Choosing Your Targeted Market
You've read the chapters explaining the differences between category and single-title romances. Now it's time to start thinking about where you and your stories fit. The earlier chapters are great starting points for understanding the differences between the genres, but now it's time to read the books. You've read them, you say? Yes, you probably have. Most aspiring romance authors are romance readers themselves. But reading for pleasure and reading for research is different.
Becoming a writer can change the way you read. Great books become case studies. Knowledge of the most common writing mistakes makes you more aware of a book's flaws. While you may never go back to being the strictly-for-pleasure reader, most writers eventually learn to turn off the editing process and once again be swept away by the power of words.
Reading for pleasure is like being the passenger in a vehicle on a country drive. You enjoy the trip and appreciate the sights, but you came along only for the ride. Reading for research is like driving the car on that country drive. While you can still enjoy the trip, your focus never strays too far from your job of operating the vehicle. You are also more aware of the turns and twists you take because you are the navigator. So, grab a stack of books and move over into the driver's seat.
Your job as you read is to get a feel for the different genres, categories, and the overall tones of books from certain lines and publishers. Then, you need to decide which houses and lines are most like the stories you want to write. To get a thorough overview, you'll need to read more than one from each line or genre — three or four is a good number. Make sure these are new releases and try to get a mix of books written by established and newer authors. This way, you'll have a better idea of most recent trends and the editor's expectations of new writers. (It is wise to remember that established authors may get away with pushing the envelope on genre expectations, while newer writers will probably adhere closer to the guidelines.)
Not all publishers offer guidelines for their romances. Some, especially some of the single-title houses, believe that the books themselves are the best way a writer can get an idea of what the publisher wants to see. However, checking out a publisher's Web site is always recommended.
You may not need to read books from each and every line. A quick review of the publisher's guidelines — when available — may help you narrow your focus. For example, you may know up front that the books you want to write will contain a certain amount of sexuality, and therefore you may be able to rule out the sweeter lines. If the idea of incorporating paranormal elements into your stories, or writing historical plots, isn't something you want to do, you can eliminate certain genres. However, before you start marking too many off your list, remember the bit of wisdom: Try it; you might like it.
You can't judge an entire subgenre by one or two books. Be aware that each author brings to the table her own voice, plot, and writing style. Your like or dislike of certain books may have nothing to do with how you feel about the genre itself.
Enjoying a certain subgenre, or books from a particular publisher, while you are researching doesn't necessarily mean it's the subgenre or house you should target, but it could be a good sign. Discovering what kind of writer you want to be when you grow up isn't always easy. Here are some tips on how to know when a subgenre feels right.
In addition to liking the types of books you've found in a certain line or subgenre, the plots and premises hold similar traits to the stories that you dream of writing (i.e., your ideas all have an element of suspense in them, or a similar premise of family and community, as does a particular line).
There isn't any common element in the subgenre as a whole (e.g., explicit sexual scenes or graphic violence) that goes against your basic moral principles.
Just reading these particular books sparks your imagination and you begin to come up with plots that are similar, but still different.
The traits of the certain subgenre, such as word count and the number of characters and subplots, all fit with the type of stories you think you would feel comfortable writing.
Check your “keeper” bookshelves for books that you loved. What stories started you thinking you might want to write? (All that past reading is going to come in handy.)
Can't I just write the book of my heart?
Yes, you can. Many writers started their careers by doing just that. Some have even sold those books. However, the risk of writing a novel that doesn't fit any publisher's guidelines, or writing the book that requires major revisions, is greater than if you took the time to familiarize yourself with the market.
Don't panic if you're still uncertain about your targeted market. Some writers have to start writing before they are certain where they belong. Some writers complete several books in different genres before they discover the right fit.
One thing that may help you discover your preferred path is to start coming up with different plots and see which ones intrigue you the most.
