In the past few years, the way we tell stories in books has evolved dramatically, and not always for the better. Self-publishing, as it’s colloquially known, has enabled more writers than ever before to have their voices heard. It’s opened up the market for more independent, niche, and occasionally bestselling fiction and non-fiction books. Self-publishing has also allowed for more experimentation, more risk taking, and more fun! But while the industry has benefited immensely, it’s also presented certain challenges. One of the biggest being the ever-increasing dominance of the creative writing approach in the publishing industry. So let’s take a quick look at how the creative writing approach became so dominant in literature, and why it may no longer be suitable for all writers.
The Rise of Self-Publishing
The modern publishing industry can be traced back to the early 1700s, when Richard Corson began print-publishing in London. In 1922, Allen Lane founded what would become the iconic publishing house, Lane, in the U.K., and is credited with popularizing printed books for mainstream audiences. In the aftermath of World War II, mass-market paperback publishing exploded, and by the 1960s, more people were reading books on paper than in print for the first time in history. By the 1980s, however, the dominance of the paper book was collapsing, as readers shifted en masse to owning and borrowing books rather than purchasing them. It was a dramatic turnaround brought about by a number of factors, not least of which was the advent of the eBook. The digital age was upon us, and the paper book was in for one of the biggest makeovers in history. In the span of a few years, the format would be almost completely supplanted by electronic readers and online piracy. This had a major impact on the way we read today, not just in terms of e-books but also in terms of how we engage with and enjoy literature.
The Challenges Of The Digital Age
The paper book isn’t going away any time soon, and for authors looking to break into the industry, it may still be the most readily available and accessible option. But with so many people now reading on screens, rather than paper, there is a need to adapt our approach to fit the digital world. That need manifested itself in a number of ways, the most prominent of which is e-books. While paper books enable a reader to physically handle and feel as though they are holding a tangible object, e-books are represented by an image on a digital screen. E-books also allow for more experimentation and greater flexibility when it comes to formatting and layout, both of which contribute to their rising popularity among authors and publishers alike. Paper books, on the other hand, demand a more traditional format and minimal reworking, which may limit a writer’s creativity and impact on the industry. E-books, in other words, are helping to expand the literary world and allowing for greater freedom when it comes to storytelling. While paper books aren’t going away anytime soon, the rise of the e-book format and its ever-expanding array of supporting technologies has had a revolutionary impact on the way we read and enjoy literature.
The Creative Writing Approach
In the publishing world, the term “creative writing” generally refers to short-story collections and novels that are written specifically for entertainment purposes rather than for academic or literary acclaim. With a few exceptions, such as John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath or William Faulkner’s The Sound and The Fury, most creative writing is aimed at a mainstream audience and is frequently included on shortlists for major literary awards. The focus is generally on entertainment rather than education, and that’s exactly what made it so appealing to readers in the first place. Creative writing represents a middle ground between academia and pure entertainment, something that has made it so popular amongst students. Universities frequently offer degree programs in creative writing, often paired with a mainstream journalism or business degree. As a result, there is now a whole academic industry dedicated to studying the craft of writing in all its forms and documenting the shifts in contemporary literature. The rise of the creative writing degree makes cultural studies a popular choice amongst young writers seeking to make a name for themselves. So what is it about the creative writing approach that has made it so attractive to authors and readers alike?
It’s not necessarily about the stories themselves. While some creative writing is absolutely astounding, boasting world-class stories and characters, the overall quality of writing varies widely. What unites all creative writing is that it’s not meant to be taken seriously. A common theme in most cases is humor, including satire and irony, though there are occasional exceptions, such as the abovementioned Steinbeck and Faulker. It goes without saying that humorless satire can be incredibly effective and evenhanded, but it can also be overly simplistic and uninteresting. This is why many literary critics give authorship changes for books that are explicitly comedic in nature, particularly in cases where the author tries too hard to be “edgy” or “mature”. The vast majority of time, though, a humorous story will serve the needs of the reader best by providing entertainment rather than some kind of enlightening narrative or commentary. When done right, a good story can still be both humorous and entertaining, though this probably requires a higher degree of skill on the part of the author. It’s the lack of skill and attention to detail that often results in a story being completely lacking in any sense of humor that ultimately gets the author into trouble.
That lack of attention to detail extends beyond simply the lack of a sense of humor in the writing. Many authors, particularly those who have not seriously studied the craft of writing, will often end up with a laundry list of errors and inconsistencies that significantly weaken the narrative in even the most seemingly unimportant details. While a slip of the tongue here and there will often go unnoticed by readers who are not already familiar with the setting or characters, a disregard for consistency and a complete disregard for the “little things” that make up a cohesive narrative can leave a lasting impact on the reader. These “little things” are the things that, as an author, you have control over. They are the things that, if done right, will result in a story that is both enjoyable and memorable. If this is your first time writing a story and you’re lacking in confidence, then it’s probably a good idea to take a less ambitious, less creative route and go for a more traditional publishing route. While this will put you on the right track to gaining experience, it will not necessarily translate into an award-winning piece of literary fiction.
The Rise Of Micro-publishing
Even in the midst of all this, there is still a place for the traditional, the mundane, and the sometimes odd bit of literature. In fact, in certain niches, like the “goth” subculture, a passion for all things dark and edgy, and the world of anime and manga, the requirement for a story to be “literary” in nature has been pushed to the forefront, with certain sub-genres, such as “dark fantasy” and “mecha”, requiring high degrees of competence in terms of writing style, character development, and world-building. This has led to a flourishing of micro-publishing platforms specifically catering to this niche audience. If you’re looking to write a story in a similar vein, then the perfect platform for you may be the “burroughtsy”, a micro-publishing platform designed with creators in mind. On the other end of the spectrum, you have the “gothic romance” subculture, which similarly focuses on the darker side of romance, as well as other platforms, such as Wattpad and Draft2Digital, which were created with the aim of catering to both authors and readers who want to experiment with shorter, faster-paced stories.
Why Shouldn’t Writers Experiment?
Experimentation is crucial if you want to evolve as a writer, and it’s certainly not a bad idea to try out new styles and techniques, particularly if you’re unhappy with what you’re producing. But experimentation comes with its risks, and it’s something that every writer, aspiring or otherwise, needs to remember. Some of the risks become evident right away. For example, if you’re going through a phase where you feel inspired by the works of William Shakespeare and you decide to write a story in the same vein, you may not encounter too many problems. The language and structure will likely all be there, and it will probably all be worth it, at least in terms of the end product. What could go wrong? Plenty, as it turns out. When you experiment with a new style and a new approach without any grounding in theory or practice, you inevitably run the risk of completely flouting all the rules you have ever been taught about writing, storytelling, and publishing.