give them an ending that would easily result in a sequel. My latest works have all been uncompromising stand-alones, but if one of them ever sells, I'm sure I can come up with a sequel idea or two if that's what the publisher wants. Right, Naomi. My first publis…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-07:537324:Comment:701372007-09-07T21:51:33.716ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Right, Naomi. My first publisher bought two books but decided after the first not to offer another contract. Actually, they wanted to wait to see if the second sold, but I pulled out rather than losing more than a year. My brilliant agent found another publisher (and anyone can tell you that that is a near miracle after one publisher has dropped a series).<br />
So you'd better be prepared to be judged on the sales of the first novel.<br />
Another thing that has changed is that publishers no longer…
Right, Naomi. My first publisher bought two books but decided after the first not to offer another contract. Actually, they wanted to wait to see if the second sold, but I pulled out rather than losing more than a year. My brilliant agent found another publisher (and anyone can tell you that that is a near miracle after one publisher has dropped a series).<br />
So you'd better be prepared to be judged on the sales of the first novel.<br />
Another thing that has changed is that publishers no longer promote series. I'm all for publishing more frequently than once a year (people forget a good read in a year), but that isn't likely to happen. And book stores do not keep books on their shelves if they don't have a rapid turnover. They send them back to the publisher (who takes this very badly).<br />
Arrgh! Don't get me started. I'm still going, but the fear is always there. And a good deal of anger at the system. I prefer a series, when readi…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-07:537324:Comment:700802007-09-07T18:28:32.583ZRoger Newburyhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/TrubbleBrewin
I prefer a series, when reading, but I have started the 2nd, 3rd and 4th sequels to Medusa's Curse, (only the 2nd has Medusa returning!!), numbers 3 & 4 are different storylines, but with the the main protagonists, and there are several from the initial story.<br />
<br />
If working on a new story idea, I tend to use UK based cities, with my main characters also moving about Europe or the US.<br />
<br />
3rd person POV for both reading and writing, although I have to say I have struggled to read books in the 1st…
I prefer a series, when reading, but I have started the 2nd, 3rd and 4th sequels to Medusa's Curse, (only the 2nd has Medusa returning!!), numbers 3 & 4 are different storylines, but with the the main protagonists, and there are several from the initial story.<br />
<br />
If working on a new story idea, I tend to use UK based cities, with my main characters also moving about Europe or the US.<br />
<br />
3rd person POV for both reading and writing, although I have to say I have struggled to read books in the 1st person... I don't know why, except perhaps I watch too much TV and films, as they're generally made so that the camera is supposed to be you looking on in on the action... (at least that's how I look at it!) I think I like the idea of do…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-07:537324:Comment:700472007-09-07T17:30:50.725Zterry bowmanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/foolesgold
I think I like the idea of doing a trilogy first. After that, I've either gained a readership or I've failed and it doesn't matter what I do next. After all, what's the difference between a tarnished detective who can't detect and a tarnished writer who can't write? We are both anti-heroes. I hope it's the laughter that's making me cry.<br />
<br />
Have a great weekend y'all!
I think I like the idea of doing a trilogy first. After that, I've either gained a readership or I've failed and it doesn't matter what I do next. After all, what's the difference between a tarnished detective who can't detect and a tarnished writer who can't write? We are both anti-heroes. I hope it's the laughter that's making me cry.<br />
<br />
Have a great weekend y'all! I agree with I.J. in that I t…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-07:537324:Comment:700302007-09-07T15:59:34.650ZNaomi Hiraharahttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/gasagasagirl
I agree with I.J. in that I think that the climate for sustaining a series has changed. It used to be that a traditional series could go and on slowly but steadily gaining a fan base. I think that the time frame for a series breaking out has dramatically shortened. (What do you think, I.J.? Three books?) With a New York publisher, you usually have to deliver a book at least once a year plus making sure you make time for promotion, which can eat away two to three months. So that doesn't leave…
I agree with I.J. in that I think that the climate for sustaining a series has changed. It used to be that a traditional series could go and on slowly but steadily gaining a fan base. I think that the time frame for a series breaking out has dramatically shortened. (What do you think, I.J.? Three books?) With a New York publisher, you usually have to deliver a book at least once a year plus making sure you make time for promotion, which can eat away two to three months. So that doesn't leave you much time to keep improving on the series (which needs to sell better than the previous one, remember?).<br />
<br />
Publishers like series because if you have a good one, you don't have to keep looking for a readership from scratch. You have a built-in audience. Each book can help promote the next one or the previous one. I'm curious about your last c…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-07:537324:Comment:700162007-09-07T14:22:58.186ZDana Kinghttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/DanaKing
I'm curious about your last comment. Everything I have heard says publishers are inetrested in "franchises," which implies a series. Your experience is obviously different. Have you had trouble selling a series?
I'm curious about your last comment. Everything I have heard says publishers are inetrested in "franchises," which implies a series. Your experience is obviously different. Have you had trouble selling a series? I prefer to read a good serie…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-07:537324:Comment:700062007-09-07T13:33:19.523ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
I prefer to read a good series because I like to get to know the protagonists. Settings matter so long as they are unfamiliar or in places I love (like London or Venice or even my childhood home town). I do not like series that celebrate a particular region in the U.S. Overall, I like police procedurals set in foreign countries -- though I do accommodate Hillerman.<br />
<br />
As a writer I have learned that investing in a series is a very dangerous proposition. Publishers do not buy into continuing. A…
I prefer to read a good series because I like to get to know the protagonists. Settings matter so long as they are unfamiliar or in places I love (like London or Venice or even my childhood home town). I do not like series that celebrate a particular region in the U.S. Overall, I like police procedurals set in foreign countries -- though I do accommodate Hillerman.<br />
<br />
As a writer I have learned that investing in a series is a very dangerous proposition. Publishers do not buy into continuing. A standalone is a much smaller risk.