"THE HEART OF THE MATTER"

                                

                                             Writing What We know Vs. Demand



            When it comes to the business of selling books, there is a specific protocol that is suggested if you want to be a winner than everyone should follow. Well, there are always exceptions to any rule, and therein lies writing what we know versus demand.


            Okay, so every author hopes to one day become part of the sometimes-elusive bestsellers lists, which requires specific criteria or just a lot of luck in some cases. There is a proven formula that doesn’t always center around on-demand writing.


            Now I’m not saying that writing on demand is a bad thing because, for some in the writing world, it works for them. However, for others, not so fortunate, and hasn’t happened yet, don’t despair your day will come too and then you will also bask having achieved your dreams. 


            Not only does this subject apply to traditional published authors but self-published as well. Often we get lost in trends based on what's hot and not so hot in every book genre out there right now. Yet, forget about the fact, most readers are savvy individuals who gravitate to relatable characters.


            I’ve often mentioned writing outside of your comfort zone; as a matter of fact, I talked about it a few episodes back. So the point I’m trying to make is related to a cookie-cutter style of writing.


            One size doesn’t always fit all, so we should disregard the notion that just because it worked for some, it will work for everyone else.


            I don’t know about you, but I love originality. I like flexing, exercising my ability to think outside the box, allowing my creative muscles to stretch unencumbered. 


            So ask yourself, are you writing about what matters to you? Or, is it guided toward effective revenue? Okay, I understand that every writer must fit into a particular niche if they want to earn enough royalties to outweigh the cost of publishing. This applies whether you’re self-published or traditional.


            If your books aren’t marketable, or what I like to term, dead on the shelf, then what's the point of wasting your time writing them?


            Yet, I don’t want you losing what’s important to you as a writer. There are ways to still write about what you love and profiting from it without becoming a sellout vs. bestseller.


            It is always the best practice to write about what you know and love. What I’ve discovered is that readers are drawn to books that are written with these two elements in the creation. 


            Keep in mind, authors who are traditionally published are driven by their publisher's mandates, and so don’t have as much wiggle room as self-published authors do. 


            Although I do understand that we must be aware of what genres do best in this business as opposed to those that don’t. But at the same time learn how to work the system, to your advantage. 


            In the end, all authors want to write about what’s passionate to them. They learn to adapt to the always tilting scale of what’s hot and what’s not in the bookselling business. Without losing sight of the heart of the matter, and writing what they know vs. demand.