tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post5868966141988633099..comments2024-03-07T09:26:21.305-05:00Comments on My Hogwarts Sabbatical: The Pitfalls of Writing To MarketChemist Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-14648562643888912662017-03-17T18:23:36.922-04:002017-03-17T18:23:36.922-04:00For the time being, writing is a passion for me an...For the time being, writing is a passion for me and not something I see myself doing professionally. Would it be fun? Absolutely, but not something for me for the time being.<br /><br />www.ficklemillennial.comGina Gaohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09032273127593718883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-63779333643868096782017-03-16T15:28:42.070-04:002017-03-16T15:28:42.070-04:00I don't know. Maybe I could do that kind of ru...I don't know. Maybe I could do that kind of rush job, and do it in whatever genre happens to be hot at the moment, but that sounds like an easy way to burn yourself out. Not worth doing, in my opinion, even if it is profitable in the short-term.James Paillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06213113363979079375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-86497151569119019162017-03-15T18:01:27.536-04:002017-03-15T18:01:27.536-04:00I agree with Crystal - I'd never want to put o...I agree with Crystal - I'd never want to put out something that my friends and family would cringe to know I'd written. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-84844684821925118672017-03-15T11:49:55.310-04:002017-03-15T11:49:55.310-04:00I totally get that. See, I view my books as not on...I totally get that. See, I view my books as not only my work, but a legacy for my kidlets. I don't want them to ever be embarrassed about something their Mom put out, and yes, they do read my stuff, so... Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-58688812509420440772017-03-15T04:47:12.403-04:002017-03-15T04:47:12.403-04:00And you thought readers were picky? LOL. Nah, they...And you thought readers were picky? LOL. Nah, they definitely aren't always picky, depending on the genre. I have to deal with this regularly as I write YA fantasy, etc. and every other book is a re-telling of Twilight. Those readers simply don't notice how low the quality of the writing and story are, or don't care. They want to be tantalized and that's enough for them. Other readers do care, so you just have to know your audience.Cathy Keatonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18356112948372149785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-70668730471647637962017-03-15T00:40:25.729-04:002017-03-15T00:40:25.729-04:00I think quality matters. It also tells readers th...I think quality matters. It also tells readers they can trust you to deliver on the promise the story. In my mind a book in some ways represents the authors. The ones I keep reading are the ones that give care about their stories and you can tell in the writing. IMHO, lol. <br /><a href="http://www.junetakey.com/posts/category/blog-life-happens/" rel="nofollow"> Juneta @ Writer's Gambit </a><br />Juneta keyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08815758043024184034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-76715736241489788572017-03-14T22:45:29.751-04:002017-03-14T22:45:29.751-04:00Books like that get me down, too. I can't say ...Books like that get me down, too. I can't say my first novels have perfect prose - I made plenty of mistakes - but I've read plenty of books that seem to have higher sales rates than mine that are much worse in grammar, character development, and plot arc. My youngest daughter has brought home books from the library that led her to announce to me that my writing is way better - which is a sweet ego boost and a heartbreak at the same time. My next fiction book is going directly to an agent or a small press with a good reputation. Even my one novella through a tiny, no-name press is selling better than my self-pubbed titles. I really suck at self-promotion and even if the publishers don't do a lot in that area, ideas and backing could help.<br />BTW - write what you want to write. Write the best book you can. Enjoy the process. Think Tolkien. (Remember, LOTR took 10 years and it's been beloved ever since.) You're the next Tolkien not the next "get-rich-quick" guy. <br />Tyrean Martinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15356604721537744361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-4534188399789260832017-03-14T22:21:43.819-04:002017-03-14T22:21:43.819-04:00Don't get suckered in. He may be great at mark...Don't get suckered in. He may be great at marketing, BUT if the book is as bad as you say his reputation is in the toilet. Write what you love and your fans will never get enough of you. :-)<br /><br /><a href="http://emaginette.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow"> Anna from elements of emaginette</a>emaginettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324981140248692448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-77135374426782492112017-03-14T19:55:21.120-04:002017-03-14T19:55:21.120-04:00Yikes! I'm with you. I'd much rather be pr...Yikes! I'm with you. I'd much rather be proud that rich off something that makes me cringe. I'm willing to take the time I need until I feel good about what I'm putting out there. So far that means I haven't pubbed yet, but I'm okay with that too!Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-2910087066856824792017-03-14T14:07:24.365-04:002017-03-14T14:07:24.365-04:00I never write to market. I just write what I want ...I never write to market. I just write what I want to write. The market changes with trends anyway. Most of the books that get big hype are huge downers for me. I don't like them. At all. Chrys Feyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11955009490266358041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-91895244983228365572017-03-14T13:50:26.464-04:002017-03-14T13:50:26.464-04:00I agree. I have several books I have recently purc...I agree. I have several books I have recently purchased and They are New York Times best seller books. Sigh. I can't get into them. The characters don't pop off the page. Do what you want the world to see :)Erika Beebehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12899619461035583262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-73876340812767093292017-03-14T13:12:34.483-04:002017-03-14T13:12:34.483-04:00I often feel this way when I see what sells. "...I often feel this way when I see what sells. "There's no accounting for taste" as the saying goes. Some genres do seem to have avid readers who will pick up almost anything. And in many cases the reading public simply isn't all that discerning. I'm learning in a lot of cases they want plot rather than craft or character. Too bad I'm a character writer... Maybe this explains why my work hasn't done better. I honestly don't know.<br /><br />Then again, as you say, it could all come down to marketing. You can write something really great but if you can't find the audience and/or they can't find you... So far I've struck out where marketing is concerned. Or maybe I really am a bad writer! :/Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13464393340517511305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-19818051665201740712017-03-14T13:06:25.288-04:002017-03-14T13:06:25.288-04:00You touched on one of my sorest spots, Ken. I star...You touched on one of my sorest spots, Ken. I started to read a "best selling" book the other day and wound up hurling it across the room. In the first chapter there were two run-on sentences, a typo, and three verbs used incorrectly--splice to mean cut in two pieces was one. Then the prose reminded me of middle school poor writers. I'm sorry, but please don't pass off #!$!! as best selling material. cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-16859106945947869082017-03-14T12:11:22.501-04:002017-03-14T12:11:22.501-04:00I've heard of people doing that, writing in th...I've heard of people doing that, writing in the popular genre. Marketing will get a person a long way. I suppose I'm an odd duck. I didn't get into writing to sell books, nor have I ever strove to be successful. I just want to freaking finish my series with Derek and maybe share it with a few people. Loni Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126958230703180761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-75588231497408566972017-03-14T11:37:56.853-04:002017-03-14T11:37:56.853-04:00Sadly some people do make money that way. Look at ...Sadly some people do make money that way. Look at John Locke's books. He massed produced a lot of average books, paid for reviews, and hooked a lot of people. It's good to be aware of the market, but for most, writing to it means you'll miss the boat by the time your manuscript is ready.L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-58383901968574393702017-03-14T09:15:46.366-04:002017-03-14T09:15:46.366-04:00Some genres and trends don't require as much q...Some genres and trends don't require as much quality I guess. (Look at Fifty Shades of Gray.) I still rather write what I enjoy and am good at than trying to cash in by writing something just to sell.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com