I was reading an article by Nathan Bransford, and this struck me:
The lack of commercial viability of 99% of the books written every year necessitates all this rejection.
Writers tend to take rejection as “I’m not good enough” and sometimes they may be right. But it’s a lot more likely that the person rejecting just doesn’t think it will sell. Nobody’s saying that your book is not as well written as, to grab a recent example, Twilight. Or, going a bit farther, Eragon.
Hmm, am I really surprised that my carefully-written novel of a gay teen in space doesn’t have the commercial appeal of angsty het vampires in the nearly-real world? Not when I put it like that. Suddenly I feel much better.
Does that mean I’m going to drop everything and write a novel of angsty het…umm, Kraken are the new vampires, yes? Am I going to run out and…
Actually, that could be cool. Hmm.
Would you read an angsty Kraken romance? Would you buy it for your niece for Christmas?
Wait, wait…I got it! Add in…playing hooky. Think about it! Angsty romance and madcap adventures! An underwater Ferris Bueller’s Day Off! With tentacles! The movie would be huge. And think of the merchandising!
I wouldn’t buy it, but that’s because Jabberwocky are the new vampires, and kraken will have to wait a little longer. 😉
Not if I get my kraken-love to the publisher first, woman!
You should SO do it. Will you allow me to be that person who steals the trope after you’ve made it what it is and delivers it to an even more commercial audience? WE NEED TO BRING TENTACLES TO THE MASSES.
Hmm…so I’ll write Interview with the Kraken and you’ll write Dusk? This pleases me. (Not least because of the strong hints of boy-lovin’ I can slip into mine. >_> )