Writing that makes readers think
What Substack and Kirkus Reviews have in common
“Your stuff is too upscale for most publishers. They want romance. Or they want erotica. Or they want both.”
Thus saith my erstwhile agent, who represented me for the six novels of mine that were “traditionally” published. Since then, I’ve been on my own.
As you might imagine, if my agent had trouble selling my older “upscale” work, I struggle to get my new stuff reviewed. Most indie authors struggle to get their work reviewed, so that’s not news. But when I see reviewer comments like “I didn’t feel intelligent enough to read this at times,” or when the word “antithetical” coming from a highly-educated character is problematic for the reviewer, I find myself at a loss.
Do I “dumb down” my work to make it accessible to reviewers (and readers) with smaller vocabularies? No judgement, here, but when I see my novels compared to other work with the comment, “It’s the difference between watching the discovery channel [sic] and going to the cinema with a bucket of popcorn,” two questions occur to me:
What is it about the Discovery Channel that has anything in common with my work? I mean, I watch “Shark Week” every year, and I don’t think I’ve missed an episode of “Naked and Afraid.” But it seems like popcorn territory to me.
Where are the readers who wouldn’t balk at “antithetical?” How do I reach them?
I do have some reviewers who are less easily intimidated. Christopher Verleger at Edge Media Network wrote this heading for his most recent review: “'For Love of Self' is Intriguing, Romantic, and Smart.“ The thing is, Edge has a very particular audience. In order to be seen by a broader audience, I have to pay. So I paid Kirkus Reviews* to review For Love of Self.
Kirkus is a risk. At the very least, it’s a risk of a few hundred dollars just to have a book reviewed. (That was not a mistype.) Because if they don’t like the book, they don’t scruple to say so. I got lucky:
“… a broad cast of characters… the author makes every one feel unique.”
“Even when Spencer’s relationship gets painful, or things get scary, the narrative has a calming, even tone that will keep readers engaged and entertained.”
They really liked it. They were even entertained! So, back to Question 2 above. How do I reach readers who like to read all kinds of things, readers who might mix romance and even erotica into their selections but who know what “antithetical” means and aren’t nonplussed when they encounter it? (Sorry if I’m leaning too hard on that; I just couldn’t quite believe it.)
The answer, or at least one answer, is—I hope—Substack. Since I set up my account here, I’ve been reading post after post covering a wide variety of topics, posts that are well-written, well-organized, interesting or amusing or both, and are also (here’s that magic word) entertaining. They use little words. They use big words. They make me laugh. They make me cry. They make me THINK.
It seems to me that last sentence is the key. Like so much of what I read on Substack, my work makes people think. Or it should. Not everyone likes that. But I feel at home on Substack.
So please, by all means, have your bowl of popcorn beside you if you’re reading my novels. Laugh. Cry. But don’t leave your brain in the kitchen with the popcorn popper. You’re going to need it.
FOR LOVE OF SELF
* Kirkus Reviews is a prestigious American book review magazine founded in 1933.
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I enjoy being challenged! Keep it up, Robin! Your posts and your books are terrific!
I subscribed and look forward to reading your posts.