Blog Series on the “three Rs of Writing” #1

Writing a book – hard!
Editing a book – much harder!!
Making it a bestseller – nearly impossible!!!

The first two require talent and commitment along with hard work and time.
The third takes all of those plus introspection and honesty.
You must decide which of the “three Rs of writing” you want: Reward, Recognition, Respect? Most authors (if they’re being honest) would say they want all three. But they are not necessarily mutually inclusive:

First let’s talk about Reward.

If wealth is all you seek, then you had better write romance novels – and lots of them! Many of the top selling eBooks are in this genre and most are by authors who have written more than one. There seems to be a huge and insatiable demand for them. But once you get an audience, you need to keep them by giving them more of the same and quickly. A book a year is not an option. Good romance sells! (With emphasis, of course, on the word good).
When Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and best-selling author, Anna Quindlen, was asked what books we might be surprised to find on her shelves she replied:
“A pretty full set of Georgette Heyer. Which, by the way, no one should find surprising. Literary snobbery has it that Heyer wrote standard-issue bodice rippers, but the truth is, her Regency novels are well-crafted escapism, potato chips for the soul. If you liked Downton Abbey you will love Georgette Heyer”.

In my next blog I’ll deal with Recognition…