I've long considered myself a writer of historical fiction. It's what I dreamed about all those years when I longed for the time and freedom to write. Although I have written other things, historical fiction is where I've always thought I belonged. But last summer, I found myself being drawn to a genre that I had never even read before - crime fiction (and, more specifically, police procedurals). Early this year, I found myself reading them incessantly while at the same time writing one of my own. I've now completed a first draft that I think is actually quite promising, with a character who could become the basis for a series. Has anyone else felt the urge to suddenly change genres? What were the results (both in terms of reading and writing)? Did it help your writing career?
I've written in a variety of genres, but only for my own amusement. I've liked the results, but I've found that when I stray from my usual non-fiction, I seem to leave some admirers behind. Kinda like when a serious actor tries comedy, or a country/western singer tries out soul. It usually doesn't work in such a way that leaves all their former fans satisfied, but occasionally a hybrid pops up that's pretty interesting. If you want to explore this further, try using a different pen name. Or you can just be like Isaac Asimov, who worked in a ton of genres (science fact, science fiction, memoir, mystery, light verse, and Biblical and Shakespearean exegesis) all under his own name.
I've changed genre before, but did so not because I was enamored with it suddenly or anything, usually because a strong idea came to me that I just had to get out. Right now I'm writing something that's set about thirteen years in the future, which is total opposite for me. Not but a few days ago I stayed up all night writing a present day fiction with a mythological twist. My prefered style is fantasy fiction, building a world and everything for it. I prefer a sword and sorcery world, but usually have some fairly unique rules. I've created a pretty massive universe for my novel, but I'm writing it slowly while I gain some more experience and hone my skills. Mainly I'm trying to write short stories, which I'll soon be posting for critique when I'm able to. It's mostly for practice, and to get a story out that's complete to see something that's complete. My reason for going to different genres is also to get different perspectives, plus it's easier to write a current day fiction with established rules, rather than try to tell a short story in a world that you'd need a book to explore it in. Unless it was fanfiction then it's hard to do, and I don't like fanfiction, too hard to get ideas, and then people get more wrapped up in whether you did a good job with the world you wrote about rather than critiquing the actual work itself. Switching has been hard, but I think it's helped me a lot. I still find it difficult to get as excited about the story, but if I can keep the reader from sensing that then it's certainly a success. I'll always have my heart stuck in fantasy, no matter what. Fantasy is what gave me the drive to want to write in the first place, and Tolkien was what drew me into it when I was a kid.
I didn't intend to write romances; I wrote a book and then figured out what genre it was. I enjoyed it, so I carried on writing romances. I have an abandoned MS that would be considered women's fiction, and I might finish it one day. I think it's inevitable that I'll one day write a horror, because horror is what I love to read, but whether I'll try to get it published is another matter. If I did, it would be under a different pen name. For an author whose goal is to sell books, by far the smartest option is to stick to one genre or, at the least, stay within closely linked genres. Marketing yourself in two genres is double the work.
Quite a few notable authors choose different names to publish different sorts of fiction. Even though folks 'know' it's the same author, they don't seem to mind the switch, as long as they know it's a switch.
Yep. But it does double the required marketing time and budget, which is a big turn off for me (and I think a lot of authors).
I never really read romance until I started writing it. I read it now, mostly as research, but also because I've found some authors I really enjoy. I agree that the marketing/publicity stuff is a pain in the ass if you hop between genres - it's hard enough getting your name out to ONE set of readers, let alone multiple sets.
I may have misread you, but doesn't this say IF you write horror you would probably market it under a pen-name if you wanted to publish it? Seems to be a common enough route to take. No reason your various genres couldn't be linked in some way—'also writes Horror under the name of Tenderizer The Grim.' This is not a ploy to fool your Romance readers. It's to help them understand they'll be getting something different. I'd say it's better to take that route rather than disappoint people who read your Romances, when they realise this isn't one of them. If you continue to write and publish only Romances, then this isn't an issue. Apparently it's common for Romance writers to use a different penname if they also write Erotic Romance. To avoid prim folks having heart attacks and returning from the dead to sue the writer, no doubt.
Oh yes - if I ever did it, I would definitely use another pen name. I probably wouldn't keep my identities secret, but for marketing purposes I would want a name for each genre. I think that got mixed up with my other point: that I probably wouldn't publish a horror even if I wrote one. Never say never, but I'm not at all sure I'd want to go to the effort of establishing myself in a new genre. Besides, I might turn out to be an appalling horror author.
It would be fun, though—to see which of the two you find easier to write. I wouldn't worry about appalling. I thought that was the point of Horror? To appall people. Oh, wait, I'm missing something here...
If your writing career isn't established yet, why not strike out in a few different directions? Crime fiction is very saleable. It might be the breakthrough you're looking for. And now you know more about getting your foot in the door, it might prove easier to market. The thing about crime fiction readers is that they snaffle up books at an extremely rapid rate. So there is always room for one more.
In my experience, writing is absolutely the easy part of this gig. It's all the rest of it that will wear you down. I do write with multiple pen names, but it's a total pain in the ass. I'm going through a process now of blending my on-line presence for all of them together, hopefully as a way to simplify at least some of the promo stuff, but that will only work for the passive promo (website, facebook, etc.)... anything active will still have to be separate, and that's a hell of a lot of work.
Yes. Me. I started out writing fantasy because it was always my preferred genre, only to find myself suddenly lured by the siren song of my story which turned out to be military fiction (and that was really weird, because I never liked even action/thriller and avoided war films like a plague). Anyhow, that's what I was/am writing since a year and into the future. The results? Don't know yet... but it was and is hard. I had/have to do tons of research (okay that's actually not hard at all because I 'enjoy' the topic ) but this genre has a very specific way to be written and I had to get used to this 'style'. Still not completely there but I believe I'm getting better. In terms of reading, let's say that I completely switched my preferred genre. And I'm not mentioning the flumoxed glances I get when I start talking about what goes round in my head, during a relaxed and sunny afternoon when people usually only think about flopping down and start snoring with contentment Sorry for the tangent. Will have to see down the road but so far not one critiquer didn't care for my characters/writing. I don't have a writing career (nor do I think I'll get one), but I'll be rewarded enough when I put the finished book out there and see that people enjoy (or even start thinking a little).
Yes, but also no... I only really have one name that sells through an agent. I sell my m/m stuff myself, and I've only self-published through the third name. But I have my agent name on my website for the other names, so if someone wants to contact me for an exciting opportunity (what's that, Mr. Spielberg? You were entranced?) they can go through her.
As a reader I try really hard to get out of the loop that is filled with Sci-fi and Horror. It is a bit of challenge as it is difficult to find something in the fiction-verse outside of those that really speaks to me. But I try to find other things outside of my comfort zone, and one day something will click. As for writing in another genres, well I have dabbled a bit in some. Though it is a bit disheartening when you have trouble of being unknown, and trying to find somebody to read my already finished work (which is tiny in terms of quantity compared to other indie authors who push out book after book, like rabbits multiply). Not sure how I would be at Horror, as I try to blend psych and body horror together. I have considered BDSM Erotica, as a lot of what is out there seems to be something more resembling an Eli Roth fantasy, than anything close to what the genres should be IMO. But who knows, currently my style in Sci-fi is not on the normal side, but it is ok to have something a little diff in the mix.
I try to read and write everything. I know sticking to a genre as a writer is the way to go, but every time I hear that I want to drive down to NYC and start egging publishing houses and agencies. Of course half of them will have merged/gone out of business by the time I get there
As a reader, I think the way to go, if you want variety, is to check out the 'literary' genre. It's not all unreadable arty-farty writing, by any means. There is some really solid stuff. However, not only is the writing usually of a high standard, but the topics don't fit into genre, although they may touch on some. If you can't get to a bookstore, try reading reviews in Sunday newspapers, etc. It'll give you a good idea of what's out there, and what the books are like. Just because a book is 'literary' and wins prizes, doesn't mean it's bad!
@jannert I had never thought of that before. Also not too familiar with Lit-Fiction, so I have something to do my homework on. If it looks like it could be something I might be able to handle, then I will shell out the 2 bucks for the major paper down here that comes out on Sunday. Though I don't know if they spend much time on book reviews, the mainly cover movies. Then again it might be possible to find a paper online that will provide such articles.
It's spelled noose-paper. Like for figuratively hanging yourself as a result of smoking the devil's cabbage, ya damn sinner.
Switching genres comes pretty easy for me. Not totally, but I think I can do it well. Oddly enough I think RPGing on this forum and others when I was a lot younger shattered that mental barrier along with reading a lot of authors who were comfortable in many roles.
Sounds exciting Ed. I haven't had an interest in changing genres I'm writing, but I found some interesting crime drama to read and love it. I could never be that clever in plotting.
I can't say for sure, but I suspect the New York Times has a regular book review section. In fact, I imagine any paper published in New York will have one. But then, so will many other more local papers ...especially Sunday editions. (And you can probably access them online and save paper, if that's your thing. Me ...I still wrap stuff in newspaper....) I read a couple of papers here in the UK, but that's not going to be much help to people who live in the USA.
Talking as someone yet to finish writing a novel, I have attempted to write in different styles and genres already. I have spent a reasonable amount of time studying some philosophical works which possess a very particular style in themselves. If you have written historical fiction I am guessing you are a fan of history in general and have read works by scholars? I would imagine history to crime is not a huge jump, and I honestly don't think that genres of novels diverge a great deal other than in the capabilities of the audience you're aiming at. Obvious extreme would be writing a childrens story for 8-10 year olds. I am trying to think of genres that differ a great deal. I think the difference in style of writing is dependant more upon the kin dof reader you are trying to reach. A historical novel can be action led, a romance, a thriller, a commentary on current social issues,or countless other odds and ends.