Write to Market: Deliver a Book That Sells

Write Faster, Write Smarter 3

By: Chris Fox

Narrated by: Nathan Agin

Length: 2 hrs

Publisher's summary

Many authors write then market. Successful authors write to market.

Have you written a book that just isn't selling? Would you like to write a book that readers eagerly devour?

Many authors write,then market. Successful authors write to market. They start by figuring out how to give readers what they want, and that process begins before writing word one of your novel.

This book will teach you to analyze your favorite genre to discover what readers are buying, to mine reviews for reader expectations, and to nail the tropes your readers subconsciously crave.

Don't leave the success of your novel up to chance. Deliver the kind of book that will have your fans hounding you for the next one.

©2016 Christopher T. Fox (P)2016 Chris Fox

a realistic book about making money in writing

I'm a writer who has stagnated. That is my fault. This book was very important because it showed me why I may have failed in executing my prior books. This may or may not be the solution but I'm willing to try. Most of all, I'm going to continue to move forward no matter what.
This book takes a candid view on how to analyze the story and the genre. It's not easy but it's doable and if you're going to treat writing as a business this is important to know.
I'm going to ponder what I read and heard ( I listened to this via audio). I am going to decide my direction after I probably listen to this again.
The narrator was exceptional and kept me interested as well as the content. I recommend this book if you're interested in trying to do something different than the same thing which has not gotten you anywhere.

Useful Information with Practical Action Steps

Any additional comments?

This book provides information and action steps about how to analyze books that are successful or popular to figure out what makes a great book great. I think this helps one to become a better writer, and I hope it helps me to be a better writer and creator.

The exercises at the end of each chapter are super useful. I loved having the audiobook so that I could listen while on the go, but it's also useful to have the Kindle version also so that I could highlight and take notes and reread some parts. I highly recommend both versions of the book.

The narrator had a pleasant voice and did a good job.

Never a believer in writing to market, I am now

insightful information and solid strategy for writing to market. Chris has done his homework and it shows.

Have the ebook and this too!

I really like how this book when listened just glides along to get you good facts. You can listen to it many times to soak in everything you need to do, or for me I even pick up the ebook exercises when needing numbers. Another awesome must have for authors!

I Have 1 Advice To Would-be Writers

This is an enlightening listen I am not an author but curiosity got me, I am a 95% audio book listener and 2% book reader the rest 3% I'm entertained by something else. I took 1 star away because Chris Fox talks about one trope that we all hate as consumers of your works and that is books ending with to be continued especially when he says if the book doesn't sell well move on to something else. we don't like it when the tv shows do it or the books and than just discontinue the series. I think actually I should take 2 stars off just for suggesting it. I can tell all the writers who will decide to persue audiobooks as one of your delivery stations is to get a really really good performer and I can't stress how important that is. Happy writing can't wait to hear your works.

Write With Intention

The idea of writing to market is often conflated with chasing the market (following popular trends). What Chris is talking about is really writing with intention in a genre you love. If we talked about cooking in the same context, you'd bring your version of a triple chocolate cake to people who love and are waiting to eat triple chocolate cake, don't take them chocolate cheesecake, or worse, peach pie. Chris lays out a good system for evaluating the genres you like and are interested in writing for. The book has simple but useful activities at the end of each chapter. I found them super useful!
Excellent narration! Very enjoyable to listen to. Thank you both!

Write to Market drives it home!

I listened to this book on Audible. The author really drives home - “Know” your genre, and use the same tropes as the popular books do to succeed! This was a helpful book in many ways. The author uses examples of his own mistakes when writing, editing, and marketing his own books. He provides a summary of the research you should do before writing, in the final chapter. I think single novel and series writers both can learn from this book and I recommend it.

it was useless!

I never leave negative reviews but this book deserved it. absolute waste of time and money.

Straight to the Point

The book is concise and gives examples of what he is talking about. While some of the advice isn't completely evergreen, the reader should be able to extrapolate the ideas and make them work in other worlds outside of Amazon. Chris also gives you his approach, which is necessary when teaching. If you remember that he is teaching you from his perspective, I think you can learn a lot. It can be easy to get lost in theory and not understand how to apply what you learn. I have been working on a novel for quite some time and was nervous about validating its tropes after reading his book. However, I accidentally hit the mark on quite a few and even have a few scene ideas to play with now for a trope or two I missed. There might have been more he could have said on the topic, but I feel like he covers the crux of the matter with this book.

Actionable advice

I’m one of those that definitely cringe at the term “write to market.” I don’t believe in playing copycat and spurning out some derivative crap to try to weasel your way in to an Amazon list and make some money. That is soulless and no better than a dull day job, worse really, because you are taking something pure and corrupting it with the desire for money.

So why did I give this 5 stars? Because right up front Chris says the exact same thing in this book as what I outline above. And that isn’t what this book is asking you to do.

Even if you want to write your own story, you may be able to make some simple decisions that are tremendously helpful to your marketing success, without sacrificing the integrity of your story and yourself as an author. I think that is true. Chris outlines some exercises throughout that can help you with your target marketing and meeting reader expectations.

Another surprise from Chris Fox that I really enjoyed. The first was 5,000 words per hour, which has really helped my productivity.

I've listened to this three times...

... And I'm not done yet. There are so many useful, actionable nuggets packed in here. I can't recommend it highly enough. I love how honest the author is about the things he got wrong.

Amazingly Helpful

I am going to write to market. This book inspired me to do so and it can do the same for you too!

Could have a bit more meat

While I 100% believe in what Chris has written, I think holding off 3 months until he himself had results would have been better. Or, asking fellow authors who have followed a similar method for thoughts on their success.

I'm in marketing now, so nothing of this was revolutionary, but if you're new to marketing products this will be a great read.

A great insight!

This is a great insight into genre writing and the tricks and tips for placing your novel on the commercial book shelf.

good addition to the series

This was a relaxing read/listen. It has a lot of good prompting to action is the exercises throughout the book. Inspirational and practical. Gives a methodology that is executable. And get's you fired up for your own writing capability. Showing that with dedication and commitment as well as knowing your niche market can make you a good writer with the results to show for it!

Still thinking through this view of making money .

Food for thought. Could be of use but time needed to try out in realiry to see if it is as good as it sounds.