I can't help it. I just love to
research different cultures and pour their treasures into my manuscripts.
It's the world traveler in me, and also, I have some amazing family
members who have inspired me to delve into their history.
Regardless, I like to write fiction
with a flare for cultural collision, whether it be an Amazonian
native and a Spanish explorer, or a girl victimized by legalism and a
boy impassioned by grace.
I love it when opposites attract.
During the beginning stages of my current wip, I asked Alley
Cat, Pepper, to take a peek and let me know if the culture thing was
going to work in this market. Because my story starts out with the
heroine and her first husband (she is widowed at the beginning of the
story) Pepper asked if he was going to be the hero. I hadn't even
thought of that. I was planning on killing him off *snicker* because
I wanted my heroine to fall in love with an immigrant (and work out a
bunch of her issues)...but then I thought,
“Hey, it might be more sellable to
nix the immigrant, and have the story develop around the couple struggling in
a coal town.”
I thought about it, and weighed my two
ideas on the mighty scales of Market and Heart. I was impassioned by
the immigrant story because my grandparents were immigrants and the
story is set in my grandfather's hometown. But...I have gone down the road of an
unusual story, and it ended in heartache.
Hmmm.....so what did the scales say?
They tipped toward my heart and the story already forming in my
mind. But I kept market in mind as my setting is America, and I have a handful of
comparables already lined up. I am going ahead and writing with attention to the market without compromising my heart.
When deciding what story you should
choose, it really is a matter of Market and Heart, and deciding how to find that balance that gives you a unique but
sellable story.
How to consider each:
The Mighty Market:
Keep the market in mind if you want
this WIP to be the one that hooks an agent or publishing contract. I
semi-finaled in Genesis and placed third in a RWA contest, with a
novel that bombed with agents and publishers at conference.
The
unanimous answer: “It's not going to sell.”
Do I regret writing it? No way, I love
the story. Do I feel like I wasted my time pitching it at conference?
Eh, a little. If I had known what the market expected, I wouldn't
have had a complete meltdown on the phone with my husband after my
first conference appointment! ;)
So, if you have a story that you are
pretty sure is way unique, and you don't have an agent or a
publisher steering you in the right direction, then consider setting
a goal...such as:
To develop craft...to enjoy the story...to thrive on
inspiration.
But, if you are hoping to break into the market with
this WIP, then be sure to consider the market, without compromising
your creative juices.
(Ok, for those of you who choose to
take the challenge of writing a break-out novel, then let me tell you
I am cheering you on with all my heart! :) )
Your Unique Heart:
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| image by qthomasbower at Flickr |
It's a fine balance, isn't it?
Don't forget, you can always tuck away
story ideas until you hit it big and everyone's waiting for your
next novel, even if it's about a martian landing in the middle of the
Sahara Desert!
So, do you have concrete examples of
how you weighed the market and your inspiration to come up with your
wip?
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Angie
Dicken first began writing fiction as a creative outlet during the
monotonous days of diapers and temper tantrums. She is passionate to
impress God's love on women regardless of their background or belief.
This desire serves as a catalyst for Angie's fiction, which weaves
salvation and grace themes across cultures. She is an ACFW member and
CEO of a family of six.
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