The Jim Butcher Files: Dresden . Codex Alera . Cinder Spires & More

[alansplace]

New post https://www.jim-butcher.com/

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by alansplace

New post https://www.jim-butcher.com/

Yep, as expected, a "we have a release date soon." They probably know the date, but need to wait for it to be officially announced. Or simply to pacify the ones that found the leaked date. What could possibly more suspucious than a "we can neither deny nor confirm it." As for now, I will just stick to the leaked date and assume the date at least is correct.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Only if he's back on his former schedule. I mean...guys, he may be tiring of Harry. It happens. Or maybe he's burned through his supply of previously-considered story arc.

I've moved on. I know, I know, heresy, but god knows, there are enough wizards out there (Alex Verus, etc.) to keep me occupied. How long's it been now? (And no, novellas, short stories, don't cut it for me.) I know it sounds selfish and trite, but as I said previously, all the "personal problems" aside, it feels like quite frankly, he takes us for granted. Melanie Rawn pulled this crap decades ago and I decided then that I'm not going with it.

The rest of us all have to survive "personal problems" and still show up to work every day. Yeah, yeah, creatives are "speshul" but somehow, the rest of us manage to work when our life isn't going so damned great.

Hitch

You are absolutely right. And yet your are following this thread. Especially when you have experience and can give us real world insights into the Pub Biz.

I don't want to believe that Jim Butcher burned through his originally planned story arc. If that was the case, the whole series was a lie from the beginning. My own suspicion is of a different nature. The challenge of outdoing yourself each and every novel has hit a brick wall. And he doesn't cope well with not finding enough motivation to try. But honestly, he doesn't have to get better and better and better. He could throw in a different book in, say, another Ghost Story book.

[JSWolf]

And what about the abandoned Cinder Spires series?

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I suspect that most do that because they have to. One would assume that Jim Butcher has enough money that he doesn't have to write any more to pay the bills.

Of course, I do agree with your overall premise, which is after a period of time, the prudent thing is to move on to other writers. I have no idea if Patrick Rothfuss is going to ever finish Stone Door or not, it's been a long, long time. I'll likely read it if he does, but I'm not counting on it.

Of course, he has the luxury of not working. I get it. But...while creating a compelling fictional world, into which your readers invest, is a true talent and absolutely hard damn work, having devoted and dedicated fans is a privilege. Not a right.

The luxury of not working or not, he should keep that in mind.

Hitch

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

You are absolutely right. And yet your are following this thread. Especially when you have experience and can give us real world insights into the Pub Biz.

I don't want to believe that Jim Butcher burned through his originally planned story arc. If that was the case, the whole series was a lie from the beginning. My own suspicion is of a different nature. The challenge of outdoing yourself each and every novel has hit a brick wall. And he doesn't cope well with not finding enough motivation to try. But honestly, he doesn't have to get better and better and better. He could throw in a different book in, say, another Ghost Story book.

Y'know, I don't remember why. I'm actually not following it for the next book. I saw a post, somewhere, that caught my eye and replied to it, IIRC. (It's been a while, more than a year, I think?).

I cannot tell a lie, I really am not waiting or even looking forn the next book. Yes, at some point, I'll read it, most likely, but...would I pre-order it, or anything like that? No, I won't. It's not pettiness or snubbing it or whatever, I've just disconnected from the series, in terms of "ooooh, what happens next?" I'm actually more interested, atm, in what's going to happen in the next new Alex Verus, than Harry. And honestly...I can't believe I'm saying that, but it's absolutely, positively true. There was a time when I avidly awaited the next Harry, but...I just don't now. Been too long.

Hitch

[Tarana]

Finished Blood Rites and will move on to Dead Beat in January.

Hitch, I do get your argument, but also keep in mind that Butcher doesn't have the same background as a lot of writers who can keep churning out despite life. Many of those authors were journalists before they retired to writing. I think that makes a difference. Stephen King had a lot of support as well as the work ethic when he was injured. That's a lot why Pratchett could write despite illness (and the advantage of having the specific type of Alzheimer's he had). I'm not excusing it, but I do recognize that most writers maybe would not make that leap.

[JSWolf]

Well, in this instance, one of the worst writers for a series is George R.R. Martin. I think his A Song of Fire and Ice series is toast especially since the HBO series is over and has an ending.

He's taking way too long to get book 5 out that he didn't do so in time for the TV show.

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by Tarana

Hitch, I do get your argument, but also keep in mind that Butcher doesn't have the same background as a lot of writers who can keep churning out despite life. Many of those authors were journalists before they retired to writing. I think that makes a difference. Stephen King had a lot of support as well as the work ethic when he was injured. That's a lot why Pratchett could write despite illness (and the advantage of having the specific type of Alzheimer's he had). I'm not excusing it, but I do recognize that most writers maybe would not make that leap.

What is Butcher's background? And why is that relevant? I'm not following this train of thought at all. Work ethic, yes; background, no.

I know he wrote at least one of his first novels for a writing class. Which makes me think he has some training to be a professional writer but I don't see much in the way of details. I know his bio says the trick to being an author is to keep writing and persisting. I don't see how that background is more susceptible to writing slow than King or Pratchett or Sanderson.

Regarding Hitch's comment about "previously-considered story arc" from a while back, it sounds like he has a solid outline for books up through #20 or #21 so at least the big picture ideas are there. It could be a matter of the details though or just changing priorities.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Yep, as expected, a "we have a release date soon." They probably know the date, but need to wait for it to be officially announced. Or simply to pacify the ones that found the leaked date. What could possibly more suspucious than a "we can neither deny nor confirm it." As for now, I will just stick to the leaked date and assume the date at least is correct.

Is this the leaked date you are assuming is correct?

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by alansplace

Attachment 175624

Is this the leaked date you are assuming is correct?

Since it is not officially on Jim Butcher's website or posted on Twitter, it can only mean it is the leaked date. Until someone, anyone, discredits the authenticity of that date, yes, I am assuming it is correct. Another indication is the complete lack of any other rumored dates. We will see.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

What is Butcher's background? And why is that relevant? I'm not following this train of thought at all. Work ethic, yes; background, no.

I know he wrote at least one of his first novels for a writing class. Which makes me think he has some training to be a professional writer but I don't see much in the way of details. I know his bio says the trick to being an author is to keep writing and persisting. I don't see how that background is more susceptible to writing slow than King or Pratchett or Sanderson.

Regarding Hitch's comment about "previously-considered story arc" from a while back, it sounds like he has a solid outline for books up through #20 or #21 so at least the big picture ideas are there. It could be a matter of the details though or just changing priorities.

I'm not Tarana, but my suspicion is that s/he means (he, right?) that when you've worked in journalism (I have) being sick or divorced or whatever is no excuse. When I was in that line of endeavor, brother, if you wanted "sick" as an excuse, you'd best be in the hospital AND so heavily sedated that you can't do the job. Seriously. I once had a broken limb, and the editor sent a copyboy to my apartment with a typewriter and a sheaf of paper and told me to get my @$$ in gear.

In the old days, a year or so in journalism was the best training you could ever have for "@$$ in chair, fingers on keys." Those old guys (largely men, but not excusively) were hard-@$$es and they took NO prisoners.

That's my best guess.

Hitch

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Since it is not officially on Jim Butcher's website or posted on Twitter, it can only mean it is the leaked date. Until someone, anyone, discredits the authenticity of that date, yes, I am assuming it is correct. Another indication is the complete lack of any other rumored dates. We will see.

I don't really view that as leaked. When Jim announced that Peace Talks was finished I immediately said to myself "ah, a Spring release". Why? Because with Jim's releases it's pretty much always been 6 months from when he delivers the manuscript to the publisher. Sorry that I didn't post that as I thought everyone already knew it.

[JSWolf]

Sure Jim is working on Dresden FIles, but when is he going to work on another Cinder Spires novel?

One thing that does put me off is short stories/novellas in an anthology book where I don't care about the other stories and only care about that one story. Jim did this and it's very off-putting. STOP DOING IT!

[cc_in_oh]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Sure Jim is working on Dresden FIles, but when is he going to work on another Cinder Spires novel?

One thing that does put me off is short stories/novellas in an anthology book where I don't care about the other stories and only care about that one story. Jim did this and it's very off-putting. STOP DOING IT!

I'm also more interested in CS - character-rich and a vast unexplored world vs. Chicago? No contest.