I’ve spent the last several months wishing and hoping time would somehow miraculously arrive in large quantities. What with the kids, and the house (and life in general) my daily writing schedule has been completely flushed. However, it seems that things have sorted themselves out and (knock on wood) I’m on the cusp of retrieving said schedule. There’s only one little problem with that. The words won’t come. I’m not getting any story ideas for my current WIP. Zip, zilch, nada. It’s driving me crazy!
Yesterday I spent the day trying to come up with something. I did my usual—throwing myself into my main character’s mood. Trying to figure out where we’d go from here and what we’d do. Still nothing. Several of my writer friends outline their stories from beginning to end. They tell me that’s how they keep on track. I really don’t like the idea of being constricted to a storyline. I enjoy the way my novels unfold in their own way. Each time it is unique. Each day I enjoy new surprises as plots twist and unexpected things happen. I LOVE that about writing.
Yesterday was a doubt-filled day for me. That old saying about everyone having a book or two in them, kept coming to mind. What if I only had three books in me? What if the story isn’t progressing because there really is no story there? What if I’m washed up already????!!!!
Today however, is a little different. I think I’ve discovered the trouble. It’s not the story, it’s me. The new book has nothing to do with vampires, werewolves, witches, or ghosts. Why? Because I keep hearing the term ‘market saturation.’ It’s an ugly term. Seems there’s just too many of those kinds of stories out there right now. My problem is—that’s what I love to write. Those are the stories that turn me on and motivate me. I don’t mean to sound like a genre-ist, but that’s what I like reading too. If you check out my movie or book collections, you’ll see that they mostly consist of things that go bump in the night.
So today I have a huge decision to make. I have to decide who exactly I’m writing for, and what my motivations are. Do I write for me and enjoy every minute of it, or do I write with the intention of actually selling something? My vampire/werewolf series has at least two (if not three) more books before it is complete. I’m itching to get at it. I love those characters. They feel like family. What am I going to do? I have no clue, but I am making the decision today and I’ll let you know.
I woudl write what you love. This is what I have been told and they are right. If my current book doesn't sell because of market saturation I have to say oh well and maybe the next one will. I would rather write something that makes me happy than sell something that I don't like at all.
ReplyDeleteBe true to yourself and the good will come to you.
Good luck!
Oh, dear. And I'm one of those offenders who used that term, "market saturation." I do think that will pass, though. And like I said before, people will always want to read about vamps!
ReplyDeleteTo thine own self be true. Some English guy said that. He knew what he was talking about.
Now get back to the werewolves and witches.
In the end, the best writing is writing what you love. If I didn't love what I wrote, I wouldn't finish a darned thing.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Write what you love! You have an amazing story telling voice, and when you're passionate about what you're writing it shows.
ReplyDeleteYou're a great writer, and when someone gets lucky enough to pick you up, they'll expect stories along the same line.
Screw market saturation ;). It's saturated because people are eating supernatural novels for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Good luck, and keep writing!