Are you going for mainstream or self-publishing?

Debeucci · Jul 12, 2012

I think it's dangerous to equate success with quality. That would make Fifty Shades of Gray frigging the Illiad then. That would make Jersey Shore the equal of West Wing. That would make the porn industry entertainment. That would make the Spice Girls the Beatles.

While there is some correlation between quality and success, it's a lot less prevalent than it should be. There are far too many variables to consider. Again, lop off the top and bottom 10% and show me how they relate.

Mr Flibble · Jul 12, 2012

That would make the porn industry and romance books high literature and entertainment.

A-hem.

Roger J Carlson · Jul 12, 2012

Debeucci said:
I think it's dangerous to equate success with quality. That would make Fifty Shades of Gray frigging the Illiad then. That would make Jersey Shore the equal of West Wing. That would make the porn industry and romance books high literature and entertainment. That would make the Spice Girls the Beatles.

While there is some correlation between quality and success, it's a lot less prevalent than it should be. There are far too many variables to consider. Again, lop off the top and bottom 10% and show me how they relate.

Actually, success is the only objective measure of quality. Anything else is subject to your individual preferences, and what makes your preferences more important than others?

Soccer Mom · Jul 12, 2012

Debeucci said:
That would make the porn industry and romance books high literature and entertainment.
QUOTE]

You do realize you just insulted a great many writers here, right? You're welcome to your opinion that we suck, but please behave with a bit more respect.

MMcDonald64 · Jul 12, 2012

Roger J Carlson said:
Actually, success is the only objective measure of quality. Anything else is subject to your individual preferences, and what makes your preferences more important than others?

Well said. Not only was the post you replied to insulting to romance authors, but also to readers of the genre. I like a good romance book every now and then, so even though I'm not a romance author, I feel bit insulted.

I guess my literary tastes are just low brow. After all, I write thrillers--another genre appreciated by the unwashed masses. ;-P

Debeucci · Jul 12, 2012

Yeesh, I apologize. I stand corrected and have made an edit.

I didn't mean to equate porn to romance, but that porn drives the digital industry (See bluray vs whatever that other format is called) very similar to the way romance drives much of publishing. They are easily the most successful, but it doesn't make them the standard of quality is what I was trying to say.

It just came out as I wrote. I apologize profusely to all that I have offended. It was not my intention. Grovel grovel.

BTW, I write SFF, and I don't consider what I write high literature either.

GiantRampagingPencil · Jul 13, 2012

Roger J Carlson said:
Actually, success is the only objective measure of quality. Anything else is subject to your individual preferences, and what makes your preferences more important than others?

Success (sales) is certainly an objective measure, but it certainly doesn't measure quality as the concept is normally understood. (Characterization, plot, pacing, etc.) Popularity, yes, quality, no.

Are you going for mainstream or self-publishing?

Debeucci

Mr Flibble

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

Roger J Carlson

Moderator In Name Only

Soccer Mom

Crypto-fascist

MMcDonald64

Debeucci

GiantRampagingPencil

That new author smell . . .