Monday, April 29, 2013

Changing Reader Expectations: The Triangle


For some time now, readers have been letting authors and publishers know that the love triangle, the “torn between two lovers” motif just isn’t working in the inspirational market. Readers—especially book buyers—are increasingly turning away from this time-honored plot.

Why?

The easiest explanation has to do with changing reader expectations.

The love triangle grew out of a time when a number of suitors paid call on a young woman of marriageable age. It was a time when love played only a small part in matchmaking, and parents had as much say about the man their daughter would marry. Inevitable conflict arose between the interests of the lady’s heart and the concerns of her family.

Likewise, the Triangle still works in some historical contexts. A skilled author can use unusual and unexpected twists to bring such a tale to a satisfactory conclusion.

In more contemporary settings (or in the hands of a less experienced author), the Triangle annoys the modern reader who…
  1. Prefers characters to be strong and decisive. Triangles make characters look indecisive and illogical. Readers today prefer well-defined characters who have backbones: they like women and men who have goals and dreams and are willing to fight for them. Even if they struggle with their faith or some internal journey, characters should be able to make a decision and stick with it. They can struggle WITH love, but not about WHICH love.
  2. Prefers plots to be about current concerns. The primary demographic for most romance novels are married women. They want to identify with the heroine and fall in love with the hero. They want the main characters to have struggles similar to their own: jobs, family issues, finances.
  3. Prefers characters to have faithful hearts. This one is huge. In today’s world, a triangle usually ends with someone being unfaithful. This builds in the expectation for the reader that an author has to overcome in order for an inspirational novel to work.

While the Triangle is a familiar motif, it’s one that’s fallen out of favor. As a novelist, push your creativity to the next level and draw your readers in with something fresh. 

Friday, April 26, 2013

Looking Up

I often walk looking at the ground, especially in unfamiliar territory. This isn't because I have some psychological issue with looking folks in the face or whatever nonsense you'll read about people who walk with their heads down.

It's because I fall a lot. A LOT. I have tiny ankles and weak ligaments, and there's a lot of weight balanced on top of those. All it takes is a slight misstep to send me tumbling. My doc thinks the two hard falls I took in 2011 triggered my vertigo. The weak ligaments are from multiple sprains I had as a child and teen - this falling business isn't new. I am a lifelong klutz.

But I don't LIKE looking at the ground all the time. So when I'm wandering through a new place, I tend to stroll slowly, or even stop often, so I can look up and take in the wonders around me. Vicki Crumpton told me that when she hiked the Grand Canyon trail, the guides told the group that they could either "hike or look" but not both. On those narrow trails, it was too dangerous to do both.

I liked that advice. I can relate.

As believers, we're often told to "look up," a nice metaphor for remembering to rely on God in good times as well as bad. And just as it is with walking, I've found it's much better if you stop while you're looking up. When you're still, you just see more.

Happy Friday to you all. I hope you have a great weekend of "looking up."

Thursday, April 18, 2013

The 15 Percent Solution

When I was at Mt. Hermon in March, one of the conferees asked me a question I hear a lot. “One of the instructors told me that he only receives about 10 to 15 percent of the manuscripts he requests. Is that true?”

The cross overlooking
the Blue Ridge conference

Well…yes. More or less. The figure will differ a bit for every agent and editor, but for many of us, that’s about average. Last year at the Blue Ridge conference, I requested 27 manuscripts. I received five.

So why would a writer pass on such an opportunity?

Most of the time, I’ll never know. Some write me to say that they’ve decided to revise one more time. Others sign with agents. A lucky few get asked for a proposal by several editors, and they pick and choose who they’ll send to. Now and again, they decide they just don’t like me.

Still others…never finish the book.

That last excuse is the primary reason editors require first-time authors to submit a complete manuscript before they offer a contract. Simply too many writers have a good idea with a great hook, then spend five years perfecting the first three chapters. And nothing else.

As an editor, I hope to work with authors for a long time. I want to see them grow, see each book improve, see their career take off for the heights. In order to do that, they’ll need to write multiple books, at least one or two a year, if not more.   

But here’s the bottom line: if an editor or agent requests your manuscript, stay in touch. Email them directly after the conference and either send your proposal or thank them for the request. If you’re not ready to submit, tell them why. Ask if there’s an expiration date on the invitation. Most of us aren’t ogres. Nor will it hurt our feelings to know that you want to give someone else the first crack at your manuscript. It’s part of the business.

And this is a business. As a result, the more professionally you behave, the better chance you have of finding a publisher.