"I want to attract readers who want to read what I write." I think that is wisdom.
A couple of years back, I attended a panel discussion at New College that included Prof Emily Carr and author Michele Tea. One of the notes I recorded (not sure who said it): "I want to reach as many people as possible while watering down my work as little as possible."
I really enjoyed this piece; I have to speak to my own "mistake" in trying to launch multiple genres under my main fiction name. I ended up, killing my new genres and having to go back, and re-publish everything under your covers, new titles, and a pen name! Sadly, I think we are still in the era of genre categories for the moment! But again, that's just if you're trying to make money... I hope to be retired someday with an income from other sources, and I'll be able to write whatever crazy mashup my heart desires. 😎
Stories like that is why I went with pen names in the first place! I think the big mistake is simply the common belief in indie circles that is the only way to do things; it's a very successful, tried and true way of doing things, yes, but these days (unlike even 10 much less 20 years ago, amirite?!?!?) we have more options. Not easy options, but it's a choice, thanks to platforms like substack and ream and patreon.
I'm at the weird paradox of knowing that I really could not have done it differently in 2011, but in 2023 retroactively wish I could have. LOL!
Exactly this. Financial stability for a "forest" type writer is in drilling down and capturing loyal readers who will buy anything you write. I'm working on that through a number of platforms and now, selling direct off my website. The email list is QUEEN. :)
"I want to attract readers who want to read what I write." I think that is wisdom.
A couple of years back, I attended a panel discussion at New College that included Prof Emily Carr and author Michele Tea. One of the notes I recorded (not sure who said it): "I want to reach as many people as possible while watering down my work as little as possible."
I really enjoyed this piece; I have to speak to my own "mistake" in trying to launch multiple genres under my main fiction name. I ended up, killing my new genres and having to go back, and re-publish everything under your covers, new titles, and a pen name! Sadly, I think we are still in the era of genre categories for the moment! But again, that's just if you're trying to make money... I hope to be retired someday with an income from other sources, and I'll be able to write whatever crazy mashup my heart desires. 😎
Stories like that is why I went with pen names in the first place! I think the big mistake is simply the common belief in indie circles that is the only way to do things; it's a very successful, tried and true way of doing things, yes, but these days (unlike even 10 much less 20 years ago, amirite?!?!?) we have more options. Not easy options, but it's a choice, thanks to platforms like substack and ream and patreon.
I'm at the weird paradox of knowing that I really could not have done it differently in 2011, but in 2023 retroactively wish I could have. LOL!
Exactly this. Financial stability for a "forest" type writer is in drilling down and capturing loyal readers who will buy anything you write. I'm working on that through a number of platforms and now, selling direct off my website. The email list is QUEEN. :)
Amen. Yes, it's about our readers. But it's about us, too! We are not entertainment robots.