What happens if you specialize in one genre, and it's not hip right now? How about if you publish in one genre and do pretty well for a while, but then the genre slides into unpopularity and your sales drop?
Some authors choose to switch genres.
This may or may not be a good move.
Some authors are capable of writing in more than one genre, like Stephen King. His mainstream short stories are quite different from his horror writing. (Think of The Shawshank Redemption versus The Shining. Each is a classic in its own way.)
Other writers may not be capable of such agility. And some genres require more learning time than others for a writer to become adept. Historicals require a facility and ease with historical detail that cannot be acquired overnight, which is why historical writers usually specialize in that kind of work. Mysteries must be so well-designed that they leave me in awe, and fluency with that kind of design doesn't happen for beginners.
To write really good contemporaries, a writer has to have an interest in the general issues and problems that drive our lives right now--the spirit of our time. I am not drawn to many of those contemporary issues, at least, not as a writer. I am very unlikely to ever write a contemporary novel with major characters who are celebrities or pro athletes, or teenagers in rebellion. It's just not my game, as Doc Holliday might say. Yet other writers do this very well, and I can enjoy their gifts when I read their work.
Longtime writers of contemporaries would know me as an imposter in a second if I decided to write in their genre tomorrow. :-) Why? Because I don't have the natural sense of contemporary pacing, the eye for what small details are important in contemporary life. My brain has been wired by preference and by training for historicals. Any contemporary I tried to write would be clunky. Even if I could get good at it with hard work, I think it would take me at least two or three novels to improve. And that is a genre for which I would be inundated with material, all the time, from my own contemporary life! Imagine how much harder it would be for an inexperienced writer to "come up to speed" in military thrillers, or hard science fiction, or any genre which requires in-depth research or years of previously acquired knowledge. Anyone can research, but learning how to use that research in a given genre takes practice.
Sometimes, a writer starts off in one genre and then discovers she is much more comfortable in another. That's the opposite of switching from a natural genre for you to an unnatural one.
It's also not too much of a stretch for an author to write both adult fiction and young adult fiction in the same genre. The conventions and feel of the genre don't change from one age group to the other. Usually young adult fiction just has younger characters and is less likely to have controversial content in "romance" or violence.
What do you think about writing in multiple genres? Have you tried it? Did you find you were good at more than one, or did you have a strong gift for one over the other? Have you seen famous authors try to switch genres and succeed?
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20 comments:
Rosslyn, I'm another historical writer who has no desire to write contemporary romance at present. I tried once, and my characters sounded like 20-somethings from the 70s--with cell phones. I admire those who can keep up with the times and craft compelling contemporaries. That's a gift I don't possess.
I have some killer nonfiction ideas waiting...
Other than that, I'm at home with women's fiction.
I'm going to link to this post when I continue my series of 8 Questions Every Writer Must Ask Themselves...one question deals with passion for your genre.
~ Wendy
I couldn't do it. I'm women's fiction/contemporary romance. I can't imagine switching to something else.
But some authors do it very well. It depends on their passion. It could be in two areas.
I will never say never but I'm comfortable with the historical genre for now. I think I could actually write some historical speculative fiction too.
I've dabbled with some contemporary romantic comedy. I don't know if anyone would read it and like it, but I might try that sometime too. And I've got a partial non-fiction novel that I will finish sometime in the future.
I'm sure you've seen what Nora Roberts does with different genres and Amanda Quick, and others. It may not be comfortable but I think it may be wise for us to get outside the comfort zone and practice at another genre for when the market changes. It always does.
Keli - LOL! I'm sure that would happen to me too.
Wendy, thanks! I agree that nonfiction is also an easier crossover than writing in different fiction genres.
Katie, I can't wait to read your books. I may not be able to write contemporary, but it fascinates me.
Jill - That's an interesting point, now that you mention it. I think partial crossovers (like moving from historical fiction to historical speculative fiction)are easier than full crossovers.
I plan on giving it a try someday, but for now, I'm going to focus on just one genre.
I think for now I'm sticking to woman's fiction. I have a heart for YA but I don't think I'd want to do it under the same name.
Such good questions, Rosslyn. I'm afraid if I tried to write a contemp I would sound hopelessly dated. I'll even confess I have a hard time reading contemp. fiction though there are some stellar authors out there. Since I was trained in 18th-c. lit, it's something that's become a part of me. Happily so! All my life experiences seem to reinforce that, too, as I was pretty steeped in history from the beginning. I'm not talented enough to cross genres. And the modern world holds little appeal to me. I'll leave that to other, better writers.
I used to feel guilty over not being able to write anything contemporary - worry that I just wasn't putting enough effort into it because I preferred historical. This last year I've come to realize that historical is 'my' genre and I'm perfectly comfortable with that. Your post says it better than I could.
DJ and Tana - Thanks for your comments! Good point about using different pen names when crossing over. I think that's a solution to the problem of whether one genre will be as appealing as the other to existing readers. Of course, some writers don't use different names precisely because they're trying to platform their new genre on their old one. Risky, but sometimes it works, for the really talented!
Laura - If I knew you were trained in 18th century lit, my scatterbrain had forgotten. That's so cool. Wouldn't it be fun to give some kind of joint writing seminar on the difference between 18th and 19th century historicals, and the joys and sorrows of each? It could be funny as well as informative. Though you and I might be the only people in attendance! ;-)
Elisabeth - You have such talent for historical flavor that I definitely agree that it's your genre!
I recently started a project in a completely different genre. To prepare, I did a lot of reading and research. Only time, agents, editors, and maybe readers will tell if I hit the target.
Hi Rosslyn- I have thought about the idea of writing fiction but seeing blogs like yours and Jody's and Keli's and all of my favorite fiction writer's really scares me... fiction feels SO complicated to me! So, for now, I'm going to stick with non-fiction because I just don't have the background/knowledge to pull together a complete novel. I admire those of you who do, though!
I write comtemporary women's fiction and could not even begin to write historical! I have written romance but grew tired of the formula:)
First, your book cover is GORGEOUS!! I love it!!
Second, I would love to write both contemporary and historical romance, because they're my favorite genres. But I'm most suited for contemporary, and I'm willing to let historical by my own personal hobby.
Susan - I want to hear how it goes with the genre switching! I'd love to hear your thoughts on the process and how it feels.
Erin - I'm sure non-fiction is just as complicated, but in a different way. My guess would be that one ofthe big challenges of non-fiction is making the voice engaging. From your book's reviews, you seem to have mastered that!
Terri - Women's fiction is unique among genres because it has fewer "rules." That must be fun, and a challenge at the same time.
Jill - Thanks for your kind words about the cover! This is a really exciting but strange time as I await the novel's release, so any encouragement is much appreciated. :-)
Thinking about trying to write to genre has temporarily decimated the muse for me. I congratulate you on finding your niche and thriving there. No easy hurdle to clear.
After querying my adventure novel for a couple months with no interest from agents as of yet, it makes me consider writing in another genre. But when I look back at my manuscript, I just love it and remember how much I enjoyed writing it! So I think I'll stay where I am for now!
And thanks for stopping by my blog! I really appreciate it!
http://laurenspathtopub.blogspot.com/
Ah, Erin answered this for me! I think I will have to stick to nonfiction for now, theological/family/history in particular.
I have tried to start novels several times but never got past page one. Reading the blogs of novel writers like yours, Jody Hedlund's, Terri Tiffany's, Tana Adam's, Karen Lange's etc. helps me realize why!
I have so much work to do in my own genre that I don't feel driven to try to. That frees me to enjoy reading good novels without having anxiety about writing one.
Meanwhile, I have this great idea about a NYC reporter eating lunch in a Montana mountain-town cafe that meets some elk hunters who invite him on a new adventure. Anybody want to run with it? wb
I only have a desire to write historicals, although I have considered combining contemporary with historical where the protagonist looks into her/his history or something like that. But history is where it is for me and I don't think we'll ever run out of ideas for this.
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