Peeve:

[azurelunatic]

I am irritated with those people who get irritated with authors for taking a long time about the Next Book in a series, or the Next Installment of a fanfic. Encouragement ("Loved last, can't wait for next, Write, Lois, Write!") is all fine and dandy and cool, but when a fan gets mad at an author for taking a long time at a book, that's where I get mad at the fan.

I'd rather have good-quality writing done in the author's own sweet time than poor-quality writing churned out like clockwork. (Surely most of you know one or two authors who started out excellent, but have since dropped in quality?)


On the other hand, I adore authors who do things like this: Due to the tight-knit nature of the List, when one of the listees/wife of one of the listees had a terminal illness and was not expected to survive until the release of the next book, Lois made sure that there was a copy of the (not sure which stage of writing but not completely finished with all the publishing process) work-in-progress for the woman to read. So she did get to read the book before she died.

Comments

[sithjawa.livejournal.com]

Wait, people actually get mad like that *seriously*?

I mean, I know people go "damn it, what's taking [author] so long?!" but I always figure it not being serious-mad...

[azurelunatic]

Some people do not see the distinctions between different types of writers. Some writers write to the same sort of schedule and professional standards you would hold house-painters to. Other writers write for the love of the words, rather than the money. It's my prejudice that the writers for love are the better writers. Some people hold all writers to the house-painter standard, and feel that they are betrayed for having invested their time, attention, and money in a serial that is unfinished.

Worse, evidently, is when fanfic writers get badgered the same way. Riley, writer of PtQ, had a lengthy rant on the topic.

Re:

[sithjawa.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, they aren't even getting paid...

[azurelunatic]

Nor can they be, which is one reason I've been subconsciously avoiding the fanfic scene. I don't feel very comfortable writing characters I don't 0wn: not for legal reasons so much as I just can't get into their frippin' skulls! And besides, I want to be able to sell these, and it's best that I don't 0wn too many of characters that aren't mine, lest they wind up in my own work.

[amberfox.livejournal.com]

I'd rather have good-quality writing done in the author's own sweet time than poor-quality writing churned out like clockwork. (Surely most of you know one or two authors who started out excellent, but have since dropped in quality?)

I have two words for you: Mercedes Lackey. *ducks and hides*

[azurelunatic]

Heh, she and Anne McCaffrey are the canon examples onlist. I will investigate Acorna from the safe vantage point of the library, or in gifts, but am not thrilled enough to buy for myself.