Writing to Write or Writing to Sell?

Once you’ve grown an idea, should you consider markets, lines, word count? \

Some authors stress that if you just write a great book, the book of your heart, it will sell. It’s true, single title and literary writers emerge from the slush pile every day, making blockbuster deals.

For most of us, it doesn’t happen that way.

That is unless you are the next Margaret Mitchell, Faulkner, or even Deborah Smith.
Wait a minute, Deborah Smith cut her teeth on category romance with several Loveswepts under her belt before she made her claim to fame. Write one of those formula books, you say?

Writing within restraints -- word limit, subject matter, content, etc. is not for everyone. It definitely challenges creativity but it improves your skills.

If you enjoy shorter stories that aren’t as complicated, issue-oriented, or literary, then category romance may be the place for you. On the other hand, if you don’t enjoy category romance, forget writing it -- your readers will be able to tell if your heart is not in your story.

Advantages of selling single title

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  Longer word count gives you more creativity & freedom.
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  You can explore more difficult, complicated issues, themes, subplots.
• 
  You have a BIG book out.

Disadvantages

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  Time and money needed for promotion.
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  Smaller print run -- unless your publisher supports you with promotional dollars, you may reach a smaller audience.
• 
  In some cases, you may earn less than you would writing a category romance.

Advantages to Category

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  A built-in readership means your name gets introduced to thousands of readers.
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  Little or no money is needed for promotion.
• 
  You hone your skills in plotting, characterization, layering in subplots, editing, etc.
• 
  Sales and publishing credit earned helps move you into single title.
• 
  Satisfaction of breaking into print and making that first sale.
• 
  You build a reputation with editors, agents, booksellers, readers.

Disadvantages

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  Stories are more restrictive in content, word count, and language.
• 
  You may not get the notoriety of the “bigger author”.

Tips to make your story saleable

Read, study the markets, publishers’ guidelines, language, content, themes, story types, etc. at that house. Making this decision up front will help you plan and incorporate the elements to make it salable.

Use the hooks on the tip sheets.

Play off your own unique voice.

Come up with a different twist for a tried and true story line.

Read new authors -- a multi published author can push the envelope more.

Put your heart into every book.

How do you do that? By writing characters that are real, characters that the reader cares about.
Tips:
Give your character some trait, vulnerability, problem, fear, secret that you can relate to.
Show your character hurting and struggling.
Make your character care about something, give him a goal, then make him wait to achieve it, threaten it or take it away.
Put yourself into your character’s head and feel his emotions -- write the scene in first person to get inside his head.