The Importance of Consuming as a Producer
Hey everyone, Abby here with another advice post! Today I want to talk about something a little different from my usual theme (as you could probably see by the title). Let’s jump right in!
The Difference Between Producing and Consuming
In the writing world, producing is creating writing-related content. You’re making something out of nothing, be it an idea, a world, a character, etc. Whatever it is, you’re creating this thing on your own. When you put it out into the world in whatever way you choose, it will be “consumed”. A producer is an author.
Consumers are, in this case, the readers. They’re taking in your content and while it may still be out there for others to read, they’ll still have a bit of that work. While producers are important because they provide the content, consumers are important because, for lack of better explanation, they put the content to work. (Usually just by reading it. I’m sure you get the gist.)
Why, as an Author, You Should Be Both
There are several reasons that it’s beneficial to be both a producer and a consumer.
Keep reading
I have a burning need to piggy back on this post.
I have heard SO many writers say “I want to write a [insert genre] novel!”
And then I say, “Cool, so you love [genre], who’s your favorite author / what’s your favorite book?”
Do you know how many times I’ve heard this response?
“Oh, I don’t read much [genre].”
blink blink.
Excuse me? You don’t read the genre you want to write in?
It baffles me. It astounds me.
How in the world do you think you can write a novel in a genre you know nothing about?
How will you know what kind of character archetypes are usually found in that genre? How will you know what kind of plot lines are common, or uncommon? How will you know the beats, the tropes, the reader expectations?
Because it all comes down to reader expectations, in the end.
When you say, “This is a [genre] novel”, you are telling the reader explicitly what to expect from your novel. Breaking those expectations is like breaking a promise.
This is why it’s so important to read in your genre.
The reason a romance novel is romance is because it is about two characters falling in love and getting their happily ever after. If you have never read a romance novel and decide to be UNIQUE and EGDY and ORIGINAL and decide to have them die at the end, then you have not written a romance novel, and if you call it that, romance readers will hate you for getting their hopes up and then dashing them completely.
If you say, “Oh, I’m writing a cozy mystery” and then decide to put tons of graphic blood and guts and gore into your book, then it is not a cozy mystery. Cozy mystery readers tend to read cozies specifically because they want the mystery without the horror.
Readers have expectations. If you break them, you are breaking your promise to the reader.
Know your genre. Keep your promise.