I was corresponding with a reader of the Cozy Chicks blog, who happened to mention what a hard time she was having with a particular Nicholas Sparks’ book — in fact, all of his books — because she keeps comparing them to The Notebook.
She loved The Notebook. And, naturally, she keeps hoping that he’s going to write something that moves her the same way. I don’t think she’s expecting the same book over again — although I think we writers sometimes fear that this is what readers are asking when they compare one of our books unfavorably with another. I think she just hopes to feel that same emotional connection with the characters and the story.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote many things, but he will always be remembered as the man who created Sherlock Holmes. And in that he was a prisoner of his own success — as I’m sure J.K. Rowling will be of hers. How do you follow that act? as they say in show biz.
And in some cases, you can’t. How does Margaret Mitchell follow Gone With the Wind? Or Harper Lee top To Kill a Mockingbird? You might as well take up flower arranging.
Not that most of us wouldn’t be quite happy to be a prisoner of that kind of success, but I can see that it would certainly put some constraints on one’s creativity. Talk about pressure.
Half the time we’re not exactly sure what we did right the first time. Why do readers connect so strongly with some characters, and others leave them cold? I don’t think it has to do with trying harder or gimmicks or reading trends. And I think it does usually come down to the characters — though not always. Sometimes there’s something about the story itself — The Da Vinci Code maybe?
Anyway, do you find yourself comparing your favorite author’s work to previous novels? Do you think it makes you harder on subsequent stories if you particularly loved one book or a certain set of characters? Do you think comparing a work to previous works spoils part of your pleasure? And from a writing standpoint: do you ever feel pressure to match reader expectation with what’s gone before?
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I’m not published yet, so I can’t speak to matching reader expectation, although of course we all try to make our WIP the best book we’ve ever written, don’t we? There are some of my characters, now that it doesn’t look like I’ll ever get their books published, that I lament the loss of, just because I like them so much, and think other people would, too.
As a reader, yes, I compare the books I read to previous books by the same author. We all want our favorite authors to be getting better, right? If the books seem to be losing value, that upsets me. I still buy them, read them, usually enjoy them, but I think to myself, “Well, this was OK, but it wasn’t as good as…” In some rare cases, I stop buying the books. I did that with Janet E. after about the 6th Plum book, when they suddenly took a nosedive.
And for the record, The DaVinci Code bored me to tears. So did The Notebook. Characters and story both. Sorry. 
by JennieB on March 10th, 2008 at 8:47 am
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Tom Clancy fits that bill for me. It seems like he dropped off the face of the earth after Jack Ryan.
As far as Janet E is concerned, her Number series reads completely differently than her other work.
by Will Bereswill on March 10th, 2008 at 9:52 am
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“Anyway, do you find yourself comparing your favorite author’s work to previous novels?”
Not intentionally, no, but I think it’s inevitable. Especially in a series. Characters and circumstances change whether we want them to or not.
And we all want that experience of falling in love with a book that we had the first time. Kind of like people that way.
But if one book from an author I’ve liked before doesn’t grab me, I don’t usually give up on them. if they entertained me before, chances are they’re going to do it again.
by Stephen Blackmoore on March 10th, 2008 at 10:07 am
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But if one book from an author I’ve liked before doesn’t grab me, I
don’t usually give up on them. if they entertained me before, chances are
they’re going to do it again.
I tend to be pretty optimistic in my reading. If I liked a writer a lot once, I keep trying to recapture that experience.
by Diana Killian on March 10th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
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And for the record, The DaVinci Code bored me to tears. So did The Notebook. Characters and story both.
That’s what I love about books and readers — there is no single universal element that appeals to everyone, so what doesn’t work for one reader may still prove a favorite with another.
by Diana Killian on March 10th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
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Tom Clancy fits that bill for me. It seems like he dropped off the face of the earth after Jack Ryan.
That’s the puzzling thing I suppose for all of us. It’s all coming from the same brain, the same range of experiences, but one character or set of characters hits a chord, and another doesn’t grab readers the same way.
by Diana Killian on March 10th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
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Weren’t Mitchell and Lee “one hit wonders?”
“How do you follow that act?”
Indeed! Kind of like Bridget Jones. Everyone loved the character so much. I’m not sure how her next book with the Olivia Jules character did, but I don’t think it hit the same spot with readers. I gave it a try and couldn’t get into it. If she writes something else, I’ll check it out.
I think it’s difficult NOT to compare books from the same author. If I enjoy one, I’m hoping to get that same feeling as a read an author’s new books. For me, I think it has to with if the author is a good storyteller.
by Sara on March 10th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
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As a writer whose first book was well-received, I admit to being spooked about the next one. That’s a big reason I haven’t finished it, three years later.
Not that it’s in the same league as GWTW of Mockingbird.
Hey, I never said I wasn’t as neurotic as a basket of snakes.
by David Terrenoire on March 10th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
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Hey, I never said I wasn’t as neurotic as a basket of snakes.
So, it never goes away, the insecurity about howthe next book or project will be received?
I read the post this morning but needed some time to really think about how I read. When I find an author I like, I read everything they have written. Usually not in any order except for how I find them. So I don’t have the always getting better mindset for my authors.
I liked The DaVinci Code but I am into the Knights Templer mythology/history. So I look for different things from different authors. Right now I’m into women’s fiction around a knitting shop in Seattle. Would I lhave read the books if the shop was in Pittsburgh, probably not.
Diana said: I tend to be pretty optimistic in my reading. If I liked a writer a lot once, I keep trying to recapture that experience.
Isn’t that the best way to be? I feel lost when I’ve read everything an author has published and want more…
by Lynn on March 10th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
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Sara, it’s almost a Catch-22. If you try to do something totally different from a hugely successful book, you will almost certainly disappoint certain readers — but if you try to recapture what you did the first time, you’re just as likely to be accused of being a one trick pony.
And of course as writers sometimes we ourselves feel something a little different for one set of characters over another. Odd how that works.
by Diana Killian on March 13th, 2008 at 12:09 am
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David, that kind of pressure works on creativity like a vise — it squeezes all the fun and spontanaeity out of it.
by Diana Killian on March 13th, 2008 at 12:11 am
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So, it never goes away, the insecurity about howthe next book or project will be received?
Maybe after dozens and dozens of books, but at this point…I’d have to say that I’m as insecure as ever about how a book will do. But then there are so many variables. That’s part of it. It never has solely to do with the book, and some of it is definitely not within the writer’s control.
by Diana Killian on March 13th, 2008 at 12:14 am
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