A couple of days ago I read this report about Amazon and publishers putting out the new concept for serialised fiction. Of course not a new concept good old Charles Dickens and others were going that a little while ago. The report starts off saying that its an answer to the common complaint that ebooks are just are dull re-issues of paper version. And that previous enhanced books had failed to get attention. Now I love ebooks, the last time I bought an actual books is a while ago now, in fact its only gifts on birthdays or Christmas which add any paper books to my selves. And at the moment I release my own writing only as ebooks.
I have no problem at all with ebooks being basically just a book on a screen. What more do you want? Its words on a page or a screen – the rest is up to you, your imagination, the skills and artistry of the writer to take you into another world. The reason enhanced ebooks have not taken off – for fiction at least (and I am talking only fiction in this rant) is probably because most people are like me, I just want the words and my mind. That’s what reading is.
I don’t care or want little other gimmicks in the story, maps, or videos or photos or anything. I want to read.
As for serialised fiction I don’t get the point. These latest version download a new 15 minutes-reading-worth grab each day. Can’t I just have the whole book and read 15 minutes when I feel like it or maybe longer.
Its a fine idea if it gets people reading. Other people might like it, but I don’t get it myself.
Serialized fiction kills me, and I refuse to read it. I read a lot of fanfiction in high school, and the worst thing was to have to wait weeks between chapters. Who wants to put themselves through that kind of emotional torment? I’d rather just wait and get the whole book in my hands. Same goes for TV shows. I way prefer having the whole season on hand than waiting week by week.
I’m totally with you. Your right about the TV series, its a good connection but I hadn’t seen it. Having a full season is far better, and its the way more people are viewing TV these days.
The argument against breaking a piece up and delivering it in dribs and drabs pre-presumes that the work has been completed prior to serialisation – or indeed that it could be contained within a single volume (lots of fantasy works are already serialised across several novels for example).
What excites me about the renewed intrest in serialised fiction is the opportunity for authors to engage with their readership on an ongoing basis and incorporate their feedback, comments and discussions into the official work if they wish.
Comic book writers have been doing this well for a long time – particularly mangakas in Japan – with really interesting results.
Another interesting aspect of serialising fiction is the ability for a publisher to take a punt on an unproven author and help them to develop their voice and style before committing the resources required to publish and distribute a full work. This type of Minimum Viable Publishing could work especially well in digital where the costs of initial distribution are much lower.
As for the serialisation of TV I think the larger problem is a matter of ‘event’ based television vs. the consumer schedule. Whilst I rarely have the time to engage in TV box set marathons I can maybe put an hour or two aside to keep up to date with a few, must watch programs. The conflict arises when my free hours don’t match those of the broadcaster!
In terms of serialised fiction this may translate into installments being published on an ad hoc basis (probably up to a set, regular deadline – you don’t want to tick people off after all) as long as the author and publisher is happy for them to go out.
Just my take on it!
Cheers,
Mat
ps. I’m totally with you on the no bells and whistles point though – check out Craig Mod’s article on subcompact publishing for more on this: http://craigmod.com/journal/subcompact_publishing/
Thanks for dropping by my blog, Eamon. I can understand readers not wanting to re-begin reading serial fiction each time another installment appears. However, I like writing this way. It feels as though I’m scheduled onstage and a performance is due. The time between uploads I’m thinking and re-thinking, trying for more and more interest and a proper cliff at the end of each piece. P. S. Do you have any ideas where to market a serialized fiction after it’s done?
You make a good point about – when you think of it from a writing point of view it could be quite an interesting way to go. I guess there are areas for it to work.