RE: The Case Of The Token Stiff, A Blaine Stamren Noir Murder Mystery
I would say it's not in vogue. There might be one who's doing it like they're in the future, so it's kind of anachronistic in nature. I ran across something like that a few years ago, but I can't remember now if it was a book or a movie. I'm thinking it was a book, but I don't even know if I could find it again.
I need to sit down and watch The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca. I've only seen parts of those shows. I think there were a series of Sam Spade movies made, too, but I haven't seen them or read the books. I'm not remembering right now the names of the ones I have read.
Those writers had to write fast and dirty and keep within the limits of sensibilities. So, all kinds of things could be happening, but it had to be within the confines of what society would allow. So, they had to be more creative about how they approached certain topics and the words they used. Nowadays, people just blow through all of that and basically push it in your face. Personally, when there's not a lot left to the imagination, it's not nearly as good.
yes sir that was it, Sam Spade and I think there are a series of Sam Spade novels maybe?
well I think it's a great sign if no one else is doing it, or does that work in books?
Generally, like any other thing, you want to get in before the wave forms, because otherwise, you miss the wave. But paddle too early and you may never catch anything. The hard part is knowing when the wave is going to form.
It would be great to see trends before they've completely formed, but where there's enough interest out there to make some money, and have something ready to jump right in with. Unfortunately, that's not really easy to do. There are some authors that actually create the trend, or renew it, or revamp and revigorate it, but for the most part, they're tapping into something that already exists, not starting something new.
I'm not sure that hard boiled mysteries have ever been mainstream, let alone a sci-fi version of it. If you wanted to marry two things, it would probably be action and romance. I haven't thought much about that before, but there's an idea. You get the right balance, you could grab both sexes. Guys don't do a lot of reading, though, at least not novels. They might read more non-fiction, depending on what it is. They're more apt to watch a video or a movie and play video games, while women tend to still like to use their imaginations. I think it may be because they spend so much time thinking about things and staying inside their own heads that they don't like to come out much. :)
they stay in their own heads and don't like to come out much! lol, that is sure true, they like to lose themselves in romance novels.
but it would be nice if you could START the wave.
That would pretty much mean I have to be able to write romance. I know I can write action. Romance is a different deal, especially done right, which doesn't really happen as much as it should. I get a little suspicious of what's behind romance novel reading anyway. Are they saying they don't have enough romance in their lives, they need to read about some fictional characters' love life, too? They have to watch reality TV, they have to watch Hallmark and Lifetime channels? They have to watch romantic comedies?
I mean, put that imagination to work and be a spark in the real relationship you have. Don't go fantasizing about relationships that aren't real and therefore will never happen.
I like explosions and car chases and gun battles and wars in outer space, but that's not real life and I'm not trying to make it be or wishing it was. Okay, maybe the explosions if I get to walk away in slow motion. :)
hahaha. well I don't know the whys of the romance novels appeal, I just know it's there. I don't think it should be but it is.
you like all the action hero and comic book heros, maybe you should go that route, or did you already say that you tried?
I haven't really tried. I have a Patreon page that has gone nowhere as I've been developing characters or stories for a comic book series, but I don't think I've exhausted that venture yet. It's going to cost money to create each issue because I don't have the artistic expertise to pull it off myself (not on an ongoing basis), and since I don't have the minimum $2500 it's going to take to get one issue drawn (that's not including printing or shipping—just a digital version—and that's the basement price estimate even), I'm at a standstill at the moment with that.
Which is fine. My intent is to put in as much work here as I can, see what I can generate not only in earnings but in audience, and then go from there.
The comic books could have action and romance, so maybe that's the way I should go! There is a little of that combination I think, but not too terribly much. Demographics might not work yet, but I think we've been in a fairly long period of time now where comic books aren't just for adolescent males anymore, so maybe some other groups would like it. Until it's done, it's hard to know how market segments are going to react.
howdy Glen, this is very interesting..lol.. not that I mean FOR A CHANGE! everything you write is very interesting but ..anyway, oh, how long does it take for whoever to draw up a comic book? for $2,500.
i don't know. It depends on the artist and what all they're going to do. That cost might not include inking. But then there's coloring and lettering that needs to happen, too, which I didn't include.
I am hoping though that I can get the same folks out of France who did the last batch of character design to actually draw the pages and color them. They were very fast with the character design. Comic books are generally monthly, so you would want to have a 24 page book plus cover finished within at least 20 days for print and shipping. I think that's pushing it, though, because most artists like to take much longer. But production on a book needs to be quick. Sometimes, that's the main consideration and less what it looks like when it's done.
Everything is paid by the page, rather than a salary of some kind. So, I'm estimating $100 a page plus the cover, which is pretty low as far as good artists go.