tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post2880799745177391140..comments2023-11-18T03:15:19.102-06:00Comments on Straight From Hel: 17 Books in 3 YearsHelen Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-32060610846709561582009-09-17T08:52:03.872-05:002009-09-17T08:52:03.872-05:00I guess as long as the authors are getting credit ...I guess as long as the authors are getting credit on the book cover... <br /><br />Personally, though, it really bugs me. As a writer, I know that an outline just doesn't cut it. It's the minute word choices and turns of phrase that make a book an author's. And that's what people love about certain writers. Sure, the overall plot is important, but this sounds like a rip-off to his readership.<br /><br />But I'm a hypocrite, because like most others, I'd accept the opportunity to write one of the books. So I guess I can be bought. :0)Craig Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04601732068274136557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-10114374878797949422009-09-17T06:28:43.039-05:002009-09-17T06:28:43.039-05:00The other thing about the art of it is that in the...The other thing about the art of it is that in the actual art world this has been happening for decades, from Andy Warhol up to Damien Hirst, and I'm sure a lot more in between, who've had the bulk of their art mass-produced.<br /><br />Skeptical about the HP Lovecraft comment. A lot of his unpublished work was "hi-jacked" (in the nicest possible way... ) by August Derleth for publication (and copyright extension), and a lot of other writers were credited for stories written in his shared "universe". Don't thin khe had a team of minions scribbling away in the basement. He was a pulp writer of the highest order, of the sort we don't really see anymore.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-16275195321402189642009-09-17T04:01:51.872-05:002009-09-17T04:01:51.872-05:00As with other collaborative efforts, I think books...As with other collaborative efforts, I think books should identify the associate author(s) as well as the author-in-chief. I can tell you anyone who contracts for such an assignment gets minimal compensation for their efforts.bonitanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-53037866332058153712009-09-16T23:44:31.636-05:002009-09-16T23:44:31.636-05:00Never read James Patterson, so can't comment o...Never read James Patterson, so can't comment on his factory.<br />But as I see it, there are writers who write because they cannot do otherwise, and there are writers who write because they want to tell a story, and there are writers who write because they want to earn a living.<br />And as long as each is upfront about why they write, and the reader gets a story she likes, everyone should be happy!Natashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00481081735923606868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-40998543815378812032009-09-16T22:44:54.149-05:002009-09-16T22:44:54.149-05:00This serves to remind me that publishing is no lon...This serves to remind me that publishing is no longer so much a creative endeavor as it is a business. Just the way it is!<br /><br />Thanks for the post, Helen. Thought-provoking stuff.A.L. Sonnichsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11358456786727534289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-39816136261490431622009-09-16T22:28:45.635-05:002009-09-16T22:28:45.635-05:00Trademarked his name. Hee hee. Makes me giggle.
S...Trademarked his name. Hee hee. Makes me giggle.<br /><br />Seriously, the writing effort is very collaborative. He takes it to a whole new level.Stacy S. Jensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09646270238659432058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-34150242851928599482009-09-16T22:15:29.744-05:002009-09-16T22:15:29.744-05:00Interesting article, Helen. Trademarked his name? ...Interesting article, Helen. Trademarked his name? hmmm.<br /><br />"Are you still a writer if you subcontract out much of the actual, you know, writing?"<br /><br />Good question and the crux of it, so far as I'm concerned. Business or no, that's not writing. It's doing outlines and assigning it to others to actually create the story. The "Others" should be classified as the author, IMO.<br /><br />Of course he's not the first author to do that, Barbara Cartland did too.<br /><br />I've seen authors who can put out 3books a year. I don't know if I could, consistently. Some debut authors have several books already written when they get a contract. One I know of had four and went on to 9 more over a three year period. but still, it's a matter of keeping your writing fresh and exciting. I've seen even some very gifted authors get tired and you can pick it up in their writing. It's missing a certain spark.~Sia McKye~https://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-35368606878734476982009-09-16T22:10:39.200-05:002009-09-16T22:10:39.200-05:00This is no different from Barbara Carland who &quo...This is no different from Barbara Carland who "penned" all those early category romances. The story I heard was that she would brainstorm the stories then turn the actual writing over to a team. Sort of the same principal as television writing. <br /><br />Not that I agree that this is the best approach to creative writing, but it is certainly the best approach to making a lot of money and taking a big chunk out of the marketplace.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-34556731195361831552009-09-16T19:48:13.414-05:002009-09-16T19:48:13.414-05:00Well, James is running a business, not finding the...Well, James is running a business, not finding the pleasure of authoring books. I agree with Benjamin, a book factory reminds me of the Starting Artists shows where multiple people paint on one canvas. Writing, to me, is art. Assembly line is not! I won't buy another James Patterson book.Sylvia Dickey Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06665990701980727149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-25848103665517767772009-09-16T19:17:33.281-05:002009-09-16T19:17:33.281-05:00I have no respect for James Patterson.
If he can&...I have no respect for James Patterson.<br /><br />If he can't write the books himself, he needs to move over to give other more deserving writers a chance. He's just making money off of his name now, not his talent.<br /><br />It's a real insult to all of the unknown writers that put in the hard work but don't get published due to the fact publishers would rather invest their money with someone already known.Benjamin Solahhttp://benjaminsolah.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-73012899034814054862009-09-16T17:54:29.148-05:002009-09-16T17:54:29.148-05:00That's a whole lot of writing from some of tho...That's a whole lot of writing from some of those guys. I can't imagine you have much of a life if your are pumping out ten books in three years. I wonder how that is even possible. Some people must be gifted typists with brains that never shut down.<br /><br />I think that kind of 'busyness' would kill the writing for me. But clearly not for them, so I guess each to his own.Tabitha Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08196816108272065974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-81338740189303972472009-09-16T17:51:35.320-05:002009-09-16T17:51:35.320-05:00Good discussion.
I'm not sure he retains the ...Good discussion. <br />I'm not sure he retains the joy of writing, but, like J.M. said, it's hard not to sound envious. <br />I can't fault an author for making money from the craft, after years of working on it. <br />I've been approached to do ghost-writing, but I'm too vain...I want my name on the cover!Kathy McIntoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06899118869240481737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-63385435436795406122009-09-16T17:47:34.238-05:002009-09-16T17:47:34.238-05:00I'm between's saying, hmm interesting that...I'm between's saying, hmm interesting that's really a truth to Anton's comment, and my visceral reaction of "eyew."<br /><br />But, I wouldn't call him an author - I'd call him a businessman who is in the book business.Kathryn Magendiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-32183639669405377742009-09-16T16:27:32.121-05:002009-09-16T16:27:32.121-05:00PS thank you for the heads up on starting sentence...PS thank you for the heads up on starting sentences with And or But--am doing a search and will rid my manuscript of them:) I never used to do that when I learned my grammar but noticed a few books had them in there. Will go back to the correct way:)Terri Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07771622379178654235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-61554375433572118132009-09-16T16:17:49.211-05:002009-09-16T16:17:49.211-05:00It doesn't bother me that he doesn't write...It doesn't bother me that he doesn't write all of his own books. The guy can write, after all--that's how he got famous/rich enough to do this in the first place. <br /><br />*shrug*<br /><br />What I want to know is: who's writing Richard Castle's Nikki Heat book? :)Miriam Forsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08773194271144793485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-1476354325592182592009-09-16T14:41:30.928-05:002009-09-16T14:41:30.928-05:00It doesn't bother me so much now that he ackno...It doesn't bother me so much now that he acknowledges the writers. He didn't use to, but now he's upfront about it. My understanding is that he writes extensive outlines for the writer to follow. I have no clue what they get paid. <br /><br />If he asked me, I'd do it. Mostly to see if I could write in his style. The books I'm writing now are basically make me a writer for hire. I don't get royalties, just a set amount for writing them. <br /><br />And, yes, I'd love his money! I'd also like to write my own books, too.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-54275997313269559992009-09-16T13:22:41.959-05:002009-09-16T13:22:41.959-05:00Patterson's a successful entertainer. His boo...Patterson's a successful entertainer. His books provide readers with a lot of enjoyment and he deserves a lot of credit for accomplishing it. This isn't the first case of art being created by an artist and a crew. It's not even the first example of a novel being a collaborative effort.Mark Troyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10746027017657987261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-61548692370011206772009-09-16T13:04:15.749-05:002009-09-16T13:04:15.749-05:00I like Jane's answer!
H P Lovecraft wrote ver...I like Jane's answer!<br /><br />H P Lovecraft wrote very few of his stories - most were done by apprentices.<br /><br />Pretty soon it will say Patterson's name on the cover and in fine, tiny print below that - "...once looked at this manuscript."<br /><br />L. Diane Wolfe “Spunk On A Stick”<br />http://www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.comL. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-47776396686673095232009-09-16T13:00:31.620-05:002009-09-16T13:00:31.620-05:00Interesting information. I still have a slight pro...Interesting information. I still have a slight problem with people who get the full credit for saying they wrote a book they didn't:)Terri Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07771622379178654235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-85487750302032462252009-09-16T12:54:57.050-05:002009-09-16T12:54:57.050-05:00I actually auditioned twice to write for the Sweet...I actually auditioned twice to write for the Sweet Valley High series when it was still going on. And at one time I had information on auditioning to write for R.L. Stine's Goosebumps/Fear Street series. That was the early/mid-90s when both of them were big. A book packager did all that work...but now I can't find any information on ghostwriting for series. I would have loved to do it.<br /><br />As for James Patterson, I had no idea about all that. Sounds to me like he's a series producer, just as Francine Pascal and Carolyn Keene were. I saw Francine's actual outline...I'm not going to say it wasn't a lot of work to create that. She actually outlined beginning to end, how the book should go. It was several pages. But the actual writing part of the work was being done by people being paid $1,000 or $2,000.Stephanie Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10461865229341760836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-36475355004089102392009-09-16T11:40:48.392-05:002009-09-16T11:40:48.392-05:00Not sure what I think, but if I got a chance to be...Not sure what I think, but if I got a chance to be a co-author with him I guess I'd jump at it.Sheila Deethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13465615546936319164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-4566995013871108672009-09-16T10:56:08.961-05:002009-09-16T10:56:08.961-05:00I had this discussion with another author and both...I had this discussion with another author and both of our conclusions were if it's your name on the book then it should be your writing.<br /><br />I appreciate and applaud his success. But I want my writing to be in my books. I'd rather be judged on my own abilities rather than someone else's. My name? My book.<br /><br />ElspethElspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-82189390502074525272009-09-16T09:42:29.378-05:002009-09-16T09:42:29.378-05:00Wow! This is news to me. I just reviewed his upc...Wow! This is news to me. I just reviewed his upcoming novel The Murder of King Tut. That was the first one of his novels that I've read.Brooke from The Bluestocking Guidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07832634751075478091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-33376928195948575702009-09-16T08:58:55.409-05:002009-09-16T08:58:55.409-05:00How do I comment on this without sounding like I&#...How do I comment on this without sounding like I'm jealous? But no, I see this as a book mill, not true authorship. He's more like the editor-in-chief than the writer. Nothing wrong with that from a business point of view, but not something I personally admire.<br />~jonJ. M. Stortherhttp://jmstrother.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-332577714284053842009-09-16T08:23:26.945-05:002009-09-16T08:23:26.945-05:00I'd love to write one of his books, myself. I ...I'd love to write one of his books, myself. I say, good for him!<br /><br />But I wonder if he misses the creative process.<br /><br />Elizabeth<br /><a href="http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Mystery Writing is Murder</a>Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.com