It’s been a while since I’ve talked about the industry, so I thought I’d revamp an old essay so we can chat about Quantity vs. Quality writing, and whether finding balance between these opposing forces is even possible. So, let’s jump right to it.
Without the Industrial Revolution, the Information Age would not exist.
There probably would not have been technological advancements in regards to travel, entertainment, and communication, either. Henry Ford would not have perfected a production assembly, which made affordable vehicles a possibility. Consumerism would have been just another word attributed to hoarders of tea, tobacco, sugar, and spices. Therefore, it’s safe to say the world would have been an entirely different place had the Industrial Revolution not occurred. It’s also the reason we can debate on whether creating more of a lesser quality is better or worse than creating less of a higher quality.
Book Consumerism
How does this apply to the book industry? Well, back in the day, books were seen as a luxury because producing books were far more complicated, and often made by hand. Being a writer wasn’t particularly popular, because there wasn’t much money to be made in the industry. Things have changed, though. Books are available in collector’s editions, hardbacks, trade paperbacks, mass paperbacks, and eBooks. This makes reading a more accessible pastime for people from all walks of life.
Writers sometimes make more money than their Regency Era counterparts, but it’s really a case of 0.001% writers profiting enough from their endeavors to turn writing into a full-time job. But, as the book market grows, it’s becoming apparent that the industry is evolving yet again. This evolutionary process brings into question the Quantity vs. Quality debate.
Whether you’re an author, publisher, editor, or marketer, this question is bound to pop up at some point, so take some notes as we proceed.
Quantity Writing
James Patterson is a household name; a brand in himself that makes millions of dollars for his publishers every year. With a staggering seventeen novels published in 2015 alone, it’s pretty obvious in what category Patterson falls. Of course, many of the novels published are co-written, because no human being can possibly produce seventeen (GOOD) novels in a single year. That said, his name still appears on the cover and he gets a piece of the pie, which is one of the advantages of being a Quantity Writer.
Yes, James Patterson is also the highest earning author of 2015 with an estimated $89 million, according to Forbes. This is $63 million greater than runner-up John Greene’s earnings for 2015, which is approximately $26 million. James Patterson is also famous enough to sport a fandom Elvis Presley would have envied. However, this money-making machine isn’t immune to the critique that follows the Quantity Writing approach. Many established authors frown upon Patterson’s formulaic writing for financial gain, though there’s only a few brave enough to publicize their thoughts on the matter. Take Stephen King for instance, who criticized Patterson, by saying he’s: “a terrible writer but he’s very successful”.
This, however, is a clash between writing gods, who have teams of editors and marketers and lawyers at their disposal, not to mention armies of fans who are better left unprovoked. Seriously, they have big beef with each other.
Quality Writing
Quality Writing, on the other hand, varies from person to person. In the academic community, one would say a Nobel Prize in Literature winner is probably the pinnacle of success. As far as author J.M. Coetzee is concerned, this might be true. The South African born author, who is also the recipient of the 2003 Nobel Prize in Literature, is not only able to produce quality works worthy of notable awards, but his books translate into mainstream markets pretty well. Can the same thing be said about all of the Nobel Prize in Literature award recipients? Some marketers and publishers wouldn’t be keen on answering that particular question, but it’s a hot topic behind closed doors.
What about Bram Stoker Award winning authors? In the horror community these award winning books are the must-reads of the year, but let’s be honest, it’s been a while since a Bram Stoker Award winning book even made it to South African bookshops. Not to mention, mainstream readers couldn’t care less about industry awards, especially if the cover isn’t striking and the synopsis isn’t titillating.
Quality Writing can thus be seen as a variable, and variables make some publishers itchy.
Young Adult lovers will enjoy a John Greene book, and defend it to the death if someone criticisms the work. Fantasy fans devour Brandon Sanderson’s novels. Then there’s the young adult fantasy enthusiasts who can’t get enough of Sarah J. Maas. It’s all a matter of perspective when it comes to Quality Writing.
You see, here’s a secret few authors are aware of: The book industry is a high-stake poker game. It’s only when high-earning Quantity Writers like James Patterson are signed that a publisher can take their chances on one or two Quality Writers nobody’s ever heard of, because high-earning Quantity Writers pay the bills. They’re tried and tested and have been found worthy, which frustrates every Quality Writer on the planet.
Finding Balance
Here’s a better question yet: Do you have to be one or the other?
From a personal perspective, this Quantity vs. Quality debate shouldn’t even exist. There have been authors who have found a balance between Quantity Writing and Quality Writing. Sir Terry Pratchett, for example, wrote two to three books a year and sold millions upon millions of his novels, in an international market, and he often won awards for his work. So, technically speaking, Sir Terry Pratchett was able to find a balance without monopolizing the market one way or the other. A few other notable examples include: Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, and Rick Riordan.
A balance is only possible if greed isn’t the end all of one’s existence. Money makes things easier, true, but is it worth selling your soul, or your artistic integrity, or pride, just for a bit of extra cash? Some might say it is, and that’s their prerogative, but writing should never be about fame or fortune.
Writing is about telling a story the best way you can, and hoping your story can be part of one reader’s life, if only for a few hours.
