Writing to Market (rethinking stuff they told us)

Writing to Market (rethinking stuff they told us)

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Authors are passionate.

About their art. Their creative muse. Their genre and its many permutations.

And the question of whether or not we should be ”writing to market” is not exempt from fiery brawling warlike spirited debate.

Writing to Market: a Definition

In a nutshell, “writing to market” simply means:

  1. Invest time researching what’s “hot” (selling lots) in the current market (e.g., vampires, werewolves, and/or zombies).
  2. If you value your career, write your next novel about vampires, werewolves, and/or zombies.
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Café Espresso Attack

Café Espresso Attack

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Dissident Flash Fiction #2

In Dissident, we are introduced to a new POV (point-of-view) character: Connor Sinclair.

Connor is typical in many ways: a history major in his first-year of university, just shy of his eighteenth birthday, with a tight-knit circle of friends and a favorite café hangout.

He’s also a Hoarder (one of the bad guys).

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Breaking Out of the Genre Straitjacket

Breaking Out of the Genre Straitjacket

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At times, it feels like someone has a gun pointed at your head.

“Choose a genre. Sci-fi. Dystopia. Supernatural thriller—it doesn’t matter. Just pick one. But then don’t you ever step outside the prescribed tropes. Or your writing career’s gonna be in the toilet, capisce?”

As an author working on a couple of future releases which I’d describe as “supernatural thrillers set on another world,” I chafe at the implied genre constraints.

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the Dark Side

the Dark Side

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Dissident Flash Fiction #1

“Dystopian … Ah yes, the dark side of science fiction.” (anonymous comment)

I like writing dystopian stories. As they say, “a candle shines brightest in the darkness.” In a dark, daunting, and dystopian setting, the actions of the few who refuse to be cowed into submission become truly heroic.

For example, there’s no super-powers involved. No special abilities. In a dystopian world, heroes are ordinary people, called upon to accomplish extraordinary things.

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5 Best Practices for Writing Groups

5 Best Practices for Writing Groups

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One of the best decisions an aspiring author can make is to join a local writers’ group. Camaraderie and encouragement are nourishment for the soul.

Writing groups also provide a golden opportunity for skill-sharpening. Constructive critique — giving and receiving — is crucial to becoming a better writer.

Here are some “best practices.”

1. Bring a printed copy of your WIP (work-in-progress).

This shows that you take the group’s time seriously. You came prepared. You’re not scrolling through your device, hoping a passage will catch your eye.

Feel free to preface your reading with what you’d like critiqued: dialogue, pacing, world-building, character development, or all of the above.

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Book Promotion during COVID-19

Book Promotion during COVID-19

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There’s been a surprising amount of discussion—accompanied by a certain level of angst—about book promotion during the current pandemic.

The concern seems to be about the optics of promoting a new book you’ve written while readers may be struggling financially due to layoffs and stay-at-home sheltering orders.

Writers are understandably concerned about appearing heartless, callous, or tone-deaf about the real struggles faced by an overwhelmingly large swath of the population. Nobody wants to be lumped in with the selfish profiteers who bought up all the hand sanitizer for resale. Or those hoarding enough toilet paper to supply a Martian colony for a year.

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