Seasons vs Novels: Guest Post from Whiskey Witches Author S.M. Blooding

We have a wonderful guest post today from S.M. Blooding, the author of Whiskey Witches.  She has taken the time to break down the differences between novels (which we all know and love) and a fairly new term for some of us:  Seasons. The way we read has changed--and seasons have not only burst upon the scene--but, they hold a very significant spot in the scene for many writers and readers.  Enjoy S.M. Blooding's take on the differences between seasons and novels--and check out her latest Season, Whiskey Witches.

Seasons vs. Novels by S.M. Blooding

Seasons are a fairly new trend in an otherwise traditional industry, and I hope it continues. A lot of authors—and I really do mean a lot—are trying their hand at it. There are just shy of 1,700 season 1’s in the Kindle Book Store as of this morning. It’s a BLAST to write and it’s an immense challenge.

Readers aren’t 100% on board, though. Frankly, they’re not even 50% on board yet.  

Let’s compare some of the pros and cons of season reading vs novel reading. 

We KNOW novels!  

I think this is the biggest advantage to a novel. When readers pick up a novel, they know they’re getting a beginning (with a backstory), a middle, and an end. And they don’t have to wait. 

Okay, sure. It could be a serial. It could be book 1 of a trilogy, but they have an expectation that the cliffhanger won’t leave them pissed as they wait for more, and that within a year or two, they’ll have the next installment. Readers know that when they pick up a NOVEL, they’re going on an adventure with clear expectations. It meets their genre requirements, there’s nothing new or crazy about it, and they’re going to get their book addiction satisfied by the end of the last chapter. 

Well, as long as the book doesn’t suck. Right? 

Novels are traditional

Novels are novels are novels are novels. The end. Have a lovely day. They’ve been novels for hundreds of years. They’ll be novels for hundreds of years from now. You know, if we survive the zombie apocalypse and all, but you catch my meaning. The book was never broken to begin with. It doesn’t need fixed. 

Seasons have a faster pace

Because the author has to tell complete a mini story arc in every episode, and each episode is only 10-20K words long (the average novel is 90 to 100K), there isn’t a lot of space for fluff. That can upset a lot of readers who enjoy that fluff; the emotional moments, the cuddle moments, the look behind the mask to see what kind of person the character is. A lot of readers want that up front. They want that backstory. They want to see how the character came to be who they are now. They need that before they invest their time in a character who they might not like. 

Seasons/episodes don’t have a lot of room for the Ghost of Christmas Past.

With so little space, the plot comes first. We generally hit the floor running, so you get to know the character like you would any human being on the planet. You interact with them. It makes it a challenge for the author and the reader, but, overall, it usually makes for a much stronger story because the pace is usually where it should have been in the first place.

A lot of readers love to watch TV

There’s a reason we love to watch TV. The storylines are fast-paced enough to grab our attention, and the mini-story arc is closed up by the end of each episode. Unless it’s a two-parter, and then we’re frustrated until the next week.

Series writing is a lot like watching TV. Each episode is still longer than a TV episode would be. 

You’re still getting more out of the book episode than you would out of a TV episode, much like comparing a novel to a movie. Season-writing is cleaner, tighter, and faster than a typical novel. The author has to be in TV mode rather than movie mode.

Series lengths can be longer

Here’s the thing you’re going to be seeing more of that could be fun for some of you. Series writing can be longer than a typical book.

Last year, I launched two seasons: Dream Killers and Whiskey Witches. Technically speaking, all episodes together, they could have been launched as a single book in each series. They would have been longer books, but not so much so that it would have driven people nuts.  

Next year, both series’ seasons will comprise of 8 episodes launched for 8 consecutive weeks. Looking at word count, it’ll be like launching two entire novels in back-to-back months! It’s crazy and insane, but it’s such a fantastic challenge. And the story? It can only benefit from it!  

Conclusion

Depending on whether you’re a traditional novel-reader, or someone looking for a new reading adventure will decide your season reading experience. It is a new experience. It can be fun. It can be exhilarating and a wild ride. You can get a full reading experience with complete, three-dimensional characters and exploding story arcs.

But you do have to be in the right mind-set if you pick it up one episode at a time. It can be a thrilling and exciting ride!

Check out S.M. Blooding's Whiskey Witches Season1 Episode 1

Quick Summary of Whiskey Witches - Old Beginnings: Season 1 Episode 1 Detective Paige Whiskey comes from a long line of witches. They may not all be the most powerful, but they are outspoken and supportive of their community. She alone has no gifts. She can’t summon fire, can’t read minds. She knows the arcane. She’s studied it. That, along with her connection to the Whiskey Witches, lands her some pretty strange cases.

Like the sacrificial murders of St. Francisville, Louisiana. There’s a killer on the loose, choosing people in a vain attempt to raise a demon. Once she gets there, she realizes the murders were nothing more than an elaborate invitation, tempting her into the claws of the killer.

She does have a gift, a very powerful and terrifying one.

The killer is after her.

Buy on Amazon

Meet the Author:

SM “Frankie” Blooding lives in Colorado with her pet rock, Rockie, and Jack the Bird. Jack has refused to let her to take up the piano again, but is warming to the guitar. It might help that Frankie has learned more than two strings. She’s added a few more Arabic words to her vocabulary, but don’t invite her into conversation yet—unless, of course, you’re willing to have a very . . . slow . . . conversation.

She’s dated vampires, werewolves, sorcerers, weapons smugglers and US Government assassins. Yes. She has stories.

She’s also an investigator with a local paranormal investigation group, Colorado Paranormal Rescue!



 

Connect with S.M. Blooding:

Facebook /Twitter /Website