Whenever a writer posts (usually rather proudly) that she doesn’t know or care about Pokemon Go (or Game of Thrones or Supernatural or whatever the popular entertainment option of the day is), I want to scream. In my humble opinion, knowing about this stuff is our job. We shouldn’t be proud of not doing our job.
But-but-but I’m a writer. I don’t develop video games, a writer might argue.
The reason Pokemon Go is popular right now is because this game is giving our readers something we’re not. That’s why readers prefer to play Pokemon Go rather than read our books.
Does that mean we should all rush out and develop a romance novel game with similar characteristics?
No. (laughs) But we might be able to serve the same needs with our books.
For example, Pokemon Go asks players to go out and find things.
Marvel movies give viewers a similar quest. Viewers know that Stan Lee appears in many of the movies. I watch for him and feel an absurd amount of satisfaction when I spot him.
We could do something similar with our stories. Maybe every story we write has a certain object hidden in it and we ask readers to find that object. That’s a simple tweak that shouldn’t disrupt or change our stories in any significant way yet we’ve satisfied that need in our readers. We’ve given them more.
Or if we go deeper, what emotional need does Pokemon Go fulfill? Is one of these needs a yearning for spontaneity, the knowledge that targets can be anywhere at any time? Could we do something similar by surprising readers with a short story? Or a flash sale? Or an update of beloved characters in a newsletter?
But-but-but I don’t like Pokemon Go, a writer might say. I don’t have the time or the inclination to play it.
We don’t need to play Pokemon Go to understand it. Thankfully, our readers have been posting about this game all week on Facebook, Twitter, other social media outlets. All we have to do is read these posts to understand the appeal.
Readers have been sharing why they’re excited about Pokemon Go. We see the posts on finding certain targets, the satisfaction readers feel. We hear about readers going on hunts with their entire families, how they’re finding the targets in unusual places.
With popular TV shows, I normally watch at least one episode (either the first episode or the episode everyone is talking about or both). Again, I read posts about the show or episode, paying attention to what readers are excited about.
Please do NOT discourage these posts. We want readers to talk to us about their passions. We want them to share with us why they love a video game or book or movie. That’s how we learn about their likes, wants, underserved needs.
A Writing Perk
Still skeptical? Then listen to the taxman. A writer’s business need to stay abreast of entertainment trends is so key; even the government recognizes it. In Canada, for example, many writers can expense movie tickets and cable TV on their tax returns. (Consult your tax specialist before expensing these items.)
Going Your Own Way
If you decide to remain detached from popular culture (maybe that makes your muse happy), hey, I support your right to do this. But know the costs of being detached and think twice before posting proudly that you don’t know what is happening in our industry.
I must now re-watch the season finale of Game Of Thrones. It’s a tough job but this writer feels she has to do it. (grins)
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He wants one night. I want forever.
Hit it and quit it—that’s Smoke Sheridan’s relationship philosophy. The tall, dark, and dangerous club owner never spends more than one night with any woman. He seduces the broken-hearted, leaving them with smiles on their faces and a sexual confidence other men can’t resist.
I need his services.
My boyfriend of four years dumped me because I’m a lousy lay. Smoke can help me win him back, teach me how to make my man writhe in ecstasy. I’ll show him such bliss, he’ll bellow my name in the dark of the night, want me with an all-consuming desire.
This sounds like a great plan. Except I see the loneliness in Smoke’s eyes, feel the wistfulness in his touch, experience the wanting in his embrace. The player isn’t as shallow as he appears.
And I’ve never been good at letting go.
One And Done contains inappropriate humor, very bad pickup lines, a BBW heroine who doesn’t know what she’s doing and a player who thinks he does.
This is a standalone story.
Buy Now:
On Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/One-Done-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B01FOVMF70
On Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Done-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B01FOVMF70
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-oneanddone-2040641-340.html
On Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-and-done-cynthia-sax/1123809444
On Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/one-and-done-1
