Lessons from All the Ms: There's A LOT of Decent Stuff Out There

Not my genre: yet engaging!

One of my A-Z Lists, A-Z List 9, focuses on reading the opening chapters all of the Ms (books by authors whose last names begin with "M") in the fiction section of the local library. 

I mostly stick to the adult fiction section of Portland Public Library, simply to keep myself on track. I pick up books from the YA and children's sections and occasionally include ones from my Kindle. But I mostly stick to PPL Adult Fiction. I will include new books, but I don't force myself to go back. 

And I am learning stuff about fiction!

The first has to do with getting published or, rather, these days, with getting noticed. If you have ever wondered, "Why am I not Stephen King or JK Rowlings in popularity?" below is the reason.

First, a surprising number of new writers think that one publication will push them to glory. When it doesn't happen, they get disillusioned and give up since being the next King or Rowlings was their goal in the first place. I don't really understand this reaction. I find the idea of popularity rather off-putting. However, I don't want to write a diary, and I do believe in writing to an audience. I publish so I can write; I don't write so I can get published.

In fairness, regarding the mentioned authors, one book did make a big difference (Carrie and Harry Potter). In general, however, lots and lots of writers come and go, and though a number of writers steadily publish and have loyal audiences, they aren't common household names. They are either working second jobs or they are living a non-well-off lifestyle. (A horror writer that I knew several years ago--he has since died--made about $30,000 a year off his writing, which is actually quite impressive. At the time--fifteen years ago--I could have lived on that money. He had an ex-wife and kids and couldn't, so he also taught as an adjunct.) 

What about getting published in the first place?

Intend to come back to.

When I wrote this post (several months ago), I had at that time reviewed over 130 books (I am currently about 1/3rd of the way through). Of those 130 books, very few were poorly written; that is, almost all the books were written by people who know how to put words together on the page. 

Of those, say, 120 books that were decently written, I had interest in less than half due to genres/settings/topics. I am partial to mysteries and am not at all picky. I love romances but am very picky. I like fantasy and science-fiction but am even pickier. I detest modern, naval-gazing, "life is a bowl of worms" stories. In sum, although I tried out every book, I put some down faster than others. 

So less than 1/2 were actually things that I would voluntarily read. 

Of that 1/2, less than 1/2 of the 1/2 actually engaged me (a few of the books outside my usual interests did engage me--so a little more than a 1/4 overall were books that engaged me). 

Stuck with me.

Of the 1/4-ish that engaged me, I only went on to finish (or determine to finish later) about 1/2. 

So...of 130 books, I only had interest in about 60. I was engaged by only about 25ish of those books. Of the 25ish, I went on to read (or put on my list to read later or had already read) 12 books.

The issue is not lack of originality or lack of good writing or lack of a plot. That particular number is simply me deciding how to spend my time.

One realizes why so many publishers depend on agents (hey, have someone else do all that work!).