Fantasy author Brian McClellan recently posted an interesting twitter thread where he discusses whether fantasy authors have an obligation to readers and publishers to finish their series in a reasonable amount of time:
Neil Gaiman famously released an essay some time ago arguing that GRRM doesn't owe anyone anything. However, McClellan brings up three interesting points:
1. Authors not bothering to finish their series in a reasonable time-frame is harmful to other fantasy authors. Readers will be disinclined to start new fantasy series unless the series is complete (which would obviously guarantee new series are never completed). This is anecdotal, but I've had a number of IRL friends tell me that they don't have any interest in starting new fantasy series until the series is complete (or if it is written by someone famously prolific, such as Brandon Sanderson). This is exclusively because of GRRM, Rothfuss, or both.
2. By starting a series, authors enter into an unwritten contract with their readers. Most readers would not buy an authors initial book if they knew the series would never be finished.
3. Popular authors generally do contractually owe publishers books in a reasonable amount of time, but the publishing industry is incredibly lenient when it comes to deadlines. Extremely popular authors wield most of the power in the contractual relationship, and can basically pick and choose when and if they release books.
I found the first argument to be particularly interesting. I had never considered the effects that authors like GRRM and Rothfuss could have on other fantasy authors. So, what do you think ERA?
Neil Gaiman famously released an essay some time ago arguing that GRRM doesn't owe anyone anything. However, McClellan brings up three interesting points:
1. Authors not bothering to finish their series in a reasonable time-frame is harmful to other fantasy authors. Readers will be disinclined to start new fantasy series unless the series is complete (which would obviously guarantee new series are never completed). This is anecdotal, but I've had a number of IRL friends tell me that they don't have any interest in starting new fantasy series until the series is complete (or if it is written by someone famously prolific, such as Brandon Sanderson). This is exclusively because of GRRM, Rothfuss, or both.
2. By starting a series, authors enter into an unwritten contract with their readers. Most readers would not buy an authors initial book if they knew the series would never be finished.
3. Popular authors generally do contractually owe publishers books in a reasonable amount of time, but the publishing industry is incredibly lenient when it comes to deadlines. Extremely popular authors wield most of the power in the contractual relationship, and can basically pick and choose when and if they release books.
I found the first argument to be particularly interesting. I had never considered the effects that authors like GRRM and Rothfuss could have on other fantasy authors. So, what do you think ERA?