I am here to give you permission to write your really niche story that isn't 'highly marketable' and that brings you the most joy.
Embrace the cringe, vulnerability, and unapolagetic need to write your story- we really need less stories with a 'wider audience' in mind
There's an argument director James Grey made (about movies, but it also applies to other media) that in fact "wider audience" stories *need* the niche stories; because the niche stories get a more diverse set of people *in the habit of reading stories*, and so ultimately widen the "wider audience".
I’m reminded when my friend read Kamala Khan in Ms. Marvel and I herd her squee, “aw! It’s me!” And she’s a white gal growing up in a Christian household.
Seriously, can we just fuck marketability for five minutes and just write and publish weird shit sometimes?? Like, that's why the greats got great! Not because they picked the safe lanes, but because they said "Hey, I have an interesting idea..." and people loved it
You've just given voice to one of my fears. Thank you!
Also I don't want to offer to read your book because I'm reading 23 things already and I will let you down. But I want to encourage you to keep looking for ways to reach readers who will love your book!
Always my problem too. I have this Stephen Kingish series of short stories loosely about the WEIRD town I grew up in and while I once knew how to "share work" online, I don't think I do anymore. Like where does one even go?
Oof. I was on vacation and didn't see this til now! Thanks for your interest, I really appreciate it.
If you're serious, hit me up in whatever works as a DM on Bsky (chat button?) and I'll be happy to share something.
I want to see some very specific fiction, and endeavored to just… write it myself.
Reluctant vampires are my jam. Can’t find enough.
But. It’s so niche.
Thank you. I want to make it happen.
I tried for years to write the literary stories other people seemed to want from me. My teachers, family, others who found out I was a writer. I hated every minute of it. The moment I said fuck that and started writing my silly vampire stories, no one has been able to hold me back.
I'm currently trying myself to write the story I had in my head for 20 years. I want the cliche and do it because that is how I see it.
I think the first person to love a work of art should be it's creator.
You know what? I stopped caring about the less/fewer distinction when I noticed it didn't exist at the other end of the scale. If less/fewer is so important, why is there only "more"?
Anyway, that's also why I don't do the "Oh, you don't have no money? So you DO have SOME money lol" thing anymore. In Romance languages, double negatives are grammatically correct.
I am the queen of niche stories. Want to read science fiction contemporary western with lots of relationship angst as well as fighting amongst powerful people? I've got it.
Since the pandemic, I've been pushing to be more unapologetic about what art I want to create for myself so this felt like a timely, warm reminder for me. 💖
