Last week I swapped my author hat for my film producer one and headed to the Melbourne International Film Festival's 37 South Market.
On paper, it’s a film industry event—four packed days of pitching sessions, networking, and caffeine-fuelled conversations.
But for me it's also more than that. Somewhere between the "speed dating" meetings and the hallway chats, I realised that a lot of the lessons applied just as much to books and storytelling as they did to film.
Here are my top five takeaways:
1. Romance is crushing it (and yes, spice is very nice right now) 🌶️
It felt like every other publisher was pitching romance—particularly the spicy kind, and film producers were listening. There’s clearly a huge rush for stories that lean into passion, emotional connection, or as one publisher phrased it, women centric stories. It’s a reminder that trends aren’t media specific, and romance is having a serious turn in the sun.
2. There’s so much content—audience is everything 🙌🏼
Whether in books or film, the sheer volume of stories out there is staggering. Discovery is the big challenge. But if you can speak directly to your audience—not just know who they are and what they love, but also where to find them and talk to them without a third party—you’re halfway to winning. Without that connection, even the best story struggles against the noise.
3. 🏆 Awards/Festivals don’t guarantee sales
Winning a prize or getting into a festival can speak volumes about a project’s quality—but it doesn’t magically create an audience. I heard plenty of stories about Cannes projects still struggling to find traction. Which brings us back to lesson two!
4. Timing⏱️ is crucial
An author friend has been pitching the same book for four years without any luck—until now. This year, with romance booming, suddenly everyone wants it. Trends shift, waves come and go. Sometimes it’s not about changing your story, but about waiting for the market to catch up.
5. Comparisonitis will kill your joy 🧗🏽♂️
In an industry where everyone’s climbing their own mountain, it’s easy to fall into the trap of measuring your progress against someone else’s. Don’t do it—write that motto on your wall, stick it above your desk, tattoo it on your arm. Protect your headspace. Success is sweeter (and more sustainable) when you measure it on your own terms and understand that there are countless factors at play--MANY of them beyond your control.
I personally find that whether you're making films or books, the game is the same: tell the best story you know how, find your audience, watch the timing, and above all--protect your creative joy!
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