Holly Brown
Start by deciding what the purpose of your writing is. If it's primarily for pleasure, then do all you can to maximize your enjoyment; don't worry about agents or markets or anything like that. Turn off all censors, and just go.
If you're writing with the goal of being published, then you have to do more research. Consider what's currently selling; consider how you can add to whatever market you want to enter. Before you start writing your book, you'll need to think about who your target audience is and why they'd buy your book, because in order to get an agent who'll want to sell it, they need you to sell yourself and your idea to them.
I know, I'm not making it sound like much fun. But doing your research at the start can save you a lot of pain and rejection later. You want to make sure your energy goes into the most marketable project. But also make sure that's the book you will actually like writing. When those two things intersect, you've got your best chance of success.
If you're writing with the goal of being published, then you have to do more research. Consider what's currently selling; consider how you can add to whatever market you want to enter. Before you start writing your book, you'll need to think about who your target audience is and why they'd buy your book, because in order to get an agent who'll want to sell it, they need you to sell yourself and your idea to them.
I know, I'm not making it sound like much fun. But doing your research at the start can save you a lot of pain and rejection later. You want to make sure your energy goes into the most marketable project. But also make sure that's the book you will actually like writing. When those two things intersect, you've got your best chance of success.
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