Meandering On Monday with Janet Lane Walters

 Meander 1 - Trends - Writers try to look at trends and there are those who imitate them. Do they come out ahead or are there a lot of clone books out there that flood the market? I have a problem of trying to write what I think I would like to read and I also noticed many things about my own writing. The ones with doctors and nurses or hospital settings tend to do better than the ones that are fantasies. The mysteries also do well. But I love fantasies and mysteries but I also like medical romances. I guess I don't follow the trends since I don't write vampires or shape-shifters or BDSM. I guess I just like to write and don't think of the trends.

Meander 2 - JeRoWriMo - I've been writing this month to try to hit the 30,000 word goal. I made it but the rest of the days of the month I'll have to get back to the things I've been neglecting. One is to get a book up on CreateSpace. The other is to write a farewell to the Jewels of the Quill a promotional group I've been part of since I'm not sure when and that is the point. I think I've been a member for 10 plus years but I can't be sure. I guess I'll wing it.

Meander 3 - My writing. I've finally gotten a firm outline for Toth's Priest and will be able to get moving on that but the push is to finish the drafts on Melodic Dreams making sure the emotions and settings are clear enough for others to see. Sometimes I get into they did this and they did that scenario and forget about the little touches that make the story come alive. I should be ready for the clean-up work on this story by the end of March and get it off to the publisher. Then getting the 2 rights back books into the proper format for BWL while working on the final book of the trilogy. Also trying to get the first of the YA series into print so I can see if a local bookstore will let me have a signing, Will see how that goes.

Meandering on Monday with Janet Lane Walters #amwriting #amreading

Last week was interesting. Heard a reviewer give a talk on trends in writing. She aslo said something like this, If you write a book you will find others who want to read it." Maybe yes and maybe no. There are some books I would never want to read and I do tend to read a lot. But the advice seemed good. Following what's hot this year may be cold next year. We've all seen the way the market leaps on a story that hits the charts running. Then everyone wants to write that book or a variation of it. The market is drowned and the market dies. People start to say, Not another book like book A or B or C." For me I write what I want to write and I do find people to read them.

I also volunteered to be part of a committee for a conference. Took on a project that interests me. Fewer baskets but ones with greater value so things won't be left behind. A good idea. Was looking at some facts. The group has about 150 members. If each one would donate five dollars or ten dollars to buy quality things for the baskets. We could have ten or twelve really great ones. Will think on this some more.

I've been reading several of my friends' first books and now their latest. I've had my fingers in a number of other writers' careers and what really makes me feel good to to watch their improvement.. A lot of people can write one book and never grow as a writer. So my hat's off to those of my now and former critique partners who have constantly improved with their writing.

As for myself. Still working on two projects. One without a title but there are some ideas brewing. Now it's off to write and type.