How low can you go?

I’ll confess, I’m a fan of a naff religious thriller. Not TOO naff, but the type of naff-ness that means I need to put aside a good dose of belief in what is actually possible within the laws of our universe, in order to have a rollicking time chasing Templars across Europe.

Yes, the plots are mostly the same. Yes, the writing often seems like a proof-reader gave it one glance at 5pm on a Friday. Yes, a high-speed car chase will often break off mid-overtake, so the author can force in some historical nonsense just to prove they’ve done the research. I love it all. I’m going into it under no illusion. There is a time and place for everything. When I am on a sun bed, slowly sautéing in Crete, I do not want to read Tolstoy or Virginia Woolf. I want to be hot on the heels of an ex-CIA agent-cum-antiquarian-bookseller who for an unexplained reason is trying to find the Holy Grail.

Most of them are terribly written, but you know what? It’s much easier to overlook that when you’re in Crete with a cocktail.

I write this because I wonder if aspiring authors get too fixated on what they want to write, other than who it’s actually for. We all have a book in us, but does that mean someone else wants to read it? That sounds a bit depressing. I mean to say that we can get pre-occupied with fiction as high-art, rather than understanding there are all sorts of readers, who will read all sorts of books. A great many want an easy-read that plunges them into thrilling plot, not something that is going to completely alter their world view.

Who are your readers? Who is it aimed at? Who will actually buy your book? More than 200,000 books are published in the UK alone every year. Take a moment to consider where your work will sit on the shelves, and who might pick it up.

It may well be high-art. It may be a singular work of fiction unsurpassed. Brilliant!

However, don’t overlook ‘low-brow’ with a sneering, curled lip. Write for pleasure, the readers as much as your own.

The world needs escapist fiction more than ever right now. Why not give the reader a great time? Even the slimy depths of a Templar dungeon can seem better than Planet Earth in 2026.

Recommendations

A great example of when religious thrillers are done well, is the ‘Sanctus Trilogy’ by Simon Toyne. The action is thrilling, the chapters are short, the history doesn’t get in the way too much, and the high-concept plot is engrossing. Get a copy here.

Podcast

This week, we’re chatting to Lucy Ashe about her new novel, ‘The Model Patient’. It was inspired by a traumatic experience in therapy, and she’s used psychological thriller to help her unpack what it really meant. There’s a lot in there about how you can use personal experiences to feed a plot which, ultimately, helps you understand your world a little better.

Take a listen here.

It’s been a bit rambly this week, I’ve been on holiday (who would’ve guessed) with a lot of thoughts swirling around. I hope some of this made sense.

Happy writing,

Dan xoxo