Pivoting Genres And Writing Historical Fiction With Anna Sayburn Lane

When is it time to leave an unsuccessful series behind and pivot into something new? What is the process of writing to market? Anna Sayburn Lane explores these topics and more.

Anna Sayburn Lane writes 1920s murder mysteries and contemporary thrillers, and is an award-winning short story writer.

• Lessons learned from self-publishing your first book
• The mindset shift when deciding to pivot
• When the cost of production outweighs the profits — is it time to pivot?
• Assessing the financial potential of a genre
• How writing to market makes marketing easier
• Researching and changing your branding when pivoting genre
• Balancing research time with writing time
• Historical accuracy vs. believability

[tomschaumleffel]

This was an enlightening interview about the struggles of an author who recognizes the need to adapt to writing to the commercial market to feed her goals in what she choose to write, but also the timing of her book releases. I respect her for choosing to write to market on a subject that she chose based on her intrigue and curiosity rather than to the one the would pay the most. My reading has accelerated this year to understand how to improve my writing thru non-fiction and fiction, so I listen to half of my books on audio. The books I choose to listen on audio are the ones I plan to also find quality hardcover versions of for my bookshelf.

[indiegamebreak]

This interview was great. I have a three book urban fantasy series, and while I've learned a lot writing it and had some lovely feedback from readers, sales are low and I'm not breaking even. I've spiked my original outline for book 4, and I'm now rewriting book 4 so it can serve as an endpoint for the series, after which I may pivot to a (slightly) different genre - epic fantasy. Trying to be upbeat, as it seems like the key is to keep plugging away while trying to improve your craft with each new book. Onwards! 😊

[claricesmyth]

Loved this episode. It combined some of my favorite subjects of history, research, writing, mystery, murder, marketing, and resilience. ❤️

[henbane]

There is a really good Australian TV murder mystery show set in the 1920s starring Essie Davis called Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries

[marie-claireallington]

Ah I just checked those vat changes - i am now not sure that’s so clear cut. Further research me thinks 😀

[marie-claireallington]

Yes re thresholds!!!! I gave up because of it back then. I remember when they brought in the 9k and then brexit stopped that for us!!! Some really good news:)