Welcome to this week’s Open Book Blog Hop. The topic today is:
‘Would you like to be a bestseller or have a smaller, more manageable following?’
The short answer to this question is yes. Of course I would like to be a bestseller, that would be immensely gratifying as writing a book is jolly hard work. When the horror anthology, Nightmareland, edited by Dan Alatorre, in which I have three short stories went to number 1 in its category on Amazon twice, I was very delighted. It is nice to think that people are interested in your book and are buying it.
I said to my mother this morning that maybe A Ghost and his Gold will be my last book. It is currently at 75 000 words and I have about another 10 000 to go maybe more. There are a couple of controversial events that I excluded initially, but I am going back to include them as I want to present as realistic a picture of the events of the Second Anglo Boer War or South African War as is reasonably possible. This book isn’t all historical events. There is a strong paranormal element which binds the whole story together and that is why the title is appropriate. This book is The Red Badge of Courage meets The Shining [in my imagination in any event – smile].
My mother reassures me that I will write another book because she says writing is a challenge for me and I will get impossibly bored if I don’t write. She may be right; time will tell. I also depends on what ideas for stories I have.
Anyhow, back to the question at hand. I would like to be a best seller, but [here it comes] only on my own quirky terms. I do not believe I could write to a formula or to a publishers specifications and, as a result, I am not sure if I can ever be a modern bestselling author. I write for my personal pleasure as well as in the hope that other people will enjoy my books and short stories. Being happy with the content of my books is important to me and I would not want to relinquish control over my content.
Anyhow, the question is currently hypothetical so I will just carry on as I am and hope for the best.
Would other blog-hoppers prefer to be bestsellers ? Click on the blue button below to find out:
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roberta-writes.com 
I actually know a couple of best-selling writers who have publishers. Not only do they not make more money (publishers are really thieves with a corporate front), but their publishers want them to keep writing the same story over and over again. I think publishers have (with a few notable exceptions such as Scribner’s and Simon and Schuster in the early part of the 20th century) always been that way, both here and abroad. If you are doing that well on Amazon, you are probably earning at least double what a contracted-to-a-publisher-writer earns. And you can write what you want.
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Thank you, Marilyn. I believe you are right. Unless you are huge like Stephen King or JK Rowling. I could not write to a formula. I can’t even work to other people’s requirements, my work place makes concessions for me because I am really good at what I do.
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I can see how writing to a formula or a specific type of book over and over would be a killer to the love of writing. I don’t know you personally Robbie, but your mom sure does and I think she probably is right.
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HI Carla, thanks for popping by. My mom probably is right, my obsessions usually last until I am no longer challenged. I don’t know how that will pan out with writing as it is something where you will always be challenged, I think.
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I too could not write to a formula. I was once asked to write a book in a series which was being compiled by a few other authors too. I couldn’t do it and regretfully said no.
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You have a very specific voice, Stevie. It would be a shame to cover it with a blanket of someone else’s ideas and formulas.
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I couldn’t relate to the subject they gave me to write about.
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The concept of “best selling” has changed so much in this world of social media, self-publishing, digital sales etc. I agree with your thinking: write what you love and write it HOW you want to…success is relative, what matters is that you are sharing the way you want to tell a story – and over time you will touch MANY!
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Well said, John!
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Thank you, John. I love what you have said here.
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I’ve never been able to write to formula, or even market trends.
Like you, I’ll continue writing the books I want to write and hope for the best.
Would I love to be a bestselling author–ABSOLUTELY!!!!
But I’ll write regardless.
I have a feeling your mother is probably correct. When writing is in your blood, it’s nearly impossible to turn it off. 🙂
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Thank you, Mae. You may achieve bestseller status yet. My mom is right, I will continue to write while it is a challenge. My obsessions usually last at least 10 years.
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🙂
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I would hate to have to write to conform to what someone else wanted, even if it meant fame and fortune. It would feel like turning my back on the inspiration that I get from who knows where. Which I why I self-publish, to please myself and those people who appreciate my individuality.
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Yes, we are in complete agreement on this point, Richard.
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Oh my – I’ve been in Budapest and have stood next to that sculpture. My hotel was right next to it.
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It is a lovely city. Such gorgeous artwork and great history.
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It’s quite gratifying to see that we’re all of like minds about the best-seller formula!
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Yes, I think we are all in agreement on that point. I know I can’t write to a formula, I am to belligerent by nature [wink]
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🙂
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But wouldn’t it be glorious to write a best-seller the way you want to write it?
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Yes, that would be marvelous. My goal is to write an enduring book like a classic rather than a bestseller.
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Interesting post, Robbie. Of course, we would love to be bestselling authors and actually make money writing, but the odds are against it. So, as you say, we have to love telling stories to keep doing it because it is very hard work. Thank you for sharing these thoughts!
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My pleasure, Jan. Even famous writers make most of their money from film rights and not form books sales.
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Reblogged this on Ed;s Site..
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I’d like to be a bestselling author just so that there is a chance I could meet Oprah and Ellen and be on the late night talk shows. That’s not asking too much, is it? 🙂
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Not at all, I have high goals too, Jim. I want to write a classic novel like Charlotte Bronte.
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Yes, it would be nice to write something that would be read for generations..
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I’m with your mother on this one, but I won’t knock it if I’m wrong – Margaret Mitchell wrote “Gone With the Wind” and that was it, so it’s up to everyone what happens next.
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Thank you, H. I have an idea for a sci-fi series but that is a bit time and mind investment. I have written 40 000 words of the first book.
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Ooh, that’s like most of a book! Or about half, given that sci-fi tends to run long.
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Yes, its about half of the first book.
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I’m with you 100% Robbie; yes I’d love to be a bestseller, but no, I don’t want to write what my publicist or editor tells me (and when and how). My terms or no terms…. which is why I’ll always remain anom I imagine 🙂
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I am not so sure about that, Jessica. There are some well known and successful Indie authors out there.
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Well, I guess I have to publish at least one book first to even be concerned about the issue 😁
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You will get there. I always aim for 95% and not complete perfection and that makes publishing achievable for me.
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