One of the things I like best about being an indie author is the control I have over the things I do. One of the downfalls is , well… there are a lot of decisions to make. Sometimes you can make those decisions by watching other authors. Take for instance the idea of rapid release.
Rapid Release
Rapid release is when an author publishes many books a year. I know some authors that publish every other month and I know one author who publishes a new book each month.
For a while, I was intrigued by rapid release. From a reader standpoint, I loved that certain of my favorite authors released books within weeks of each other. From an author standpoint, I couldn’t imagine writing anything so fast.
I followed several people who were very good at rapid release but overtime several of those authors admitted to suffering burnout and struggling with mental health issues.
I can understand this happening when an author pushes themselves continuously without allowing downtime and mental refreshing. Writing a book is hard work. It takes hours of concentration and it is a lonely process unless you have a talented group of brainstorming partners. Even then the actual writing process can be merciless on your mind and your body.
Given the fact that it takes me FOREVER to write a book, not to rapid release seemed an obvious choice for me.
Is Lower Quality One of the Trends in Publishing?
As a reader, I'm disappointed that many of the new books from my favorite authors seem shallow. I have a sneaking suspicion that in order to rapid release, many authors might need to not write such lengthy, deep books.
Like most romance readers, I enjoy reading tropes, but I'm distraught when trope chasing becomes a vehicle to race to the “feels”, or the moments that make the reader sigh.
Romcoms have been my love for a while, but not so much anymore. Lately, it feels like some of my favorite authors in the sweet/clean/wholesome/closed-door romance books category are pushing the boundaries. The primary goal of most romcoms is to reach the romantic involvement of two people in a light-hearted way. I get it. It’s romantic comedy but romcoms become pretty lightweight when the plot depends on the girl getting the guy through some contrived situation. And most of the marriages happen super fast after they do fall in love. If this occurred real life, divorce rates would multiply. (Okay so perhaps, that's happening in real-life, too.) I'd love to see authors go back to the days of true character development woven into their stories.
Kisses have become full body experiences with pages of physical description, thrills in body parts, and panting. Most times, if you took this out of the story, there would be no story. (Besides, panting reminds me of a dog.) The descriptions of super sultry and deep physical reaction to kisses have increased over the past two years. It's almost like the goal is to write the kiss and all the things related more sensually than the last author without ripping open the bedroom door. Will the next move be sweet/clean/wholesome/ closed-door bodice rippers where the heroines wear a one piece bathing suit underneath?
IMHO good writing involves more than describing how it feels to physically crave another person.
I'm sorry to go out on a limb here, but should sweet and clean involve lying? Fake date, fake engagement, and fake marriage stories are are made “okay” by the couple actually falling in love by the book’s end. This is a gray area for me. I can see where these “fakes” could occasionally add a legitimate plot line to a story, but how sweet is lying? I know. I know. I know. It's a hot trope.. I just hate to see lying made wholesome in a world where people increasingly reverse the valuation of good and bad. Will I ever use the "fake" trope? Maybe.
Closed door romances should be labeled ‘clothes on’ romances because the one bed trope has people sleeping together, and inevitably, no matter how many pillows they line up between them, they are a mass of tangled legs, arms, and drool by morning.
Are We Moving Backward and Devaluing Women?
A disturbing aspect of this trend it's usually female authors who are cheapening the heroines in their stories by having them lie, and having them sleep with the hero in some intended pseudo innocent way which makes character wonder what it would be like if …
Egaads, do romcom authors not believe in genuinely strong heroines with character? Do they really believe that the major goal in a woman’s life should be a huge romantic swoon over some guy they may have had a crush on in sixth grade?
There are two other trends that seem to be born out of rapid release. Authors are forming groups to publish collections together. This is a good thing in so many ways when there is quality control. And multiple authors who use the same scene settings and the same characters write some of the fun series now.
But books are getting shorter. And shorter. Amazon now has a category for two-hour reads, 90 minute reads, and even one hour reads. Before you think I’m awful, I have nothing against short stories. In fact, my traditional publishing debut was in a short story collection. But when you combine short stories written by multiple authors using the same settings and the same characters, AND you super rapid release those… why not just call them chapters and write a whole book?
This is when as a reader, I am glad I use Kindle Unlimited because when I wait for a preorder of a favorite author to become live and it turns out to have 6 chapters after I download it, I kick that book right back to KU. For me, a true short story that goes six chapters is nicely long, but a book? Especially one in a series?
I get many of my books from Kindle Unlimited because it makes it possible for me to try new authors with little risk. When I find an author I like, I buy. Serious reading is a daytime occupation for me. My reading at night is for entertainment. I love to find a story that keeps making me turn the page and pulls me into the wee hours of morning; one that makes me sad to see it end. Those are the stories I like to keep. I don’t enjoy reading a story that starts and finishes before I’m ready to fall asleep. It’s a huge disappointment.
I admit that I'm a change resistant human being, so I won't be surprised if you don't share the same opinion, but what do you think? Have you noticed any of these trends? Do you like them?
Thanks for joining me!
Barbara
