The Women's Nest Novel (women's fiction)

[HippieGirl]

Last year I began a women's fiction novel called The Women's Nest. At the time, The Women's Nest was an idea of a gathering place in a city - and that's what's used in my book (I'm about 3/4 of the way through the writing process - first draft). Since then, I have opened an on-line community and called it The Women's Nest. My book does not relate to the site - ie: it is not about a women's on-line community. Because of the potential marketing if I should EVER (and that's a HUGE longshot) get published, do you think I should make the book revolve around an on-line community or do you think it does not really matter so much?
Thanks for any input you can provide!

[CDarklock]

Oh, it definitely matters.

Do not change it to a book revolving around an online community.

The second you do that, you will change your audience - from an audience that reads about gathering, to an audience that reads about computers. You turn your target audience from fans of "Joy Luck Club" to fans of "California Voodoo Game".

These audiences don't want the same book. You are not talking about changing your book, you are talking about writing a different book. If you honestly want to throw your WIP away altogether and start over, that's fine, but be aware that this is what you're really contemplating.

I don't think you want to write a book about an online community, anyway. Keep things as they are.

Knowing what I know about online communities, I'm betting your online community is wishing it was a gathering place in a city, anyway. Online community is frequently attractive as an illusion of real people in a real place, when circumstances prevent us from assembling a real circle of friends that really sit down together. Your book will still serve as a great marketing tool.

(Anyone else remember OSC's Hatrack River on AOL?)

[HippieGirl]

Thank you for that eye opening answer! I think you are right. The book is written with the friendships stemming from the gathering place, and the on-line community is a gathering place of a whole different animal. Thank you for making me see it that way. I was purely thinking about marketing and that's not why I wrote it (am writing it) in the first place.

[Phaeal]

Save the on-line community for a second novel. And hey, you can still push your first novel in the on-line community. Word-of-mouth, baby. ;)

BTW, I wish I was on Cape Cod, too. Well, come August, I'll be in Harwich for a while, can't wait!

[HippieGirl]

I'll be in Eastham in July!! Can't wait!!! But you are starting much closer than I am! I have a 10 hour drive..with kids...oy...

[Phaeal]

I'll be in Eastham in July!! Can't wait!!! But you are starting much closer than I am! I have a 10 hour drive..with kids...oy...

Ah, Eastham, home of The Chocolate Sparrow...yum.

[HippieGirl]

Oh my goodness, yes! Were you ever at the Cape when the Cape Cone was around? By Nauset - years ago

[windyrdg]

I agree with CDarklock. However, the fact that you have started an online community by the same name as the book is a wonderful marketing tool. Push it for all it's worth.

[HippieGirl]

Thank you...I will!