Want to get published? Here’s a tip, if you’re writing a novel: pick a genre.

In the four years since I wrote this blog post, First Steps To Write A Novel: Pick A Genre, I’ve had several ill-informed comments from unpublished writers who think they know how to write and sell.

That’s fine — when you’re writing a book, it’s your book, so do what you please.

But it’s advice you should consider if you’re serious about writing a book and getting published.

You can even create your own genre, as Mary Higgins Clark has done, over many years.

As this article, Mary Higgins Clark: The Case of the Best-Selling Author – WSJ.com, points out:

“Ms. Clark has perfected a formula that appeals to a broad swath of mystery readers, 70% of whom are women. Her novels feature beautiful, intelligent women in danger, who often orchestrate their own escapes. Her heroines tend to be ambitious, self-made professionals—doctors, lawyers, journalists, interior designers. “

Why pick a genre? Essentially, because readers want what they want, and they want certain types of books at certain times. Paranormal novels are a genre, which Amanda Hocking has mined to the tune of $4 million in a year.

Suspense, romance (and its many sub-genres), science fiction, mystery etc are all genres.

If you’re a new writer, writing in a genre may seem to constrain you, however those boundaries can teach you how to write — and if you’re serious about writing fiction, it’s something you need to learn.

Books surpass their genres to become mainstream bestsellers every year. So just write the best book you can.

The Write A Book Collection — the ultimate toolbox for writing and selling your books

These days it’s crazy to spend years writing a book, without having any idea as to whether or not you can make money from it. If you want to write, you can – you have a global market, which is hungry for information and entertainment. And YOU can provide it… even if you’re a brand new author.

As you may know, I write and sell many writing guides. I also sell information products in many other areas than writing.

I want to show you how you can do the same, if you wish. Your dreams of writing a book can be the spark which changes your life.

I’ve collected everything I know about writing and selling your books into my brand new Write A Book Collection: it’s the ultimate toolbox for anyone who wants to write and sell books in 2010 and beyond.

Are you writing a novel? Give some thought to your setting.

Your setting is just as important as your characters.

For example, I love novels set in ancient Rome. To me, the setting of ancient Rome is much more important than the plot.

Think about your favorite novels — where are they set? Make a list of novels you love, and note their settings beside them.

In your own novel, you don’t need to opt for exotic settings, although you may. You can set your novels right in your own city.

For readers who live elsewhere (and even for local readers), your descriptions of time and place will add verisimilitude.

Once you’ve chosen a setting for your novel, develop the settings for your primary scenes.

Make a list of the major scenes in your novel, and choose a setting for them. You’re a location scout for the movie of your novel.

For example, if you’re writing a mystery, give some thought to where the body will be found.

I’ve just finished reading John Sandford’s latest novel, Bad Blood. the book opens with the victim being despatched in a grain elevator.

Not only is the setting unique and perfect for the tone of the novel, it’s also suitably creepy. The grains are soybeans, which will be turned into food…

The “Perfect” Setting Helps You to Write Your Book

You’ll find that when you devote time to your setting, finding locations for your scenes, thinking about how a location changes during the course of a season, and during the course of a day, your book will be much easier to write.

Your characters will quickly become real to you, because their setting is real.

And because your characters are real people to you, your novel will also be much more fun to write.

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As the screenwriters strike drags on, some writers are turning to writing novels.

Hollywood writers turn to Plan B: the novel comments however: “‘Oftentimes, you shudder when a screenwriter sends you a novel, because they tend to be strong with dialogue but crappy with context, and novels are all about creating the proper context for the story,’ said Evans, whose clients include Smith and Michael Chabon. ‘Screenwriters are attracted to novel writing because they can let their freak flag fly and just write what they want, but the truly talented novelist-slash-screenwriter is very rare.’”

If you assess the demands of the medium you’re writing in, you can be successful at writing anything. But writing a novel is very different from writing a screenplay.

Write more – the key to your writing success

Yes, you can write more – even if you’re a world-class procrastinator.

Did you know that when you write more, your writing improves? Many of my writing students experience this. They find that when they write more, writing is easier for them – they’re not dominated by their inner editor.

My new writing class, “Write More And Make More Money From Your Writing: Develop A Fast, Fun Productive Writing Process” is based on lessons I developed for my private coaching students to help them to write more, improve their writing, and make more money writing.

If you’re struggling with your writing, the class will help. The techniques you’ll learn in class with help you write fiction, nonfiction, and copy for business.

Discover how you can write more, improve your writing, and sell more of your writing to higher-paying markets.

Nominees: The Edgar® Awards reports:

Best Novel Nominees

Christine Falls by Benjamin Black (Henry Holt and Company)
Priest by Ken Bruen (St. Martin’s Minotaur)
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon (HarperCollins)
Soul Patch by Reed Farrel Coleman (Bleak House Books)
Down River by John Hart (St. Martin’s Minotaur)

If it’s not on the page; it doesn’t exist.

(Similar to Angela’s Law of Getting It Done: if it’s not written down, it won’t happen.)

Let’s say that your heroine is compassionate. You understand this. As part of the prep for the book, you’ve written 20 pages of this woman’s life story so that you could understand her.

You know she’s a member of Amnesty International, she’s “adopted” a lizard at the local zoo, and she ushers spiders gently out of the bathroom, rather than swatting them with a rolled-up newspaper.

It’s not enough, however, for you to know it. You’ve got to show your heroine acting in a compassionate way on the page.

A major part of a first revision is getting all the material out of your head onto the page. (Don’t worry about it in your first draft. Just make a note on the typescript: “Show compassionate streak”, so you don’t forget later.)