Writing what the publisher wants?

[Omni]

I know some here are published and much more dream of being published. So my question is do you write that piece of creative mastery from your heart and soul and then go out and try to find a publishing market it will fit into, or do you look at publishers first and what they are buying, then try to fit their bill? And also, do you ever write thinking about what customer you are targeting?



Omni

 

[Sabledrake]

The only time I will ever write what I think a publisher wants is when I see a call for submissions to a themed anthology. The rest of the time, it's all about what I feel compelled to write.

Sabledrake

 

[KillerMuffin]

Well, first of all, what you see on the market today was generally written two years ago. I've never met or read a publisher that thought you should target them.

Don't write what you think the publishers want. Write what you're good at writing. Then find a publisher who wants it.

When they say that publishers and agents are looking for "the next Stephen King" they don't mean they're looking for the next horror novel writer. They mean they're looking for the next writer that will sell a bajillion copies of his or books.

Write what you're good at writing.

 

[karmadog]

Also, you must write what you like. Whatever you write will probably not get accepted in its first, second, or third, or... incarnation.

You will be spending a great deal of time with your masterpiece, so you damn well better enjoy it. Otherwise, you might as well be breaking stone for a living.

 

[pop_54]

Hi

You'd have to be one heck of a good writer to be able to produce work fit for publishing to order.

I have at times stopped and thought 'maybe I should alter this, or that in order to please a particular reader type', then having spent half hour buggering about ruining a perfectly good story, I've reverted to the original plot.

Write as you feel comfortable and in a style that suits you, if your work is good enough someone will buy it.

pops..............

 

[Un-registered]

Well, first of all, what you see on the market today was generally written two years ago.

That is only true of the paper market, and not always, my last paper book took six months from delivering copy to receiving my copies. Time to sale from acceptance is days in the e-book market.

Don't write what you think the publishers want. Write what you're good at writing. Then find a publisher who wants it.

Yes and no. If you write about fishing it's no good looking at erotica publishers. Look at what your target publishers sell and then try to angle your work in the same way.

When they say that publishers and agents are looking for "the next Stephen King" they don't mean they're looking for the next horror novel writer. They mean they're looking for the next writer that will sell a bajillion copies of his or books.

So true. The worst of it is that many people could do that, given the marketing and publicity machine behind Stephen King. That's why the Irish Prime Minister's daughter has just been given and advance of $300,000 for her first TWO novels based on three chapters.

You'd have to be one heck of a good writer to be able to produce work fit for publishing to order.

I have at times stopped and thought 'maybe I should alter this, or that in order to please a particular reader type', then having spent half hour buggering about ruining a perfectly good story, I've reverted to the original plot.

This isn't quite true. I write plots I want to write, but I make sure that the intended market gets what it wants. I sell most of my novels through a BDSM site so there has to be some BDSM in them. I also have an SF (first contact) almost finished and I could easily add a few scenes to make it BDSM, or erotic, or even morality preaching. If the story line is good a few side-scenes don't matter too much and if they will sell the book, and if you really want to make money ....

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I agree with KillerMuffin.

I think that either I could write what I feel like writing, and have a great time doing it.
Or I could put on those fishnet stockings and write what people want to read...