Lake Atitlan, Panajachel, Guatemala

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Yesterday's Hot Topic

Think about some of the hot topics or genres of yesterday-- vampires, witches and wizards and boy wonders, orphan children going from one unfortunate adventure to another-- and then tell me what they have to do with today.

Nothing! Don't write about yesterday's hot topics just because they were hot. If you must use them, do it because you have a passion for the story and can write about it well. For no other reason. Certainly not because they were hot once. The market is flooded with vampire stories, so if you're going to write another one, better give it a new twist.

26 comments:

  1. Bravo!! I agree, the market is saturated with vampire stories so authors out there reading this, please stop! I think the only real great vampire story to read anyway is Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. I haven't really enjoyed any of the others that seem to be so popular...

    I've written a blog post on microfiction and would love for you to check it out!

    Hope you're having a great weekend :)

    Megan @ Storybook Love Affair

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  2. I agree - it does seem to be the same old thing over and over again, everybody jumps on the bandwagon.

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  3. On the same note, I don't think you should set out writing to try and find the next hot topic either. Only ever write what you are passionate about because that passion will live through your words to your reader.

    (BTW I hear that post apocalyptic is going to be the next hot topic!)

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  4. Yes, we have enough vampires stories, thanks.

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  5. The market really does get saturated - and it's hard to predict when that will happen!

    I love the picture on your header!!!

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  6. Personally, I never was turned on by vamp stories. I'm kind of glad the trend is winding down.

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  7. Saturated or not, I think you have to write what your passionate about whether its yesterday, today or tomorrow's hot topic.

    On another note, I wanted to thank you for hosting the A-Z Challenge. It's been wonderful connecting with others. :)

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  8. I'd rather write about stuff that I know, which is why I haven't written anything about vampires. All I know about them is that they're really pale, drink a lot of blood, and are attracted to young girls even though they're hundreds of years old. Creepy.

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  9. I've never attempted to jump on any of these bandwagons because I assume that the authors that got the first gigs are probably better at the genre than I'd be - plus all the storylines have been used up, no?

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  10. I never understood the vampire craze, but then I'm an old lady by now even though I don't feel like one most of the time. But maybe that's why I found Amy Saia's ghost so refreshing. Ghost stories were told in my childhood even. And a romantic ghost just appeals to me. I do agree with you here.

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  11. So true...great advice for starting writers. Now off to work on my vamp, errr shades of gr, errr - romance novel. ;-)

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  12. Hello Karen, beautiful space, passing to say hello, nice to read your text.
    if you like the poetry I invite you to my space, thank you.
    happy day.

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  13. Hi Karen. You make a great point. There are quite a few vampire stories out there.

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  14. Amen! Don't write for the market. Write for yourself; write because you have a story that has to be written and no one else can write it but you. Great post.

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  15. It's hard sometimes, for writers, especially new ones, to remember that the stories being published by the Big 6 today are stories scooped up like 12 to 18 months ago. Trying to write to what's saturating the market for the sake of thinking that's your ticket, not the best idea though I can understand that line of thought. Writing about what you have a passion for, even if it is a topic saturated by the market...that' I can support.

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  16. Please give me something besides vampires and werewolves. You're so right about having to add something fresh to the "hot" topic of the year, but I wouldn't look inside a book about vampires long enough to see if "something fresh" was there.

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  17. So true. I fell in love with the Twilight series but none of the others (well, except for Interview with a Vampire series). I'm still working on what I want to write about. Been writing for about 10 years...nothing published. Nothing finished. This year is going to be my year...

    Blessings to you :)
    Megan

    visiting from Here to Find Him

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  18. Have just been browsing through your A-Z challenge posts, Karen. Wonderful! As a writer and editor of many years I can truly relate and find your advice and musings to be spot on.

    Congratulations on a great A-Z--I'm happy it led me to your blog. :)

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  19. Excellent point! If you're passionate about something, work on it--but if not, there's no point in following trends.

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  20. Interesting. I'm amazed at how many bloggers I ran across during the a-z who are writing fantasy for youth. I guess it's hard to see what is so successful and not want to jump on that train. :-)

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  21. As usual great post and advice. I must say the television series "Being Human," did a great job of a new twist on the wolf, vampire ghost thing.

    Thanks for hosting a-z. I am so happy to have met such a creative person.

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  22. Great advice. I try to write what I love, not what is popular. There are too many books that try to be just like the big hits. I say write your own book. Thanks for sharing.

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  23. Wholly agreed! Give me something new, somebody please! Though there will always be a place in my heart for Edward Sparkly Cullen. I think agents like new voices and ideas, lets give them some, right?

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