I believe I’ve arrived at a point where I have to make a decision about writing.
     Take my Three Hoodies series. Now I love writing about juvenile humour, which probably illustrates my maturity, or lack thereof. I like my  Old Geezers series. Again, SF like Hoodies, with a little old-man humour and profanity thrown in. I Really enjoy writing about monsters and people’s encounters with them, or their sharp parts, anyway.
      My rather laborious point is that neither Hoodies nor Old Geezers sold very well. Enough to please me but not enough to get the Porsche – or even just the P, as it happens. So my question, (not so much to you who take the time to read my rambling posts, but really just to myself) is, should I continue writing for the fun of it and hopefully make some money at the same time; or, should I write what I think people really want to read?
       A bit of a no-brainer, really. Apart from romance, horror is the world’s best selling genre. I can’t see myself ever writing a romance. It’s just not in me. I included a couple of semi romantic scenes in Book of Pain but I really had to. I couldn’t let the poor lad go four hundred years without even a kiss.
      Of course I could just continue to write in the genres I like, but write them better. Yet even if I could, there’s just so many of us that I wonder if it would ever be discovered. I’ve networked myself to death. I’ve taken advantage of every free advertising site. And even though I now have a good job which will allow me to begin paying, I see no real evidence that forking out barrow loads of cash guarantees sales.
      I think I’ve really answered my own question. I’m retiring the Old Geezers unless I can get some sales, but the four novel Hoodies series, of which the last is one third finished, will be my last. I don’t want to write about vampires or zombies – there are plenty out there and written far better than I could, or would even want to try. I don’t have any desire to write about pre-pubescent wizards. And the final thing is: if I write in too many genres then I dilute any potential following I might amass, and I don't fancy doing it under a pen name. And finally, I know my artwork isn't good enough so if I do spend any money, it will be on a proper artist. Oh Joleene...?      So horror it is.
9/29/2013 07:09:35 pm

This is always the hard question: Why am I writing? Is it for me, and for the enjoyment, or is it for profits? I think once you identify that, then you'll know which decision is right.

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Roger
9/30/2013 08:01:09 am

Ultimately it's for me, but making some more sales would be good as well.

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