1. Galadriel says:

    At the risk of getting picky–I think that the pressure of expectations DID impact The Hunger Games. There was pressure to turn Team Gale and Team Peta into the Team Edward and Team Jacob of dystopia, and the series definitely suffered for it.

    • Galadriel, I have to admit, I never read Hunger Games–in part because by the time it was available in the library, the third book was out and I was hearing these negative things. When writers would tell me what they didn’t like, I couldn’t imagine that I would feel differently. So I can’t speak to what was behind the backward slide. Some people said the last book or maybe the last two books read as if they were made for movie books. So did the pressure get to Collins? She’s a pretty experienced writer and had other hits before, though none as big as Hunger Games. It’s hard to say.

      Becky

  2. I read the sample on Amazon, and it’s actually a good story. I think I’ll pick up the rest of it as soon as I can afford it. I forgot how much I enjoy her writing. And really, Harry Potter follows the crime drama formula–aren’t they all mysteries?

    I think Harry Potter might have failed in the end if she hadn’t written the ending way back when she wrote book 1. I mean, gosh, it might have turned out like Lost. Notice how nobody even talks about Lost anymore?

    I totally understand why she’s trying to succeed on the merits of writing alone. Poor lady doesn’t even have to try anymore, just slap her name on anything.

    • I didn’t take time to read the pages, but I’m not surprised they’re good. Someone on FB said her sales weren’t good, but on the news they said they were moderate–until the reveal.

      Thankfully Rowling didn’t wander around in her writing. Yes, I think Lost is a good example of a failure that started strong. They really did not meet expectations.

      Becky

  3. Clint Hall says:

    Great blog. I’m sure its no coincidence that we see this theme of “the world’s approval vs. God’s approval” time and time again. We can’t serve two masters.

    Thanks for sharing.

    • Thanks, Clint. I’m happy that theme comes through. That really is the secret we Christians need to live by, whether we’re writers or working in some other capacity.

      I appreciate your encouragement.

      Becky

  4. Hergot says:

    It also shows that she knows how to tell good stories across multiple genres. There might be a lesson there. =)

    • Good observation, Hergot. Good stories are good stories, no matter what the genre. I think it’s incumbent upon writers to make that the highest priority. Of course, I believe that part of making good stories is having something to say and weaving it into the fabric of the story in a natural way. 😀

      Becky

What do you think?