TBR welcomes Susan Gourley

Avoid the Rush

Lots more people plan to write a novel than actually finish one.  Many people have this great idea, often inspired by their favorite novel, movie or TV show, and they start to write.  But somewhere between the idea and that file they open in Microsoft Word, they lose the drive.  There are lots of reasons why novels stall out and never get finished.  Even veteran, successful writer have novels stall out.  

Today I’ll only post about one of those reasons.  Often when a person is inspired to write that first novel, they’re feeling passionate about a genre that is a hot trend.  Vampires would be a good example.  Between The Vampire Diaries, True Blood and The Twilight Series; it seemed everyone thought they had a vampire story of their own to tell.  Lots of authors write vampire stories, trying to hurry them to the market.   But many of them found the market saturated by the time they had their novel ready to send out or were told by an agent or editor someone else had already sold a very similar story.

It’s very tempting to try and write what it seems is flying off the shelves right now.  But can you write fast enough to get it ready in time? Can you write in a genre other than what was your first love?  Or will you try and write it and find you stall out because it’s not what you like to write?  Will you find the middle of your novel sagging because it seems bland or empty of originality?

Trends come and go and no one can predict it.  Editors and agents might share what they’re looking for but not even those insiders to the business can predict the next ‘big’ thing.  As a personal example, I have a collection of rejection letters from a few years ago from agents and editors who claimed to love my writing but said they couldn’t sell epic fantasy.  But guess what happened.  George RR Martin’s Game of Thrones novel was made into a series on HBO and was a huge success.  Suddenly, epic fantasy is back ‘in.’ Now I’ve moved on with my series, taking my rights back from my incompetent publisher, and releasing it on my own, but I have a new epic series in the works now.  Hopefully the great epic fantasy battles of good versus evil will stay in vogue, but if it doesn’t it will come back.

The point is to write what you love and don’t try to follow market trends.  They come and go.  Vampires yesterday, zombies today.  Paranormal fantasy still going strong, but epic fantasy making a comeback.  What’s next?

If you love epic fantasy like I do, I hope you’ll put my books on your TBR shelf.  The Futhark Chronicles begins with The Keepers of Sulbreth. Beyond the Gate, Book#2, is now available and follows the saga of Marshal Cage Stone and Keeper Sabelline Shelton as they try to save the kingdom of Futhark from a demon invasion. But once they travel past The Gate, they discover there’s more to their problems than simple-minded fell beasts.  Cage will have to put aside his longing to be loved as a human and accept his elven heritage if their world is to survive.  But will one man’s sacrifice and one woman’s courage be enough to defeat the ancient evil entity directed the war on humanity.  Both books are available in digital format for your favorite style reader.

If you would prefer a print copy of The Keepers of Sulbreth, please say so in your comment and I’ll pick one winner to receive a signed copy.

What do you think will be the next popular trend? Which are you tired of? 

Thanks for visiting TBR, Susan. All the best to you!