Writing What You Want vs. Writing What You Should

I was out for drinks last night with a friend of mine.  She went through the standard haven’t-seen-you-in-a-while litany of questions – How’s was your vacation? What are your plans for the summer?  Have you read Fifty Shades of Grey?   You know – all the stuff girlfriends talk about. Then she hit me with the big one: “What are you going to write for me next?”  I found myself speechless, staring at her as my mind drew a blank.  She laughed, citing how she found it amusing that had no problem talking about the indecencies of one Christian Grey, but when asked a run-of-the-mill question about writing, I floundered.

Here’s the problem: There is the book I want to write, and then there is the book I should write.

I am not talking trends; I am referring to tone and theme.  My passion is emotionally-driven YA contemporary.  As a well-trusted writing friend of mine once said:  “You don’t build relationships.  You take existing, fully-functioning relationships and tear them apart, toss you characters into a pit of despair  just so you can rebuild them.”  In a sense, she is not wrong.  The problem is, there is a narrow niche for that type of book.

Which brings me to the book I probably should write – the lighthearted YA contemporary that is infused with humor and a ton of awkward firsts.  I have thought about it, even have the plot worked out and the character set to roll.  I even went so far as to get the green light form my agent.  I could write it, probably have a decent first draft done by the beginning of July.  Problem is, I’d hate every second of writing it.  Let’s face it, those of who know me and/or writing can say without any reservation that I don’t do peppy or hopeful well;   desperate and despondent is more my style!

Now let me say if first because I know you are all thinking it.  You should write the book you want to write. And I agree, but . . .