I miss the days of wandering through the book stores before Amazon, Goodreads, etc. Or even the grocery, dollar, or drug store. Discovered a few gems that way. The music stores with the headphone listening stations. The friends with the overflowing binders of CDs. Individualization is in my top 10 strengths so I appreciate uniqueness. I'm not liking the current trend of books listing out all the tropes and microtropes. It has enemies-to-lovers, one bed, he falls first, etc.! I might like all those tropes, but it also takes away the mystery. I can get from the blurb the trope. I want discover everything else along the way. There was a post on Reddit the other day of a book title "When Grumpy Met Sunshine" and how absurd it's getting.
I hear you on the listing of the tropes! (Or naming the book the trope.) Authors (including me) are asked to do that in marketing our books because of the keyword effect but also because you have milliseconds to catch someone's attention, but I don't like knowing going into a book either. I feel the same way about trigger warnings. I think they're needed but I think there should be a note at the front of the book that says "if you are concerned about triggers, please turn to page 300 to review them" instead of putting them before page one when they often have spoilers. LIke I prefer when online reviewers hide the trigger warnings in spoiler tags so then I have a choice whether i want to click on them or not.
Yes, Carrie—I feel much the same about the tropes listing! As for wandering the book aisles, I still do that, even though I buy (or borrow from the library) mostly kindle books—I make it a point to go to the library in person once a month just to wander the stacks and take pics of books to read later lol!
I do the same thing! I’ll go to my local B&N every few months and just pick up random books and read the descriptions. I even found a book outside of my usual reads last month and was so happy to have read it!
Thanks for the thoughtful ponderings. I'm currently listening to an ARC by a much-acclaimed writer and hating it. Would my opinion change if I took a peak at the other early reviews on Goodreads? I don't know, but I hope not. I loved both of Rebecca Makkai's books and have learned to trust authors like Kristin Hannah--whose topics (the dustbowl? really?? Vietnam?) often make me want to run in the opposite direction. Yet when I come to the end of one of her novels, I mourn. (I got an early copy of THE WOMEN. Incredible.) And then there's the fact that there's so very much out there, that even with the most careful curating and choosing, we're going to miss a diamond and waste time with a flashy piece we regret. And as for writing: here's to resisting the flattening.
Yes, I think the deluge of content is a big part of the issue because there's SO MUCH out there that people have to rely on ways to trim that down--and often that means just trusting the algorithms and what's shown to you based on them. But I think that's why curators can play such an important role. They help narrow things but there's still a human element to it so there's some natural variety. (And your comment about Kristin Hannah books made me laugh becuase I got The Great Alone a few years ago from Book of the Month and I was like...I don't know about this. Then she gutted me, lol.)
What you said resonated with me, too, Meg. I picked up Kristin Hannah 3 times and DNF’ed the same book of hers 3 times. Maybe the 4th time is the charm? I also stopped reading Makkai’s latest book, but now I’ll give it another shot. I hope I have the courage to resist the flattening. 🙂
I think part of it too is just paying attention to your taste and noting things. Like you may not end up liking the Kristin Hannah book or the Rebecca Makkai book and it doesn't mean your taste is flattened. It may just mean a slower pace isn't your jam.
I’m not sure if it’s exactly the same thing, but “flattening” for the algorithm made me think of the illustrated cover discussion in romance. A lot of the covers look the same, and it makes it difficult to detect the heat level of the book - everything looks like a romcom YA! But lots of people want this type of cover.
Yeah, it's really interesting because there have always been cover trends but they were more tightly defined. Like you could pick out chick lit in the 90s/00s by their cartoon covers but only chick lit was doing it, so people knew what they were getting. Or like the object covers for erotic romance that happened post 50 Shades. It was reserved for erotic romance. But the cartoon covers are bleeding into everything now. Historical romances are now using them. And YA. And sometimes contemporary fiction and women's fiction. And like you said, no delineation between sweet romance and steamy romance. It makes everything look the same.
I actually wrote a passionate paper about this subject for my philosophy class last semester. It's such a disheartening trend, because not only does it threaten the creativity of the writer (or any artist) but also discoverability. Not to mention 'flattening' the interest curve of the reader.
I love that you wrote a paper about this. :) And yes, that's an interesting point, that it can flatten a reader's interest because they may get to the point of "well i guess that's all there is and everything sounds the same and maybe I'm over this now." But the fresher stuff they would like is just not making its way in front of them.
I read an interesting post on a craft blog for writers about social media and how to post for the current trends. DMs, polls, reel, stories, carousel, photo, etc...
DMs? no. there are enough creeps out there, I'm not inviting anyone to the DMs. I have noticed that a lot of influencers are using the DMs. I don't have time for that.
Thanks for this post Roni! It made me think specifically about my curators, ditch a couple that I’ve noticed I don’t really click with and add a couple others to try out. 👍
I dread algorithms! In reading I’m NFing flat books that seem written to market and continuing to seek out books with quirky titles, off-the-beaten-path subjects, and intriguing covers. My TBR list continues to grow.
I'm glad you're finding some off-the-beaten path stuff! And I think there's a way to write to market and still be fresh, but it takes a little more thought on what new angle you can bring or what new element can you add. It's like when bakers started adding sea salt to the top of chocolate chip cookies. Still a delicious cookie but it's bringing something a little new to the table.
I miss the days of wandering through the book stores before Amazon, Goodreads, etc. Or even the grocery, dollar, or drug store. Discovered a few gems that way. The music stores with the headphone listening stations. The friends with the overflowing binders of CDs. Individualization is in my top 10 strengths so I appreciate uniqueness. I'm not liking the current trend of books listing out all the tropes and microtropes. It has enemies-to-lovers, one bed, he falls first, etc.! I might like all those tropes, but it also takes away the mystery. I can get from the blurb the trope. I want discover everything else along the way. There was a post on Reddit the other day of a book title "When Grumpy Met Sunshine" and how absurd it's getting.
I hear you on the listing of the tropes! (Or naming the book the trope.) Authors (including me) are asked to do that in marketing our books because of the keyword effect but also because you have milliseconds to catch someone's attention, but I don't like knowing going into a book either. I feel the same way about trigger warnings. I think they're needed but I think there should be a note at the front of the book that says "if you are concerned about triggers, please turn to page 300 to review them" instead of putting them before page one when they often have spoilers. LIke I prefer when online reviewers hide the trigger warnings in spoiler tags so then I have a choice whether i want to click on them or not.
Yes, Carrie—I feel much the same about the tropes listing! As for wandering the book aisles, I still do that, even though I buy (or borrow from the library) mostly kindle books—I make it a point to go to the library in person once a month just to wander the stacks and take pics of books to read later lol!
I do the same thing! I’ll go to my local B&N every few months and just pick up random books and read the descriptions. I even found a book outside of my usual reads last month and was so happy to have read it!
Love that!
Thanks for the thoughtful ponderings. I'm currently listening to an ARC by a much-acclaimed writer and hating it. Would my opinion change if I took a peak at the other early reviews on Goodreads? I don't know, but I hope not. I loved both of Rebecca Makkai's books and have learned to trust authors like Kristin Hannah--whose topics (the dustbowl? really?? Vietnam?) often make me want to run in the opposite direction. Yet when I come to the end of one of her novels, I mourn. (I got an early copy of THE WOMEN. Incredible.) And then there's the fact that there's so very much out there, that even with the most careful curating and choosing, we're going to miss a diamond and waste time with a flashy piece we regret. And as for writing: here's to resisting the flattening.
Yes, I think the deluge of content is a big part of the issue because there's SO MUCH out there that people have to rely on ways to trim that down--and often that means just trusting the algorithms and what's shown to you based on them. But I think that's why curators can play such an important role. They help narrow things but there's still a human element to it so there's some natural variety. (And your comment about Kristin Hannah books made me laugh becuase I got The Great Alone a few years ago from Book of the Month and I was like...I don't know about this. Then she gutted me, lol.)
I identify with so much of what you said here, Meg!
Kristen Hannah unexpectedly blows me away every time! And now I have to take another look at Rebecca Makkai—I’ve passed on them, thus far.
What you said resonated with me, too, Meg. I picked up Kristin Hannah 3 times and DNF’ed the same book of hers 3 times. Maybe the 4th time is the charm? I also stopped reading Makkai’s latest book, but now I’ll give it another shot. I hope I have the courage to resist the flattening. 🙂
I think part of it too is just paying attention to your taste and noting things. Like you may not end up liking the Kristin Hannah book or the Rebecca Makkai book and it doesn't mean your taste is flattened. It may just mean a slower pace isn't your jam.
I’m not sure if it’s exactly the same thing, but “flattening” for the algorithm made me think of the illustrated cover discussion in romance. A lot of the covers look the same, and it makes it difficult to detect the heat level of the book - everything looks like a romcom YA! But lots of people want this type of cover.
Yeah, it's really interesting because there have always been cover trends but they were more tightly defined. Like you could pick out chick lit in the 90s/00s by their cartoon covers but only chick lit was doing it, so people knew what they were getting. Or like the object covers for erotic romance that happened post 50 Shades. It was reserved for erotic romance. But the cartoon covers are bleeding into everything now. Historical romances are now using them. And YA. And sometimes contemporary fiction and women's fiction. And like you said, no delineation between sweet romance and steamy romance. It makes everything look the same.
I actually wrote a passionate paper about this subject for my philosophy class last semester. It's such a disheartening trend, because not only does it threaten the creativity of the writer (or any artist) but also discoverability. Not to mention 'flattening' the interest curve of the reader.
I love that you wrote a paper about this. :) And yes, that's an interesting point, that it can flatten a reader's interest because they may get to the point of "well i guess that's all there is and everything sounds the same and maybe I'm over this now." But the fresher stuff they would like is just not making its way in front of them.
What a great post - I can’t wait to read Filterworld! I love that you delved into this topic of how the algorithms are shaping us. Fascinating stuff!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! :)
I read an interesting post on a craft blog for writers about social media and how to post for the current trends. DMs, polls, reel, stories, carousel, photo, etc...
DMs? no. there are enough creeps out there, I'm not inviting anyone to the DMs. I have noticed that a lot of influencers are using the DMs. I don't have time for that.
DMs? Ugh, yeah, please don't stalk me there too. How annoying.
Thanks for this post Roni! It made me think specifically about my curators, ditch a couple that I’ve noticed I don’t really click with and add a couple others to try out. 👍
Glad you enjoyed it! And exploring new potential curation sources can be fun. Hope you find some good ones!
I dread algorithms! In reading I’m NFing flat books that seem written to market and continuing to seek out books with quirky titles, off-the-beaten-path subjects, and intriguing covers. My TBR list continues to grow.
I'm glad you're finding some off-the-beaten path stuff! And I think there's a way to write to market and still be fresh, but it takes a little more thought on what new angle you can bring or what new element can you add. It's like when bakers started adding sea salt to the top of chocolate chip cookies. Still a delicious cookie but it's bringing something a little new to the table.