Two posts this morning got me thinking about advice given about Stories versus Books, and how writers should consider these in building their library of works and growing in their craft. This led to reviewing a third important post from two days past.

This post from Ulysses at Comics Odyssey is definitely worth your time. Story is paramount over the elements of the story, and this advice applies to any story, not just comic books, graphic novels, or other sequential art forms. The older forms of story need to be rediscovered to restore Story for a new generation that hungers for something other than bare Materialism.

This post from Kristin McTiernan (shared with me by Rawle Nyanzi ) discusses the challenges of writing in a highly-technical, AI-infused world, where some books are utilized as decor items rather than being read. Where summaries of best selling books reach the shelves perhaps hours ahead of the original books’ physical copies arrival on the shelves of its sellers. David Baldacci notes that his new releases are quickly accompanied by “companion books”, which are fast-read (~30-minute) summaries of his novel. This obviously cuts into sales of his books, if the summary book purchase replaces a purchase of Baldacci’s book.

The thing that was clear to me was that even the purchase of the companion summary book meant to me that the public is still interested in — at some level — one thing.

Not the book. Not the medium of delivery.

The story.

Which brings us to the question of “what is the writer selling?”

This was a question posed by Brian Niemeier as he shared a trenchant X post (or via XCancelled for non-X users) from Isaac Young about younger Gen Z writers breaking into the wider writing world where successful Lumber Mill authors such as Baldacci reside and have shaped the playing field.

Careful of the choices you make, and always be aware of your focus as a writer.

Writers, are you a Story Weaver or a Book Seller? Do you want to be remembered for your entertaining tales or for the quality of the sprayed edges on your last hardcover release? What is your real focus? It matters to carefully think this through as you hone your craft and seek your path into the World of Story.

Just a few images today, this time from Brian’s Second XSEED Series.

Until later, folks!