“I write what I want to write. Period. I don't write novels-for-hire using media tie-in characters, I don't write suspense novels or thrillers. I write horror. And if no one wants to buy my books, I'll just keep writing them until they do sell--and get a job at Taco Bell in the meantime.” IfsWantWritingBookCharacterJobsNovelMediaPeriodsHorrorSellsSuspenseTiesBellsThrillersUsing MeTacosTaco BellSuspense Novels Author:Bentley Little
“An important factor to note is that it's rare for anyone to sell a first novel written before they turned 30-35; long-format fiction tends to require a bunch of experience of human life that takes time to acquire. So your average mid-career novelist is in their forties to fifties!” FirstsHumansLongImportantFictionCareersNovelWrittenSellsNotesAverageBunchFactorsHuman LifeNovelistsAcquireFortyTake TimeFormat Author:Charles Stross
“My experience with My Sister Rosa showed me, once again, that I have a much easier time of it if I sell my novels after I finish them, not before. I'm lucky that I'm in a position where I'm able to do that.” IfsAbleNovelPositionEasierLuckySellsMy SisterRosaEasier Times Author:Justine Larbalestier
“You know how some people will say to writers, "Why don't you just write a romance novel that sells a bunch of copies and then you'll have the money to do the kind of writing you want to do"? I always say that I don't have the skills or knowledge to do that. It would be just as hard for me to do that kind of writing as it would be to learn how to do any number of productive careers that I can't manage to make myself do.” PeopleKnowsWantWritingKindI CanHardWould BeRomanceNumbersCareersNovelKnow HowSkillsSellsBunchManageProductiveCopiesRomance Novel Author:Lucy Corin
“When a colleague of mine had a notable New York Times book, I said, turn one of the chapters in the collection into a pitch for a novel and sell it to your publisher.” SaidBookTurnsNovelNew YorkMinesSellsCollectionsChaptersColleaguesPublishersNotableNew York Times Author:Julianna Baggott