It’s funny how my perspective changed on book series when I started writing two different ones. As a reader, I was very impatient to see the next book in a series be released. Really, I was about as bad as my son with the Harry Potter books. When was the next Elizabeth George book coming out? What do you mean she’s not writing an Inspector Lynley novel? A book of short stories, instead? Oh no…
You get the idea. I was just as bad when the incredibly productive M.C. Beaton would turn out an Agatha Raisin instead of a Hamish Macbeth. Although I enjoy both, Hamish is my favorite.
Then I started writing series.
I thought it was very interesting to read a post by author Neil Gaiman on this same issue. Because, if you think about it, we now have a real window into the world of our favorite authors. We can follow them during the day on Twitter, we can read their blog posts, we can see that they’re messing around on Facebook. So what if you do have a dedicated reader who’s put out that you blogged about spending the day doing yard work instead of churning out his eagerly awaited book? What obligation do writers owe their readers?
One obligation to writers owe their readers? To be human. Work in the garden!
I don’t write series but I read them. Still, I think our only obligation as writers is to write what we feel compelled to write and do it as best we can. If we don’t still work in the garden, sing, dance, play with our partners, children, family and friends, I don’t think our writing will be worth reading, series or not.
Karen Walker
http://www.karenfollowingthewhispers.blogspot.com
What do writers owe their readers? The “best” book they can write.
As for series writers, there are too many variables involved to be able to “promise” a certain number of books in a series, within a specified timeframe.
Now, I think if a writer wants to ensure a long career (ie, many books in the series), then it behooves him/her to keep delivering good novels on a timely schedule. But I wouldn’t say the writer “owes” anything to the readers of series who are expecting more.
It’s still just one book at a time.
I’m not a big series reader, so I never much thought about this. I guess I always figured it was in the best interest of the author to continue churning out series books, especially if readers want them!
Interesting that you’re now able to see it from a different perspective since you write them yourself.
Everybody in every profession needs down time and writers are no exception. Without leisure activities, the burnout factor would be out of control.
Jane Kennedy Sutton
http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/
That question definitely comes from a reader of series, and I get it. I fell in love with Virginia Lanier’s series featuring a character who raised bloodhounds in Georgia and worked with search and rescue. I was devastated when Lanier died. I knew nothing about her personally, only understood the series had died with her. Series readers have high expectations.
Patricia
That is so funny – as I started reading your blog I thought Neil Gaiman just blogged about that recently! LOL, too funny. I loved his response, by the way…
As a reader I am always anxiously awaiting the next installment from my favorites too.
Nancy
http://nasharpe.blogspot.com
I put my stories in serial format in forums and readers usually take out poking sticks if I don’t post on time or have write block.
I have to hide somewhere then…
Steamy Darcy
I enjoy series books but also like stand alones. If a character really has something special, it’s fun to see what will happen next.