I have lots of conversations with people. I talk to people all the time, because, well, I love people, especially those who want to talk about my writing. Often us writers hear certain phrases or buzz words during our journey to publication.
‘Strong concept’, ‘effective platform’, ‘compelling writing’ are just a few I’ve heard so far, as three ingredients of publishing success. These are absolutely key in my mind, to getting published, there’s no doubt about it, but many times, people will look at whether or not you have a fantastic story and if readers will enjoy it.
There is some argument as to whether writers should write to trend or simply write what they love. I am definitely in the ‘write what you love’ camp. I adore writing more than anything else in the world, just the entire process from concept to completed manuscript fills me with a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment nothing else can.
Am I looking to the future, where I live in a lovely house in the country, with trees and fields and my own study? Yes, absolutely!
Do I yearn for financial freedom so I don’t feel anxious all the time? Totally.
Can I contain that sudden rush of adrenaline I get, when I imagine that first meeting with a publisher who wants to publish my work, where we sit down and discuss it? No way! Or hide the smile I’ll get when talking to my readers about characters, storylines or how they want to become an author too? Never!
But, that love I have for writing, that feeling that nothing else comes close to, THAT is why I write.
1 person likes this
Write what I feel. If I can feel it, so might others.
2 people like this
Karen "Kay" Ross exactly that!
2 people like this
Phil Bridge so true! I agree with you Karen "Kay" Ross
It's almost impossible to write to a trend, esp. with traditional publishing, because by the time you write a book and it's published, the trend has already moved on and you look like old news. Self-publishing is quicker to the marketplace, but finding readers can be much harder without placement in bookstores, promotional help, etc., and the time to write a book is still an issue (though for the last year, I've had a novel deadline every 3 months, and I've been keeping up with that.
All that said, writing what you love isn't always the route to a successful career, either. I've been published in many genres: horror, mystery, thriller, western, fantasy, science fiction, etc., and in novels, short fiction, comics/graphic novels, games... A reader who likes a horror novel won't necessarily pick up a thriller or a graphic novel by the same author, so in some ways you have to build a whole new readership with each shift. The perennial bestsellers for the most part (certainly with exceptions) write series books that keep the same readers coming back and new ones coming aboard.
So as usual in the novel game, it's mostly a matter of your personal goals and priorities.