Write what you love!
Don’t write what people want.
There is a trap that writers...and really all artists can fall into. That is to create according to what you, or other people, think is popular.
“Write about vampires, babe,” comes the advice. “Everyone’s totally into it right now.”
But, what about when your book is done a year later. Time has an article on the front page that states, “Vampires are dead, babe”. Worse yet, you spent all this time on a work that...you’re not really into. However, you have to try and sell it because you put all that work in (the Sunk Cost. Fallacy).
Now, if a publisher hires you to write a book about something, that’s different. That could be a cool challenge, and you’re getting paid to write. Hot Dog!
But, if someone is trying to create according to what they believe is “popular”, the work can end up hollow. It’s hard to put your heart and soul into something you don’t care about. Writing a sports story would be hard for me, because I don’t care about sports. Now, if I could find some In. Something that really geeked me, then I definitely could. But if it was a straightforward underdog beats the bad guys….meh.
There are countless movie sequels where the original creator has said what they wanted to say, and moved on. But, the studio wants more, because it is a cash cow. So, the sequels don’t have the same color. They’re faded and worn. The studio breaks up the couple that got together in the first one, JUST so that they can get together again. &@%#!!!!
If James Cameron had had to rehash the first Alien...it would have been good, just because it's James Motherfunking Cameron, but it would not be ‘Aliens’. The studio let him create something new and Built upon the first film.
By focusing on something that you are interested in, your enthusiasm and interest can also bleed through. In that too, you will also find your voice as you create more and more. I know I have a particular voice, though I have not admittedly spent a lot of time analyzing what it is.
But you can really tell with some people. I can spot a Guillermo Del Toro film right off the bat, or a Wes Anderson film. Or, with Stand-up, you can immediately hear Chris Rock or Patton Oswalt and the voice of their storytelling. Similarly, Steven Wright’s curious way of looking at the world.
Maybe that’s really what your voice shows. You’re view of the world. Hmmm, possibly.
This is why it's important to let people have time to try, to develop that voice with positive reinforcement. Who knows what that artist could create down the road!!
Finally, in the clip below, Patton Oswalt talks about hearing a young comedian being given bad advice. Really interesting.
https://youtu.be/krkgKGq54tI
So, what should you write about?
Whatever the Hell you want to!