Like a lot writers, I keep a file of story ideas.  Actually, I keep two–one for SF and fantasy ideas, and one for interesting nonspeculative storylines/scenarios that might serve as the scaffolding for a SF or fantasy idea.  Even if I write until I’m 100, I won’t have time to turn them all into stories or novels.  Each time I start something new, I have to make choices, and one of the choice points is, do I write what I want to write most, or do I write what I think is likely to be popular?  It’s never quite that straightforward, and often if you’re excited about an idea, readers are likely to respond enthusiastically as well.  But, feet to the fire, if I have to lean one way or the other?  Easy.  I write what I think is likely to be popular.

There are unflattering words we sometimes ascribe to writers who make the choice to write based on what they think will sell, but let me elaborate on my thinking.

Over the years I’ve often heard or read this piece of advice: write what you love.  The thing is, some of the things I love most are things most readers wouldn’t find all that interesting.  For example, I am fascinated by collecting, and would love to write something that centers around collecting.  I’m an avid collector.  Original comic art is first and foremost, as might be evident by my new novel Hitchers, but at one time or another I’ve collected autographs, baseball cards, movie posters, first edition SF books and more.  Over time I’ve learned that unless you’re talking to another collector, never, ever talk about collecting.  Only other collectors find collecting interesting; everyone else’s eyes glaze over in a hurry if you bring up collecting.  Now, I’m sure it’s possible to write a stunning novel that centers around collecting (there may even be some are out there), but it would be an uphill battle.

I’m also absolutely enthralled by accounts of spiritual enlightenment.  Stories of acolytes learning at the feet of a wise master, then suddenly reaching satori, are right up my alley.  I’d love to write something along that theme, but I’ve noticed that most readers find such stories trite, or even grating.

Before I begin a novel now, I run the idea past my agent, Seth Fishman, to see if he thinks there would be any interest in it.  I sent him a short list a while back, and got his opinion on which he thought were the strongest.   I wouldn’t send him an idea for a novel that I wasn’t excited about writing, but I’m definitely open to being steered toward the ideas he’s excited about as well.

One final example: baseball.  I actually wrote a contemporary baseball fantasy novel, titled Wild.  This was before I had an agent, and I shopped it around to agents and got a clear message: baseball novels are tough to sell.  You can write a novel that has baseball in it, but don’t write a novel about baseball.  I think Wild was what really changed my mind about writing what I love.  Now when I’m poring over my idea list, I most definitely peruse them with an eye toward what might resonate with readers.  If I bothered to write the idea down, certainly it is interesting to me as well, though I may not choose the idea on the list that is most interesting to me, because that would be the one about the conjoined twins who pitch in the major leagues.  One of the twins is an enlightened Zen master, and they spend their offseason buying and selling rare cereal boxes.

Now that’s a story I would love to write.