Big business Quote by Stephen King
““The resulting scrambling to get the next big shiver and shake novel produced some really terrible books. As a further result, the wave had begun to withdraw by the mid 70s, and more traditional bestsellers began to re-appear: stories of sex, big business, sex, spies, gay sex, doctors in trouble, kinky sex, historical romances, sexy celebrities, war stories, and sex.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The State of Publishing, Stephen King, 1979
The chase for sensational trends led to low‑quality books, pushing traditional stories back into popularity.
In simple terms: Chasing trends harms quality, reviving classics.
Key Takeaway
Balance novelty with substance.
Themes
literature
trend cycles
quality control
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
literary
cultural
When to use this quote
- editing
- reading classics
- publishing decisions
- marketing strategies
Key Concepts
publishing industry
cultural taste
market dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do audiences crave sensationalism?
- How can creators resist cheap thrills?
A Different Perspective
Trend‑driven markets can still produce good work.
