Some days writing comes more easily than others. You have to have the ideas of course – what happens next, and then what, and then what… You have to have the discipline to sit down and try to write in words what is so vivid in your mind. And you have to try not to let the business aspect of the process become too distracting.
And it is distracting. Not only whether or not readers will like the story you’ve told in the end but whether or not it will sell in the first place. Publishers are always looking for something “new” and “hot” but of course not *too* far outside the box. There are writers who start trends and then ride the wave. Other writers are able to take advantage of trends and write stories for current popular markets. Timing is really everything though. It takes time to write a story, time to get it to the attention of a publisher and yet more time for that publisher to get a story out into the marketplace. As an author, by the time that you identify a popular trend you might actually be interested in writing in, the market could well be glutted and that trend on the way out.
I am much too slow a writer to try and take advantage of any of the hot trends in publishing. My only hope is that the trends that interest me become more classic over time so I have a chance to catch up.
I saw a thread on a forum I frequent where someone remarked that sales of straight contemporary romance were down – they aren’t as popular as they used to be. I was in a funk most of the day after reading that since straight contemporary is what I tend to write. And yet, I can only write the stories and characters that come into my head. I just have to keep my head down and hope that what I write is compelling enough to make the grade at the end of the day. Contemporary romance is the little black dress of the genre – it never goes out of style (right??)
My instinct is to just stick my head in the sand but of course I can’t really do that.
Instead I will just continue to write what pleases me and hope that someday it will please everyone else as well. Still making progress on my WIP. Starting a new section so now it’s time to do some research. There are worse ways to spend your time than researching Athens…
I am NOT a fan of the Romance genre, as a whole. However, I do enjoy your work and feel the story telling and characterizations transcend the label, “Romance”.
Continue to write what pleases you and the audience will find it.
by Susan E. October 25th, 2007 at 4:09 pmLadies (and gentlemen!) I did not pay her to leave that comment!!!
Thank you!
by Jenyfer Matthews October 25th, 2007 at 4:33 pmYou’re worried that your little black dress might not fit the genre? Try writing in the sparkly red cocktail number of erotic paranormal…selling well now, but when’s it going out of style? Gah!
by Crystal Jordan October 25th, 2007 at 5:12 pmEnjoy it while it lasts, Crystal! And then trade it for a flashy new electric blue number
by Jenyfer Matthews October 25th, 2007 at 9:02 pm