There was talk last year about having a plan, and then goals for the New Year and such. With that in mind I went to Stephanie Bond’s website to check out her writing articles. (She has tons of valuable advice.)
One of her articlesis A WRITING BUSINESS PLAN with these questions for you to think about.
“Q: What kind of books do you want to write?
Q: What is the market for the kind of books you want to write?
Q: What makes your books unique?
Q: Do you have special qualifications to write these kinds of books?
Q: What is your productivity level?
Q: Which publishers are most likely to publish your books?
Q: Which editors are most likely to buy your books?
Q: What is your plan for reaching your target buyers?
Q: What are your short- and long-term goals?
Q: How will you support yourself until your writing begins to generate income?
Now these all sound good, but part of me also agrees with Cece’s light bulb post last week.
where she says . . .”We can’t say fuck the market. Not in the strictest sense. I still believe we have to write something that’s marketable. But what we can do–is say Fuck the Rules. Just write the book!!!!!! “
It’s that same inner struggle I’ve had my whole life. Be the ‘good girl’ and follow the rules. . .or be true to myself. This could be why my best friend gave me a bright red compact years ago that says “REBEL” in flames across it. And for christmas my Mom gave me a black sweatshirt that says in big bold red letters across the chest…you guessed it… REBEL! :laugh:
In case you don’t get the point of this ramble…it’s that I’ve tried for the last year and a half to make my voice and style ‘fit’ in the romance/erotic romance community, and while I still want to write more than just erotica…I’m no longer willing to try and FIT anywhere. I have to have faith that there are people out there – editors, agents, and READERS – that will enjoy my stories, told my way.
But I’m also going to be smart about getting my work out there..hence the business plan!
Stephanie’s website is awesome isn’t it?! And good for you on doing it your way!
I love Stephanie Bond’s books and have read most of them, I like her romantic suspence, she has a wonderful sense of humor that comes out in her books. Her book called OUR HUSBAND was one of my favs, a book that wouldn’t have been pubbed by harlequin because the man has 3 wives…
You just keep being a REBEL and maybe someday the rest of the world will get it right.
I hear you, Sasha. It’s hard to keep plugging along when the ‘world’ doesn’t get your stuff. I have to believe that it will catch up sooner rather than later. Hang in there…rebel. ;)
I actually feel pretty good about the desicion, a weird sort of relief. Maybe selling will be harder, but the writing itself will be easier.
There’s a part of me that thinks like Cece too but there’s also the voice of doubt and dread that fills my brain. "No one will want to read a historical set in Ohio when regencies and Victorians are all that are selling. Why on earth would someone want to take a chance on my settings when americana’s and westerns are such a flop right now?" But then I remember why I started writing my stories in the first place. My love of local history is what drives me and someday some big publishing house will see that Ohio is as romantic a setting as any place else :)
Sasha, great idea! This will be YOUR year!! :)
Suzanne
Hmmmm i actually think you can answer those questions and still write what you want. Don’t ask me why I’m just weird LOL.
I truly believe you should write what you want not make yourself write what you think you should be writing. It’s like trying to cram your feet into shoes that don’t fit. :hehe:
What I’ve found to be true in the past couple years is that just because you like to read a certain genre doesn’t always mean you can write it and just because you like a certain publisher (Harlequin, for instance) doesn’t mean that your story will fit in any of their lines. Write the story that begs to be written and then find a publisher that will love it as much as you do. Be true to thy self and thy characters!!!
……stepping of the soapbox now……
I remember Stephanie touching on the business plan during her workshop at the M&M Conference.
And even if I never sell, first and foremost I’ll write for me. Because, frankly, it’s the only way I’ll ever hold on to the shred of sanity I have left! :hehe: