My novel is based on the difficult times I’ve had in my life. Will it sell?
The short answer — probably not.
Should you write it? Yes.
Issues versus story
I often see proposed novels that focus on social issues, and sadly, most of them are based on the author’s personal experience with hurt or grief. And because the author is healing while writing the book, the issue comes to the forefront far too much. Instead of a plot, we have an issue with characters attached. If readers would refer to your novel as the — pick one or fill in the blank — abortion/divorce/depression/abuse — book (i.e. the depression book), then the issue has taken over the story arc.
Think of yourself as a reader. Do you want to read a novel about some horrific tragedy?
Think of yourself as a publisher trying to entice readers to buy your book. How many people want to read an “infertility” novel?
Readers of fiction don’t enjoy reading an author with a clear agenda, even if it’s one they agree with. They want a story, not a discussion of an issue disguised as fiction.
That isn’t to say that fiction cannot address issues! We have clients who have stories dealing with all of the above mentioned issues, but instead of making the issue the driving force of the story they have written a compelling tale that has some issue as a subplot or similar device. I am always willing to consider excellent stories dealing with issues, as long as they are organic to the plot.
Healing versus selling
Writing can indeed be therapeutic. If you want a novel to be part of your healing journey, please write it. You might choose to pen a story of reconciliation where the person who hurt you asks for forgiveness. Or about an infertile women who adopts triplets and a month later, discovers she’s expecting. Or you might find satisfaction in having someone pay for hurting you. Put your abuser behind bars in your story or find another way to punish him.
Then write, THE END.
Close the document.
Open a NEW document.
Now, write us a story we can sell. One that has universal appeal. You may even address some of the issues in your previous work. But you are not letting personal revenge or sorrow or pain drive the storyline. That new mix of characters and a storyline readers can care about will bring you much closer to publication.
Your turn:
Can you name a novel that successfully combines an issue with story. How was this accomplished?
What issues do you like to read about?
If you had to write about an issue, which one would you choose?
Mispronounce at Your Own Peril
Hi Tamela,
I love stories set along the East Coast. One author I used to read an author who did a fabulous job with setting. She always made me feel like I was at the beach. Then I noticed a trend where she pushed an agenda. First time I noticed this I was uncomfortable. Then I couldn’t help but notice she included it in her other stories. So I quit reading her books for a few years. In May I visited a book store in North Carolina and saw this author’s newest book. It was almost like seeing an old friend. At that moment I couldn’t figure out why I quit reading her books. I opened it and read the first few pages only to be disappointed to see her agenda in the beginning of her new story.
I think we need to be careful if we have an agenda. It can turn people on or off.
I’ll try to focus on writing entertaining romances that will hopefully draw people closer to God. As I write this it occurs to me that may be my agenda. But my target is the inspirational market, so I guess it makes sense.
Wow, you really got my thoughts swirling this morning. I may not even need caffeine.
Thanks for a great thought-provoking post!
One book that did this well is Still Alice, by Lisa Genova. This is “the Alzheimer’s book,” and I learned a great deal about this disease from this book. But it’s also one of my faforite novels. The author did her research and then she wrote the story from the POV of the early-onset Alzheimer’s patient.
I’m not sure what that key element is that transforms a book from an “issue” book to a great novel that addresses an issue, but this novel has it.
I agree about “Still Alice.” Amazing POV and quite poignant. Yet, I didn’t come away feeling sad.
While I agree that the book should never be overwhelmed by the issue such that all you recall afout it is “the issue”, I disagree that no one wants to read books that do more than use and dismiss an issue as easily solved through prayer (the typical trend in Christian fiction).
Will a big publisher buy a book like that, well no, not likely. But there are publishers (mine, HopeSprings Books) does provided there is a good story there too – but the books they publish don’t whitewash the problems (or sin or Grace or any of the realities of being a Christian who is actually living in the fallen world). I, as a reader and a writer, am grateful that this avenue exists, because I personally tire of books that are so perfect as to have no bearing on the reality in which I live.
I get Jackie’s comment about agenda. I have an author that I absolutely love to read but her women over men agenda is troubling and made me back off.
But we as true Christians do haven an agenda. We have a great commission to fulfill.
I want to write books that minister and I want to read ones that do, as well. I would say out of the last 30 books I have read, I found only a few that I could actually say I would pass on to someone who needed the message.
Tamera Alexander’s— Rekindled was one of them. A powerful book and I passed it on to a friend with marriage issues.
And like you said, I don’t want to read pure heaviness I have tried really hard not to belabor it in my book and try to bring lightness and humor into the picture. It is all apart of life.
Sandy,
I agree our agenda is to spread the word of Jesus. That’s why I want to write inspirational fiction.
If we can write stories that bring others closer to God, maybe it’ll open more doors to share His love. That’s my hope.
I advise writers who have experienced deep pain or loss to journal their thoughts for at least four to five years. Don’t write until you are healed. Then, when the “right time” comes, you will write from a point of wisdom and strength, but without losing all your valuable thoughts. A repaired life is a prepared life, ready to share with others the gold mined from your experience.
I once sat down and wrote one word descriptors of my life’s hard issues. It was a long list and my life’s plot might be fine for a sordid Lifetime movie but that is not our heart—to trash those who harmed us. If we don’t let it rest and season as Tamela and Virelle and others said, we will come out graphic, harsh, unforgiving and the message we want to share gets lost.
Yes, Jackie. If we are full of His spirit we will bless through our works.
I hope everyone will read Virelle’s advice and take it to heart.
I teach a class on tackling tough topics at writers conferences and often talk to people who want to use a novel as the vehicle for their difficult experience. Many plan to write with a pen name.
When I read their samples chapters, the ISSUE looms large and there isn’t much plot. As Tamela and others mentioned, heal first and then write the novel. And pen names are tricky because there isn’t much opportunity to market a pen name. You can’t do book signings or appear on TV without revealing your identity and many publishers will not accept a book written with a pen name.
If a book includes an issue, it needs to be from a wide lens perspective rather than focused totally on personal experience. And many people have a hard time zooming out.
Great points about pen names, Candy. This is definitely an area where an author can benefit by working with an agent and a great publishing team.
Writing a novel helped me heal from what happened to me. Watching my main character figure out that yes, he could make new dreams, helped me believe I can too. He found love again, and someday I might find love again.
It’s not an issue novel though. Yes, the main character is mourning the death of his dreams at the beginning of the book, and the death of the person he loved, but that’s not the main theme. The novel’s theme is embracing who you are and not allowing others to change you. It’s about the search for a lost culture, and a fight for freedom.
I write in a genre traditional publishers have no idea what to do with, and to make it even harder for them to work with, it it’s a romance told from the hero’s POV. So I’ve self-published it. Readers expect most of the books to be indie. It’s getting great reviews.
I have a powerful story of reconciliation. It’s not current. There’s no therapy in the writing. We’ve been living the outcome for years. When I speak, I often refer to it as my personal life example (of many things: forgiveness, hope, perseverance).
For years many have encouraged me to write the story but I’ve hesitated for a number of reasons, some of which you mention.
Your thoughts, however, have brought greater clarity as to how i might approach it. I will think and pray on this. Thank you!
I will pray with you, Diane.