One of the bigger problems I wrestle with as a writer is-- what goes into the book? How much of what I know should be in the plot or revealed as part of the character's personality? It's not a simple question, as writers know. Most every book takes a lot of research. There is that which is done before the first word is written, but then new questions must be answered as the story unfolds. There is always much more than the average reader would probably find of interest.
My paranormal, work-in-progress has several of those potential pitfalls. For one thing, politics are a subplot. Considering our current political atmosphere, in terms of plot, not much would seem unrealistic-- even without ghosts, monsters, witches, and demons to complicate it.
Then I debated whether I should have my hero be in a political party that is not popular with my normal readers-- right away they won't like him. The thing is nothing else would work for the plot. The heroine and her family, of course, are in the opposing party. How much of that to put into the book? And that doesn't even get to my interest in reincarnation theories, an element of the plot. It's not like the average romance reader wants their book to turn into a treatise on spiritual theories.
With this, and assorted other distractions, my WIP will be lucky to get out by the end of May. This has frustrated me because I read that minimally you should have a book coming out every month. Some say every two weeks with the ultimate goal being 2 to 7 books a week. Seriously!!!???
Even one a month, is not happening for me, last year, I released 5 books-- a full length novel of 111,248 words; 2 contemporary paranormals 60,965 and 61,555, and 2 novellas (women starting over-- one contemporary and one historical-- 22,710 and 29,386. After looking up their word count for this piece, I added them together-- 295,864 words (good math practice). Even if they'd all been novellas, that only would have made for ten books-- assuming I had ten original plots in mind. This year with no released books is definitely not keeping up-- not smart if someone wants to sell. Neither, of course, is switching genres as I did in '16, but a gal's gotta do what a gal's gotta do! I think...
Way to go, Rain. I applaud you for how fast you create. I've been a professional writer all my life working for education and industry, but once I switched to fiction, I'm lucky if I get a book out a year. I'm sloooow and thoughtful However, even Nora Roberts doesn't have a book out each month, so I'm okay with my pace. And I love to do other things besides pound the keys. :-)
ReplyDeleteI switch sub-genres all the time and wonder if it's a good thing. I write romantic suspense, contemporary, and paranormals--bear shifters. I hope my readers follow me because they like my zany style, but I know there are many out there who only ready one style of book. Paranormals or cowboys, for instance. I read it all, so I suppose I'm targeting that type of reader.
ReplyDeleteJudy, my pace is slower this year. I wanted to write shorter books but didn't figure that would add up to more days. I do though take a lot of time considering what happens next as with a book like this one, anything could happen.
ReplyDeleteThe thing, Vonnie, with switching genres (still romances) is it keeps it more interesting for me. I will go with writers I like through different genres because if I like their style, it stays a lot the same.
One advantage of my taking so long is in figuring out a different set of covers for my paranormals, I came up with a totally different premise for the fifth and changed heroes for the fourth as it kept nagging at me that I had the wrong face on the cover for that book (now it's going to be black hero and white heroine-- wonder if it'll cost me more readers ;)
Rain, The one book a month people are writing short stories and calling them a book. I do 50,000 word mysteries and 70,000 word westerns and try to get at least two of each out a year. Sometimes I can get three in one of the genres out in a year and two in the other. My goals it to try and not make my readers wait more than 6 months between books of the same genre. Good luck with your WIP. Love the ocean photos. One of my favorite places.
ReplyDeleteThis year, every six months would work for me, Paty. This particular book is so much more complicated that I feel I'll miss points if I rush it. Sometimes it's taken longer between scenes just to be sure where I'm going. This week it's been a thousand words a day as it's nearing the end.
DeleteI write a variety but mostly western historical romance. I write from novellas to novels. The length of the story depends on the complexity of the plot. I love writing everything. I did a novella a month last year, but that's a hard pace for me with all that happens in our family life. This year, I'm taking life slower.
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