This is a
question I´m thinking about a lot , these days.
Do I write for
my existing readers who are expecting a sequel?
Do I write
for potential new readers who haven´t found my books yet?
Do I write to
please my publisher, the book market or even critics?
Or do I
simply write for myself?
About five
years ago, when I started to write Ghostbound, this was not a question at all.
It was my private little project. My hobby, my spare time pleasure and escape
from “same old same old.” My baby!
After all I have a full time job as a Marketing
Manager that keeps me busy for 40+ hours a week.
I didn´t think about whether other people would like it, if it meets someone’s
expectations or whether there´s a market for such a story. It was just those handful
of characters, who talked to me and with whom I spent a brilliant time.
Together with Liz and Danny I fell in love and lived through their adventures.
I put everything into the plot that has fascinated me for ages: magic, the paranormal,
ghosts, secret societies, conspiracy theories and the good old fashioned murder
mystery. I didn´t even think about where it should take place. It was the most
natural thing to me that it has to be London, the city I´m in love with.
The more
the story grew and the more confident I became, the circle of readers grew.
First my family, then close friends, then acquaintances and finally critical readers,
I haven´t known before (Yes, Romana, I mean you!)
Each
feedback pushed me forward. The positive ones motivated me and the more
critical made me (and the text and the story) better.
And with
each step, the pressure grew. I was not writing for myself anymore. I started
to think about the expectations of the readers. Would they accept Liz´s decision? Will they be happy with the
ending?
At one
point, I was brave enough to reach out to publishers. And things like “markets”
and “target audiences” came into consideration. Is a ghost a fitting hero? (at
this stage vampires were still en vogue and shifters/angels/demons were coming
up) Is it appropriate to have a setting in London when it´s going to be
published in Germany? Is it too much fantasy? Is it ENOUGH fantasy? Would more
sex sell better or is it already too much for younger readers?
When the
trilogy was finally published and I got in contact with book bloggers, I was so
nervous I bit down my fingernails until they bled. But when the positive
reviews and recommendations came in and readers exclaimed they LOVED the story
and the characters (especially funny, charming, mischievous ghost Danny, for
whom they even established a little fan club) I was in author´s heaven.
But with that
humble success the writing changed.
I´m currently working on the sequel (Spellbound) and it´s a completely
different experience.
First of
all, you have to be true to your characters and the universe you´ve created, of
course. So you are not as free as you used to be, anymore.
But then
there are also those damned expectations.
From your
devoted readers, the publisher – and yourself.
Will the
new story live up to those expectations? How will readers react, if the mood of
the story changes or a beloved character behaves different, or - heaven forbids-
dies? Is the story still as romantic and thrilling as it was before? Does the
plot meet the market need so I can reach new readers too? It´s a balancing act.
You have to be fresh and new, so it´s not just repeating itself and getting
boring, But at the same time you have to stick to what people loved before.
And you
know what, folks? This is difficult!
It´s a lot of pressure, because you just can´t please everyone.
So I made a
decision.
I am going
back to write for myself. It´s MY story, MY characters and MY adventure.
I´m
delighted if I can take people away with me on that trip and provide some
romantic, thrilling an entertaining hours.
But at the end of the day it´s my hobby. I´m far away from making a living out
of writing and I´m enough of a realist to know that this won´t change in the
near future. So I will make sure that I have fun in my spare time and I look
forward to sitting down on my laptop and type away to escape to London for a
while.
And
everyone inclined is cordially invited to join me on that trip :)
