I've been thinking recently about the whole idea of writing for particular markets. It's an issue tied up with the whole predominant ideas of what "art" is and should be. Here's what we're told: art should be pure. It should have no commercial considerations. Why, after all, should an artist care for money, fame or other material aims? His (her) art is what matters. And the more blood, anguish and angst involved, the better.

It's all complete nonsense of course. People who propose the above are generally either a) trying to get books/movies/music etc for free, or b) already have large sums of money, fame or material possessions and need no more. Almost no one believes in that idea of art anymore.

Then why do I feel so guilty about the idea of writing a story to meet what I perceive as the requirements of a particular market? Shouldn't I be able, without any pangs, to churn out stories based on what I think a market wants? Shouldn't I be able to write a high-fantasy trilogy, guilt-free, because that's what sells?

The problem is, although I don't believe in the Bohemian artistic ideal, I also kind of believe in it. I believe in an artistic vision for each story, much as I hate to admit it. I don't want to be a Hollywood script whore, chopping and changing and compromising to meet the ignorant opinions of this or that executive or marketing man. At the same time, I want to sell what I write. I want to sell it for a decent amount of money, at least enough to cover my writing costs, and some more besides (maybe enough to live on, eventually), and I want people to read what I write. I want them to enjoy it. I want to pass on what I think is a jewel of my creative vision to others and have them admire me for it. I want to be loved!

I started to think about this because fellow Clarion West 2001 graduate, Sean Klein, recently sold a story to Sci Fiction. He said that since CW, one of his targets was to sell a story to Ellen Datlow. Now, I've no idea whether Sean wrote his story specially for Ellen or whether he just thought this one would be a good match. Whichever, it inspired me to consider whether I should be thinking about markets when I decide to write stories. I decided to give it a go, and so have begun writing what I've been thinking of as my "Sci Fiction" story. Of course, I've no idea whether when it's finished it'll turn out to be a Sci Fiction story at all. However, I'm enjoying writing it, and although I came up with the idea by considering the market, I think it has enough of a self-contained reason to exist for me to believe in it. If this works, watch me prostitute myself all over!

Incidentally, Sean's story, "Five Guys Named Moe", is being published in Sci Fiction on February 25. Look out for it.