Monday, November 12, 2018

What I Won't or Can't Write

Q: We all write the kind of novels we want to write. What kind of novel  would you never write? 

- from Susan


1.    A historical with battlefield scenes.

2.     A bodice-ripper.

3.     A Western.

4.     A story with torture scenes.

5.     Science fiction.

6.     The Great American Novel.

7.     A Jane Austin novel.


Some because I’m never going to be good enough, some because I’m never going to be brave enough, some because I don’t read that kind of fiction. 

The shelves of bookstores are full of books I couldn’t or wouldn’t write. But I am glad other authors have because I know we don’t all have the same tastes and there’s room for every writer and every reader in this glorious world of books.

 What I have written are two series different from each other. A savvy San Francisco divorcee with a wicked sense of humor and a passion for art. 

A flighty American artist with a talent for getting in way over her head in a small French town. 

Fingers crossed there’s another in the making. There’s always something I DO want to write!








3 comments:

Paul D. Marks said...

No bodice rippers, Susan? Then you don't get those great post-Fabio covers. But seriously, it's interesting to see what you think you don't want to write and why.

Dietrich Kalteis said...

I think we can only write the kind of book we would want to read ourselves.

Susan C Shea said...

Paul, don't want to write or CAN'T write. Life is short and I'm still working to become a better writer in my own sphere!

Dietrich, you're so right. And a corollary is that if we write something only because we think it will sell, it's not likely to give us pleasure or engage readers as much as something we personally are passionate about.