What's Holding You Back? Part 2: SQUARE PEG / ROUND HOLE

ABA or CBA. Single title or series. Novella. Short stories. Suspense. Mainstream. Science Fiction. Romance. Historical. Thriller. Mystery. Fantasy. Time Travel. Western. Women’s Fiction. Chicklit. Young Adult. Kid’s books.
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Take a moment to think of all the variations and combinations of the above. The book lengths. The time periods. The settings. The tones. The styles.
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Boggles the mind, doesn’t it?
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Do you know where YOU fit in all this?
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For some writers, this is a no-brainer. They write the “book of their heart,” sell it to their dream publisher, and their timing catches the wave of a growing market trend with a perfect fit.
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But for others, especially those who have been waiting in the publication world wings for what seems like an eternity, you may begin to wonder if you’re in tune with God on this whole writing thing--or pursuing your own path. Maybe you’re torn between inspirational and non-inspirational. Angsting between contemporary and historical. Or between romance and young adult fiction. Maybe you’re not sure what you want to write at all. Or maybe you’re really, really, really certain about what you want to write---but it doesn’t fit what editors are buying.
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So what’s an unpublished writer to do? (Or a published one whose books are no longer a “hot” item in a shrinking market niche?)
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In 1997 I was writing non-inspirational, chicklit-flavored romantic suspense stories-- stories that were finaling and winning RWA contests. “Won’t be long,” I was assured by many judges. “You’re writing publishable stuff.” But major health setbacks with a long recovery--followed by increasing day job demands--sidelined me from seriously writing toward publication for 7-8 years.
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As my interest in writing resurfaced, the growing “inspirational” fiction market caught my eye. When I was in college, I wanted to write a well-researched historical with romantic elements and inspirational depth. I had a title. Had my characters. My setting. Opening chapters and a ton of research completed. A fledgling plot simmering. But there wasn’t a market for “Christian” fiction back then, let alone anywhere to learn how to write it. And by the time inspirational fiction came into vogue, I seriously doubted I could write for that market anyway. Didn’t you have to be an ex-missionary? A pastor’s wife? Have a Bible college degree? Be someone with a known ministry platform? Be a much more perfect person than I am?

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But I began to seriously pray about it, deciding to explore where God might lead by entering contests with my “inspirationalized” stories--while still submitting non-inspirational versions to other contests. Surely the outcome of that venture would make it clear where I “belonged,” right?

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Nice in theory . . . but while my stories finaled and placed in inspirational categories (and one even won the ACFW “Genesis” in 2006), the non-inspirational versions continued to win contests, too! Yikes! So much for “laying out a fleece!” Maybe God didn’t have a preference for which route I took? Both versions were founded on a Christian worldview. Neither version would bring Him shame.
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However, the market was rapidly shifting. Chicklit waning. First person point of view falling out of popularity. The fun-flavored, “kinder, gentler” romantic mystery/suspense that I wrote had for the most part given way--even in CBA--to stalkers and serial killers and intrigue-type story lines. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy reading those types of books, let alone have a desire to write them.
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So there I was--at a crossroads. SQUARE PEG. ROUND HOLE.
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It was in late summer/autumn of 2007 -- when I was spinning around in circles of increasingly unproductive frustration and indecision -- that “Plan B” (see last month’s post) emerged from the unpubbed Seeker contingent, challenging us to “think outside the box,” to prayerfully dig deep, and to give God permission to do whatever HE wanted to do with the gift he’d given each of us.
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So in 2008 I “stepped out of the boat” and wrote my first from scratch inspirational romance targeted for Steeple Hill. I didn’t know if I, the queen of subplots, could tell a story in a mere 60,000 words. Didn’t know if I, a natural first person POV writer, could write in third person, let alone from a convincing male viewpoint. Didn’t know if I could write a story that didn’t contain a mystery—how did you keep readers turning the pages without one? I still had grave doubts that I had time to write for publication at all. Nevertheless, I wrote what became “Dreaming of Home.” That’s the book that in 2008 won the only contest I entered it in, the book that brought a request for a full manuscript and, shortly thereafter, a publishing contract for an October 2009 release!
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At long last—Square peg, square hole! Round peg, round hole!
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Amazingly, I discovered during the writing of that book that I LOVE writing small-town inspirational romance—something I’d never previously considered doing. Now, in retrospect, it’s a perfect fit for a coal miner’s daughter who grew up in a close-knit Christian family in small farming and mining communities. For someone who values extended family relationships and long-term friendships. For someone who enjoys reading stories that call to the heart and give readers hope and encouragement.

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So, how do YOU discover an answer to “Where Do I Fit?” A starting place may be to set aside time in the coming days, weeks and months to give serious and prayerful thought to the following questions. Not off-the-top-of-your-head responses, but digging down deep ones. Answer them, think about them, then go back and answer them again. Analyze your responses. Pay special attention to the “why’s.”
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1) What books do I enjoy reading most? Which ones do I read more than once? Why?
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2) What movies do I enjoy most? Which ones do I watch again and again? Why?
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3) What do these books and movies have in common? Suspense? Humor? Action? Romance? Setting? Time period? Characterization? Tone? Friendships? Family relationships? Why am I so drawn to these common elements?
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4) Are there reoccurring themes or premises that appear in what I read, the movies I watch, and the stories I write? Why am I drawn to these themes? Premises?
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5) What do I value most, deep down inside, that I want embedded in the stories I share with the world? What message do I want to deliver? Why? Can this message only be delivered in the type of book/genre I’m currently writing? Why or why not?
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6) What do I have the most fun writing? Why? Which stories energize me? Which ones can’t I get out of my head? In which of my stories do I most often get “in the zone” so that time passes and I’m not even aware of it?
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7) What do those who read my stories (family, friends, critique partners, judges) feel my story giftedness is?
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8) What’s most important to me—getting this “book of my heart” published now or getting my foot in the publishing world door and establishing myself in hopes it will later find a home?

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You may discover from your answers to these questions that you’re currently writing exactly what you want to write. Nevertheless, maybe your story hasn’t found a home yet. Are you willing to wait patiently for the market to come around? (Markets DO change. Constantly.) Do you smooth that square peg’s edges a bit to make it more saleable in today’s round hole market? (Maybe cut it down from 150,000 words to 75,000? Add more romance to the plot?) Can that contemporary find new life as an historical—or vice versa? Do you dare to set aside a story—or even a genre—and possibly discover something new and different that you may love as much—or more—than what you’re currently writing?
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Ultimately, it’s a decision YOU have to make. One you need to have a peace about so you don’t wallow in frustration as you await God’s timing.

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Hopefully you won’t have to go on such a long and winding road as I’ve traveled! Yet I fully understand that every twist and turn brought me to where I am today. I couldn’t have written the books I’m writing now—or will write in the future—if I’d have fast-tracked straight to publication right out of college. But I’ll always wonder . . . could I have been a better listener sooner? Dug deeper earlier?
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Prayerfully answering the above questions over a period of months led me to what I’m writing now. But the answers also opened my eyes to the fact that if on down the road doors close to contemporary small-town romance, that doesn’t have to sound a death knell to my writing. My love of history makes me a natural for historical romance. I enjoy women’s fiction, too. And still have a soft spot for “kinder, gentler” romantic suspense should that genre ever revive. I realize from my responses to the questions that I have an untapped versatility to write many “books of my heart,” no matter what twists and turns the market takes. Remember, it never hurts to have a back-up plan!
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I’m sure everyone in Seekerville is as interested as I am in hearing your thoughts regarding the questions posed. While digging deep takes time and effort, sometimes it helps to think out loud. Putting your thoughts into words and receiving feedback can often help crystallize the answers.
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If you’d like to be entered in a drawing to win a copy of my current release, “Second Chance Courtship,” please leave a comment and your e-mail addy as well!
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Glynna Kaye’s Steeple Hill Love Inspired “Dreaming of Home” is a 2010 “Carol Award” and “Maggie Award” finalist, as well as a first place winner of the “Booksellers Best” and “Beacon” awards. Her next books (also set in Canyon Springs, Arizona) are “Second Chance Courtship” releasing February 2011, and “At Home In His Heart” debuting August 2011!