I write in two subgenres
of romance.
I have an active series
(product line)
in each of them.
This week,
I decided to stop writing
in one of the subgenres.
It hurt.
I had invested quite a bit
of time and money
in that product line
but, for the health
of my total business,
it had to be done
Why?
Because sales were really bad.
I won’t recoup launch costs
for well over a decade.
And these sales weren’t increasing.
The sales of the other series
(product line),
in contrast,
are very high.
I recoup launch costs first day.
And sales are increasing.
My decision was clear.
I have limited resources.
It makes sense to dump
the failing product line
and concentrate on the successful one.
Your decision might be more challenging.
Look at trends,
both for your product line
and for the industry.
Listen to buzz.
Are people talking about the product line
or is it quiet, too quiet?
Are there substantial improvements
or changes
you can make
that might revive the product line?
Evaluate
and then make the tough decision.
If it makes sense
for the total business,
don’t be afraid
to dump a product line.