Write That Bestseller!
Browsing the book store yesterday, it occurred to me that there are books that I never could have imagined anyone writing or reading. Who thought up a book about WWII radio operators, or how to make clever cupcakes, or slow-thinking guys named Forest who can run really fast and far?
Of course, not all books succeed, but someone loved the idea enough to write it down and do the editing work. Then someone else loved it enough to sink money into making it a book. And sometimes, someone loves it enough to buy it. If many someones do, it becomes a bestseller, and good for you, Mr./Ms. Author. But it starts with each one of us sitting down and writing what we think SHOULD be a bestseller. After that, it's largely out of our hands.
Of course, not all books succeed, but someone loved the idea enough to write it down and do the editing work. Then someone else loved it enough to sink money into making it a book. And sometimes, someone loves it enough to buy it. If many someones do, it becomes a bestseller, and good for you, Mr./Ms. Author. But it starts with each one of us sitting down and writing what we think SHOULD be a bestseller. After that, it's largely out of our hands.
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Comment by I. J. Parker on May 7, 2009 at 4:39am
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To be perfectly honest, I started out writing for myself and made the naive assumption that everybody else would like the same thing. I was wrong. I have a niche audience made up of brave readers who don't mind getting their historical novels from strange and unknown places and a handful of Japanophiles and martial arts fans. The only thing I have going for me is that the story of Akitada is addictive. It's the protagonist who gets me more readers. I had my reality moment when someone on Dorothy L. wrote me to say that a novel set in 11th century Japan was just about the last thing she'd ever read. One of the reasons I don't like DL.
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Comment by B.R.Stateham on May 7, 2009 at 2:49am
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Sure, I.J.--we all get upset when we see the crap that's a success and our stuff is setting in the closet gathering dust. But that drive is still there. And that's what keeps us going year in and year out hoping to get a break.
As to writing to an audience, I can partially agree. I write detective/mystery novels aimed at a certain reader because I firmly believe they are out there waiting to read my kind of 'stuff.' You write your historical novels probably the same exact way. We know there is an audience out there. All we got to do is figure out how to connect with them. Right?
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Comment by Jon Loomis on May 7, 2009 at 1:29am
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Maybe I could write a memoir about a guy with ADD writing a memoir... Look--YouTube!
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Well, yes, B.R., but that also means that you get really furious when reading books by successful writers.
As for the successful books above: they were written to an audience. Military themes sell, cookbooks sell, and books about handicapped persons overcoming their handicap sell extremely well.
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Oh, hell. If you don't believe fundamentally that you are as good a writer as anyone in print, you shouldn't be writing. I'm convinced a large measure of pure bravado is needed. And sometimes I think determination and sheer bravado trumps talent. Really, I'm becoming more and more convinced of it!
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