Driven by Story

Writing What You Love While Tapping Into What Readers Want

Nov 10, 2025

Advice that writers often hear is “write to market.” Figure out what the market wants, and then write the book that serves that need.

Seems evident, right? If Coca-Cola wants to launch a new soda, they’re likely to do a lot of market research to determine underserved niches in the soft drink business. (Sometimes, like all of us, they’re not on the mark.)

As a self-employed writer, I don’t have access to that kind of research, so I depend on listening to the news, asking the AI for advice, and then reviewing how that information can affect my author business.

I am not a fan of Formula 1 racing, but I saw enough commercials for races and for the Brad Pitt movie to recognize that it was having a moment in the contemporary imagination. Then I heard a podcaster talk about how women, who are the biggest fiction readers, were looking for romance novels set in that world.

That set off bells in my head. I love writing romance, and I’d just finished The Big Race, my return to contemporary romance after writing four historical romances in the Ormond Yard series. I saw a lot of parallels between Formula 1 and the exciting nature of a round-the-world race, along with the chance to write about exotic locations. (Armchair traveler!)

I turned to ChatGPT to verify what I had heard. “What’s the market for romances with a Formula 1 background?” I prompted. Here’s the short version of the answer, which included more support and sources:

Why the F1-romance market is hot

Here are the major “tailwinds” driving growth:

Growing fandom among women & younger readers
Demand for “sports romance” + strong tropes
Crossover culture & media visibility

Then I asked, “How about MM romance?” The answer was “The niche exists, is identified by readers/bloggers, and there are some key titles. So you’re not inventing something entirely new — but you are in a position to offer fresh takes.”

After that, I was “off to the races!” After much research, writing, and rewriting, the second draft of Driven Together is with my editor now. I hope to have it out in early January.

The caveat for any author considering “write to market” is to make sure your own talent aligns with the effort. I knew I couldn’t write effectively from the point of view of a driver or other automotive expert. I chose a journalist who’s been given a last-minute assignment to cover a race (in which his ex is driving!) That way, my character could learn on the page—and then explain what he’s learning to readers.

I was fortunate, too, that AI technology has advanced so rapidly. Instead of reading hundreds of blog posts, magazine pieces or newspaper articles, I could ask ChatGPT any questions I had about the tracks, the cars, or the races. I still had to verify, and filter that information through my own imagination and voice, but it sped up the process a lot.

In the end, Driven Together is a romance, and that’s the kind of book I know how to write. We’ll see if the market agrees!

I have a lot of books in the pipeline at the moment, and at least two more of them are a result of my “write to market” epiphanies. I’ll write more about those as I get closer to finishing them.