By
Kathy Shaw
I have a
decision to make and would like your help. Or maybe I just need a sounding
board. So, whether you’re a reader or a writer, all comments would be greatly
appreciated.
In the past,
New York Publishing Houses would tell you to write the book of your heart and
they would buy it. I did and they published it. We were both happy campers.
And then my
eyes were opened to the lucrative world of Indie-publishing. Needless to say, I
jumped in with both feet. Career-wise that was the best decision I’ve ever
made.
Now here comes
the big decision I spoke of earlier.
I’m not being
told I need to write the book of my heart to be published. Now I can write and
publish anything I want.
Currently, I
want to write the second book of my Darla Bodecker mystery series. The first was BLONDIE AND THE HIT MAN and featured Darla as a sassy, sexy, smart private eye. Darla, the
character, is relentless. She talks to me in the shower. She talks to me while
I’m driving. She even talks to me when I’m writing something other than her
story. Like now.
Hush, Darla. I’m busy!
Unfortunately,
no one told me that mysteries, in general, don’t sell as well as romances.
Mysteries sell—just not in the volume of romances.
Don’t get me
wrong, I love to write romances too. I just don’t currently have a romance
story burning to be told.
Again, shut up, Darla. I know you already have a story.
To complicate
the situation, I’m one of those ill-fated authors that can’t turn off the inner
editor, which translates into being a very slow writer.
So I guess
this all boils down to: Do I write Darla’s second story, get her off my back
but only make about half the money I would for the same time spent? Or do I
learn to ignore Darla’s bellyaching and write a book that will put twice as
much money in the bank?
What would you
do?
I would write Darla's story. She will keep hounding you until you do her justice! Then you can write a "moneymaker". BTW I am a reader.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karren, for your input. Darla is doing the happy dance--LOUDLY!!
DeleteI would write the story that is coming to you. I did that with a paranormal series which the first one didn't do much; the second one didn't and neither did the third. :) I just had the story and if I hadn't done it, it'd have nagged at me. I think what doesn't do well today might be more popular tomorrow and it's the plus of being an indie writer. We can make our own choices and it doesn't have to be all about dollars.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rain. You have some valid points. I like your positive thoughts concerning today's vs. tomorrow's market.
DeleteSounds like Darla might her way on this one.