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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Oct 19, 2019 20:47:29 GMT
What's missing from your writing and publishing journey? Are you as successful and productive as you'd like to be? Is there anything about the writing and publishing journey that baffles you? Is there some step you feel you should try but it's too scary? Do you ever feel pressured to do certain things that don't feel comfortable to you? This is the thread to talk about those things and to try and get help and feedback with any part of the writing and publishing process. I will pre-slot some Q&A as posts below to get us started.  |
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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Oct 19, 2019 20:55:00 GMT
Question #1: Should I write what I love or should I choose what is popular?
This is a personal decision every writer must make for themselves. The best option is if you can find a genre or niche you love, or at least enjoy, that is also popular. Most of us have various interests, so it shouldn't be too difficult to match up one of your interests to one that is at least somewhat popular.
Of course, this is just one option. You can eschew market research and just write what you love regardless of popularity. You may get lucky and become hugely successful, or you might sell only a few copies to friends and family. But if you aren't writing for monetary reasons this might not matter. Decide why you are writing and publishing, and then you'll know which path you should take.
You can also write some books that you know are super popular, and then write others that are just for passion. So your publishing journey needn't be either or. It can be both, and. There is no one right way to be an author. Those who are mostly interested in earning money usually take their market research quite seriously and can sometimes make other authors feel they're doing it wrong if chasing the fungolas isn't their modus operandi.
If you write to create because you are compelled to do so, and if you can't seem to feel any inspiration or excitement for what you believe is popular, don't despair. There is an audience out there for you. It may be small, medium, or large. It might wax and wane over time. If what you're writing is important those who need it and are searching for it will find it. Especially if you market it well. If you hate marketing that's only because it's been presented to you in a way that doesn't speak to you. There are numerous forms of marketing, and I guarantee there is one method out there that will please you.
Just as there is a way to write and publish that will work for you, as well.
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Post by dormouse on Oct 19, 2019 22:35:23 GMT
The best option is if you can find a genre or niche you love, or at least enjoy, that is also popular. ... Of course, this is just one option. You can eschew market research and just write what you love regardless of popularity. This need not be the dichotomy that is usually portrayed. You could work out the important elements of the story you want to write and then consider what genres you could use them in. Your story may not follow the usual tropes, but that needn't matter unless you choose to break a rule that readers regard as essential. Ideally, you can devise a format that allows you to use your other ideas so that you can have a series. Else you need a genre that works for standalones. Most ideas and stories don't come neatly in novel form anyway. It may not be writing to market, but it would be writing with market in mind. |
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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Oct 20, 2019 0:45:55 GMT
Excellent feedback, Dormouse!!! There are so many ways to do things. If people share and don't fight, a lot of wonderful things can be created.  The best option is if you can find a genre or niche you love, or at least enjoy, that is also popular. ... Of course, this is just one option. You can eschew market research and just write what you love regardless of popularity. This need not be the dichotomy that is usually portrayed. You could work out the important elements of the story you want to write and then consider what genres you could use them in. Your story may not follow the usual tropes, but that needn't matter unless you choose to break a rule that readers regard as essential. Ideally, you can devise a format that allows you to use your other ideas so that you can have a series. Else you need a genre that works for standalones. Most ideas and stories don't come neatly in novel form anyway. It may not be writing to market, but it would be writing with market in mind. |
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Post by davidvandyke on Oct 24, 2019 18:18:38 GMT
Choose a genre that's popular. Then do your own thing within the genre. The genre is just to get people hooked in and reading. After that, it's all on you. Write the way you love, that inspires you. It will show in your writing. You can lead the readers all over the place as long as it's within the general boundaries of the genre., IMO.
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