This month I'd like to share something I'm struggling with in my current WIP. If you visit me here or know me on facebook, you know I've been thrilled with my most recent release, The Marine's Queen, and the sales it's generated. I've been surprised and happy with the categories on Kindle where it lingers in the top 100.
The book was published as a science fiction romance and spend nearly two months in the top 100 in that category but then a few weeks later it reached the top 100 in two different scifi areas. It's doing best in genetic engineering and remains as a best seller.
Some readers have criticized the books for too much romance, others for not enough and still others have written me letters to say it's just right. Now as I write the follow up book, should I put in more science since the first one is still doing well in those categories. So now what do I do in my WIP? I'm trying to keep it the same amount as the first book but am I balancing it correctly?
How do you know if you're getting the balance correct? What is more important to you when reading a book? The relationships between characters? The personal growth of characters? Exciting action in the plot line? Which parts are easiest for you to write?
21 comments:
first off, congrats on the stats!!! very cool. and second...go with your instincts, they are yours for a reason, and that's what makes this your "baby".
I agree with Tammy - you have to write the story you want to write. If you write to please other people you'll end up with a weak imitation of the novel you could have written.
Congratulations on the bestseller!
I'm no expert (but then who is, really?) but I say write with your heart rather than your head-- and you'll have another winner in your hands :)
Wishing you all the best!
to me it's more the experience and the feelings the characters bring out in me---so happy for you!!
Congratulations with your book, it sounds like it's doing really well! I guess it's different for every reader, so like others have said, if I were you I would do it the way you feel most comfortable with. You can't please everyone, but you can please yourself.
Well done! :)
I think you should write the story you want to write. Yes, you want to keep your readers in mind - you want to entertain them, after all! - but you're not going to please everyone anyway, right?
Those are some hefty questions. I read to connect and I connect with books in different ways. I love books that take me on a journey that speaks to me and shows me something about being human I did not know before. Congrats on your success!
Tricky questions. I had a friend who wrote a short story and he had the exact same problem you did: some readers complained there wasn't enough romance while others said there was too much. There may be no right answer other than how do you feel about it? If you think the balance is good then there will be readers who feel that as well.
Wow, tough choice. Reader feedback helped shape my next book after the first one, but it was all consistent. You just have to make that call yourself.
Characters matter more to me.
Overall characters matter quite a bit to me. I like to see them change and grow throughout the story. I think listening to readers can be good, but you also have to follow the story - particularly if the feedback is mixed.
Great IWSG post!
Kim
(This Writer's Growing)
I can only echo what others have said way better than I can so I'll just give you a big WHOOP WHOOP on such a wonderful success!
It's all personal preference, of course, but I enjoy the developing relationships between characters more that the exciting action.
I'm not much of a romance person. I like to read the story. I like to see the development and plot roll along. But, I do like a little undercurrent of romance if it pertains to the story. If it doesn't, why is it in there? There have been times when the subplot/romance becomes a distraction and you're quietly asking the author as you read to just get on with it already. But everyone will have differing opinions even if you feel you got the balance just right. Can't please everyone, so just please yourself. :D
Thanks for all the great advice and opinions. Amazing how many of us think the same way.
There will always be this battle. I have romance and even a brief sex scene. But I do keep it limited as too much romance can kill an action based book like mine.
I wish I could answer that for you, but I can't really say. Generally, I just write and hope it comes out alright.
Best of luck!
Congrats on your Amazon stats! That's awesome. There isn't one "thing" for me that's most important...it's whatever interests me enough to want to turn the page. Sometimes it's plot. Sometimes it's characters. Sometimes it's simply the mystery and intrigue of what's going to happen next. I think you get the balance right when you read over your story a hundred times and you're still not bored with it.
You can't please everybody. But I'll be happy to read The Marine Queen and let you know. Adding it to my list of to-buys now. I like a book with a medium amount of romance.
First of all, CONGRATS! I am so happy for you, Susan!
Why change it for any group. YOU KNOW deep down what your story is... keep it real to your heart and the world will love it!
To many cooks ... you know the rest.
Have a great weekend and DON'T worry.
Congratulations on your book's success!
I find plot the easiest to work out; character relationships and development are the hardest for me.
I don't know about balance in fiction these days, but I have thought about it with regards to putting a recipe collection together.
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