I have to say that as a reader and an aspiring writer, I think a writer should be aware that certain actions will likely lose the trust of their audience.
If a writer is writing a trilogy, stopping after book two and then spending a decade going, OK, am going to write it now, right after this next project, if you could all please remind me of the canon for my series. No, really, this time. No, really this time. There is an author whose other 2 series I've read and loved who did this and I will not be buying another trilogy of hers until it is finished, because I have no trust. Follow-through, helpful.
A writer should not switch genres in the middle of the series. If one is writing a hardboiled urban fantasy detectivish series, one should not be making an abrupt shift into paranormal erotica. Especially if one is bad at the erotica part. Consistency, helpful.
A writer should not FORGET THEIR OWN CANON. Characters should changer neither names nor sexuality between books. Consistency, helpful.
A writer should do their research. If one is going to write about abuse centered cultures of violence, reading up on the psychology of the abuser, victim, and survivor might help. (I might have made it at least one book past Incubus Dreams had LKH bothered to research. I'm a professional counselor and her abuse and violence responses in Narcissus through Incubus DROVE ME UP THE WALL they were so off, and I have a really good suspension of disbelief most of the time.) Research, helpful.
A writer should not tell irritated readers that they are only irritated because they are too stupid and "mundane" to understand the wonderful dark plotiness of their new direction. Professional behavior, usually helpful.
It is also helpful if the writer has a friend who tells them when there is excessive self exposure happening. Now it might just be the psychology training talking, but if every hero in your (extensive) series looks basically the same, acts basically the same and has the exact same favorite sexual position (this isn't necessarily LKH although she resembles some of this), your fantasy life may be showing a leetle too much. (mostly I find this amusing, but it does break the 4th wall for me).
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branchandroot
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Date: 2010-10-13 04:17 am (UTC)If a writer is writing a trilogy, stopping after book two and then spending a decade going, OK, am going to write it now, right after this next project, if you could all please remind me of the canon for my series. No, really, this time. No, really this time. There is an author whose other 2 series I've read and loved who did this and I will not be buying another trilogy of hers until it is finished, because I have no trust. Follow-through, helpful.
A writer should not switch genres in the middle of the series. If one is writing a hardboiled urban fantasy detectivish series, one should not be making an abrupt shift into paranormal erotica. Especially if one is bad at the erotica part. Consistency, helpful.
A writer should not FORGET THEIR OWN CANON. Characters should changer neither names nor sexuality between books. Consistency, helpful.
A writer should do their research. If one is going to write about abuse centered cultures of violence, reading up on the psychology of the abuser, victim, and survivor might help. (I might have made it at least one book past Incubus Dreams had LKH bothered to research. I'm a professional counselor and her abuse and violence responses in Narcissus through Incubus DROVE ME UP THE WALL they were so off, and I have a really good suspension of disbelief most of the time.) Research, helpful.
A writer should not tell irritated readers that they are only irritated because they are too stupid and "mundane" to understand the wonderful dark plotiness of their new direction. Professional behavior, usually helpful.
It is also helpful if the writer has a friend who tells them when there is excessive self exposure happening. Now it might just be the psychology training talking, but if every hero in your (extensive) series looks basically the same, acts basically the same and has the exact same favorite sexual position (this isn't necessarily LKH although she resembles some of this), your fantasy life may be showing a leetle too much. (mostly I find this amusing, but it does break the 4th wall for me).