"Garden Party" Style Writing
...and a little about the stories I'm working on
Do you write for yourself or for audiences1? Do you follow the trends (whether because it’s what you like or it’s what you think will sell), or do you create to the beat of your own drum?
I’m absolutely the sort to do my own thing, whether or not it’s well received. It doesn’t mean I don’t want audiences. I do, and I hope they enjoy my stories. But I’m focused on writing (with proper feedback and encouragement to grow2) the sort of fantasy series I wanted as a teenager. That includes the length, depth of character development, themes, and random quirks.
It means Saoirse has a magical ability to wake creatures (the Forgotten Things) that have been turned to stone for thousands of years. Some of those creatures are majestic… the sort Lewis would describe as “dangerous but good”. Others are weird but wonderful: two headed ducks and a rutabaga creature that digs portals in the dirt. Oh! And there are magical platypodes, because why not?
Saoirse is the main character, but she’s Adam’s sidekick, watching as a prophecy marks him as the chosen one. Together, these best friends slay dragons and explore their world; they wake up stars, meet ancient beings, visit a world underneath their own called the Terrarium, and find themselves caught up in a secret society’s plot to dominate the world. I think it’s funny that my monsters are allergic to peanut butter and dissolve into a ghastly pile of black, oozy goo when it touches them… but at the same time, the monsters are very deadly.
There’s a magical Seedling that is “Gospel coded” and the antithesis of the One Ring. Saoirse’s go to spell is “post tenebras, lux” (a nod to the Reformation). It’s a serious book, but a lot of unserious, ridiculous things happen at the same time. I insist on writing in a British voice, using British terms and spelling because no one writes like a British fantasy author.
My stories and illustrations won’t be for everyone, and that’s okay. But it’s exactly the sort of thing my twelve-year-old self would’ve eaten up. And this story wouldn’t exist if I were worried about trends or how many people are interested in this odd conglomeration of tropes and plot points.
“But it's all right now
I learned my lesson well
You see, you can't please everyone
So you got to please yourself.”3
I’m not arguing against nor criticising writing for audiences, or following trends. While I’m certainly the sort to happily do my own thing, I don’t want to be unkind to others who do differently <3 Please, don’t take this as snobbish or uppity. I’m here to support my fellow authors <3
Writing for yourself but accepting the right feedback for the sake of growing our craft, is an art.
And now, at last, the title of this absurd little Substack post makes sense.
I write for myself (and my past self) too! I have a couple good friends who are a close part of my writing process, who sneak into my books in some unexpected ways, but beyond that little circle I really don't care who likes or doesn't like what I do!
Way too many different audiences to try to write for and you will never please most of them with whatever you write. Write for yourself and I m sure there will be an audience for it.