How to pick the right topics and audience
By
M. Anthony Phillips
I’m a new novelist with three
books under my belt. Picking a subject to write about to me has to not only be
something that is passionate to you, but also is marketable in an ever changing
audience. My genre of choice is fiction because I love a great story. When I was
a kid I used to stay up late at night with my father watching old movies. The
experience stayed with me, not just because it helped shape who I am, but also
because it gave my father and I a chance to bond.
I guess you can say every
fictional story has an audience, but if you’re just doing a story just because a
particular genre is the latest thing, and you’re not really passionate about the
story, then it could come off as not being believable. What defines you as a
person? What cartoons, or movies did you watch as a child? Do you find yourself
saying “That would make a great story?”
It’s okay to jump in on the
latest thing—children’s books are very popular, so if you do, become
educated—buy a book and read it to your kids to see their reaction. If it
doesn’t warm your heart, then maybe it’s not the one. Picking the genre you want
to become a genuine author in is the easy part. The hard part is finding a core
audience and how to market them.
