Saturday 28 July 2012

Embracing the Crazy

Every now and then I see a post or comment about how important it is for authors to create a brand for their readers. As in, when one of your fans (and they are legion) sees your name on a book, they have a pretty good idea of what they're in for. They're in for big scares. Or fights. Or characters they can fall in love with. Or conspiracies.

As an artist, I make an awesome writer.
For example, if you pick up a Matthew Reilly, you know there will be a high body count and loads of action.

Nora Roberts? You're in for a world of romance.

These are both established and incredibly successful authors, who got that way by writing entertaining books which are 'more of the same, but different'. I don't mean they're writing the same book again and again. What I mean is they're writing to their strenghts and giving their fans what they expect (with a few surprises as well).

As a writer, part of me wants to rail against 'more of the same, but different' and show the world how versatile I can be. But it won't do my long term career a lick of good.

Instead, I focus on what I'm good at. As I come to the end of my 12th manuscript, I think I know what I'm good at.

Embracing the crazy.

Because I write books for teens with love, humour and magic. Even time travel. But above all, I write books that are really crazy.

And I kind of love that.


3 comments:

Ebony McKenna. said...

The stick figure is in response to me not wanting to take anyone else's copyrighted material and use it on this blog. I totally rock the stick figure world.

Heather said...

I totally love that about you. I know what you mean about branding though. It would be nice if we had the freedom to be more versatile. But I suppose after we hit it big we can do that. ;) But girl, I will always buy your books, no matter how versatile you become because the bottom line is, your writing is fantastic!

Ebony McKenna. said...

Awww Heather, you're gorgeous. Thank you *mwah!*