Which novel do I write?

[Jared]

I've written bits and pieces of two novels (inbetween other bits of fanfic and other fluff that I've indulged in) but I think I should really concentrate on one and try to get it published.

One is a spoof on the detective genre, but featuring a student psychologist who plays the sort of 'gormless everyman thrown into trouble' role that you see so often. Because it's designed with a flighty, irreverent nature and uses tangents to the plot as a key technique, I find it quite easy to sit back and write chunks of, but its all quite frothy and I'm not sure if there's a market for it.

The other is a war 'epic' about an Aussie soldier enlisting at the dawn of WWII, designed so that it can act as the beginning of a series or simply be a one off. I've created quite a lot of backstory and mapped out the central characters and really, really like the idea (Like a more modern Australian version of Bernard Cornwell's "Richard Sharpe" series if you're familiar wth them...) but... I know masses of research will be required because I don't want to make any beginner's mistakes with it.

Any thoughts? Light and frothy a good place to start? Or damn the torpedoes and into the deep end?

[Willowmound]

Second one,simply because I'd enjoy reading that one more. :)

[Antony B]

Which one would you enjoy writing the most?

Which one would you enjoy reading the most?

If you have the same answer to both those questions, write that book. If you have different answers then, erm... I don't know.

The advice I often hear is that worrying about markets is a waste of time at this stage. Personally, I'd prefer to read the detective spoof :-)

[Takvah]

Write the one you know you'll finish. Seriously. If you have an indulgent kind of personality and your discipline is a little iffy... you'll need all the help you can get. Lend yourself a hand now, rather than doing yourself in later.

[Mumut]

When I started to write, I spent time in book shops looking for books of the same (or similar) genre, age group, level of humour etc. I then listed the publishers. You might be able to prove to yourself that there is/isn't a market for your cop story. If there is, it might be easier to write than the other.

[Use Her Name]

If I were in your situation, I would write the detective story (quickly) for sale in a humor category, and continue the slow methodical work on the war story. I say this because a drawn out novel that requires a lot of research might take years. To get some publication credits, you might do some smaller, light hearted sorts of books. I'm in a fix where I have a huge novel, but I only work on it a bit at a time. I am starting to write another type of novel in order to try to get a stream of royalties going, so I have even more time to work on my big novel.

[sadron]

When I started to write, I spent time in book shops looking for books of the same (or similar) genre, age group, level of humour etc. I then listed the publishers. You might be able to prove to yourself that there is/isn't a market for your cop story. If there is, it might be easier to write than the other.

I read from somewhere that you shouldn't read/check books in bookshop when you start to write. Avoid that at all cost! :D It's just guideline.

[zornhau]

Write a MilSF romp aimed at Baen, but based on the research for the Oz goes to war, which would be your 2nd novel.

However, it's interesting reading military fiction and picking out the non-military facts.

For example, in the Sharpe novels, most of the non-military research is focussed on the locale of the campaign, which you could probably pick up from a reference work for each novel. Anything else - well you'll discover what you need to know as you write the 1st daft.

And, as for the military stuff: actually your timing is exquisite.

Osprey has published a whole series of books covering WWII infantry tactics, e.g. http://search.ospreypublishing.com/search?site=titles&q=World+War+II+%2Btactics&getfields=*&output=xml_no_dtd&sort=date%3AD%3AL%3Ad1&btnG.y=11&client=default_frontend&btnG.x=9&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF-8&proxystylesheet=titles&filter=0&btnG.x=15&btnG.y=13

They really are very good... so good the diagrams made sense to my 4-year old son and his 8-year-old friend, who then proceeded to emulate company level assaults on entrenched positions.

You should also invest in a good small unit figure-based wargame and play out a few skirmishes.

[Phaeal]

Do the one that haunts your dreams. If they both haunt you, then do the one you can finish more quickly. Finishing any novel will teach you a lot, whether it turns out to be publishable or not.

[ishtar'sgate]

The other is a war 'epic' about an Aussie soldier enlisting at the dawn of WWII, designed so that it can act as the beginning of a series or simply be a one off. I've created quite a lot of backstory and mapped out the central characters and really, really like the idea (Like a more modern Australian version of Bernard Cornwell's "Richard Sharpe" series if you're familiar wth them...) but... I know masses of research will be required because I don't want to make any beginner's mistakes with it.

Any thoughts? Light and frothy a good place to start? Or damn the torpedoes and into the deep end?
I think you have your own answer in what you've said. Although light and frothy is easy to write, unless you have a totally engaging sense of humor, it probably won't sell as well. Of course I'm partial to historicals:D and I realize how much research is required but it sounds to me like you've put far more thought and energy into the historical. You'll need that enthusiasm for your work in order to see it through to the end. I vote for the second book.
Linnea

[MelancholyMan]

Second one,simply because I'd enjoy reading that one more. :)

What he said. That part of the war, New Guinea especially, is a very little known, truly fascinating aspect of the conflict. (Find a copy of Nanette by Edward Parks and read it.)

My suggestion, and you shouldn't listen to me because I'm just an unpublished, burnt-out engineer chasing a dream, is that if you are serious, get a good book on writing. "Story" by Robert McKee is the best. Read it once, study it once, then go write your story. I think as you study your question will be answered.

-MM

[a_sharp]

I've written bits and pieces of two novels (inbetween other bits of fanfic and other fluff that I've indulged in) but I think I should really concentrate on one and try to get it published.

One is a spoof on the detective genre, but featuring a student psychologist who plays the sort of 'gormless everyman thrown into trouble' role that you see so often. Because it's designed with a flighty, irreverent nature and uses tangents to the plot as a key technique, I find it quite easy to sit back and write chunks of, but its all quite frothy and I'm not sure if there's a market for it.

The other is a war 'epic' about an Aussie soldier enlisting at the dawn of WWII, designed so that it can act as the beginning of a series or simply be a one off. I've created quite a lot of backstory and mapped out the central characters and really, really like the idea (Like a more modern Australian version of Bernard Cornwell's "Richard Sharpe" series if you're familiar wth them...) but... I know masses of research will be required because I don't want to make any beginner's mistakes with it.

Any thoughts? Light and frothy a good place to start? Or damn the torpedoes and into the deep end?

At the Maui Writer's conference, an attendee presented a humorous first chapter to John Saul's workshop. It was hilarious, we all laughed and so did John. But then he pointed out that humorous fiction is probably the toughest kind to write, especially to keep it funny throughout without making it a string of one-liners. I always remember that advice when I'm tempted to do same.

Your war story seems the better choice because of the research you've invested in it and the Aussie experience of it. I think you'd find a wider audience in both readers and agents for that one.

With the humor, you have to compete with the likes of Hiaasen, Westlake, and Barry. Seems to me your odds are better with the war story.

[Mumut]

I read from somewhere that you shouldn't read/check books in bookshop when you start to write. Avoid that at all cost! :D It's just guideline.

That's funny! I was told the opposite. It is supposed to help when approaching publishers to know a fair bit about their work on the shelves. It also saves you from approaching a publisher who is just not 'out there'.

What was the reason you read for not doing this?

[sadron]

That's funny! I was told the opposite. It is supposed to help when approaching publishers to know a fair bit about their work on the shelves. It also saves you from approaching a publisher who is just not 'out there'.

What was the reason you read for not doing this?

I was looking for info how to start a story, long time ago. But believe me, I still tend to go bookshop and check some books. :D