I write in a niche
that LOVES
the new, the different,
the exciting.
So you would think
I’d be pushed
to write something
completely new
and different
and exciting.
And I am
…for the first book
in the series.
For subsequent books
in the series,
readers expect
only slightly different stories
and these stories
should follow the rules
and be set in the world
I created with the first story.
These new-seeking readers
don’t want new
ALL the time,
merely once in a while.
(This is especially true now
when everything feels like
it is changing
and people are actively seeking
the familiar.)
“Every once in a while,
Pablo Picasso painted
a daring new work of art.
But most of his 10,000 paintings
rhymed with the ones
he’d done before.
In his words,
“I often paint fakes.”
Fakes and covers
are an essential element
of the creative cultural economy.
But when we engage with them,
we should do it on purpose
and not be confused
about what we’re getting
(or creating).”
Are your prospects
expecting something completely new
or are they expecting
a twist on
the product/service you already offer?