50 Shades of What the Hell???

 

Okay, I think it's a little late to be jumping on this bandwagon but sweet holy Jesus, I only just found out that 50 Shades was actually a piece of fan-fiction starring Bella and Edward of Twilight! And here I was thinking the majority of participants on this bandwagon—critics, readers and authors alike—were only here because both trilogies were so badly written! (Although I’m sure that’s a big part of the reason too!)

Yet for all the horrifying awfulness of these books, not one person can see any possible, sane, intelligent-sounding reason as to how or why the 50 Shades trilogy had the stamina, talent or weight to get published by a big-name publishing house.

            Now, you may say to me, “Dearest Melissa, the quest to find this reason has been going on for quite some time. We really don’t think one more 50 Shades hater is really going to make that much of a difference.”

            To which I say, fear not. I’m not here to hate or offer any hope, reasons or explanations. My current purpose is to find out who is to blame for this travesty and yes, it is a travesty. The publication of 50 Shades has brought the world of writing down to a whole new level and no, I’m not talking about the sex. Sex sells. Everyone knows that. What I’m talking about is the quality of the work itself. The quality of the writing, the flow of the story, the words, the plot, everything that goes in to the telling of a good story---where is it and who do we blame because honestly?

These books are awful.

I know publishing companies are struggling in the face of the ebook explosion and the do-it-yourself publishing programs but does that mean the books they do receive no longer need to be above par? Are these companies so desperate that they’re willing to put anything into print even if the work doesn’t meet their standards? Are they telling future writers that they too can write crap? That all they have to do is take an already-published story, change a few things around to make it their own then submit it for millions and fame?

            The connection between 50 Shades and Twilight is unmistakable. It’s simply unbelievable and unfair that one author could so blatantly build upon the success of another. I suppose the term “solid work ethic” need not apply here.

            Writers beware!