I’ve noticed a school of thought among writers that agents are excited about having jack-of-all-trade authors in their stables—who can write a variety of material in different genres. It would mean the writer is more salable, right?
From what I’ve heard from other writers, this isn’t usually the point of view of their agents. I’m not speaking from personal experience because I’m only interested in writing traditional mysteries for the foreseeable future.
But I’ve heard that agents prefer it when writers specialize in a genre.
I think this is because you’re easier to brand as a writer to editors that the agent might know. I’m pretty sure that my agent is branding me to editors as someone who writes traditional mysteries with Southern settings. It definitely makes it easier for me to get work. If someone wants a series that fits my profile, they know they can contact my agent about it.
When a writer writes several different genres (not genre-blending, but different genres for different books), I think it muddies the waters a little, in the agent’s eyes. Now they need to brand you several different ways to their contacts. Maybe they need to develop new editorial contacts in areas where they haven’t before.
I know that if I suddenly decided that I wanted to write children’s picture books, I would need to find another agent for those books. My agent doesn’t handle that—she says so on her site. I would be asking her to make totally new relationships with people in an area she doesn’t plan on working in. Besides, I would want an agent that specializes in those types of books and has contacts in that genre, anyway.
If I were to switch genres, I’d almost definitely do it under a pseudonym. That’s because I wouldn’t want my mystery reading base accidentally buy books that are a totally different genre—possibly one they don’t even read. That would be a good way to lose some readers.
Writing under a pen name basically means starting over with a fresh platform…getting that name known on Twitter, Facebook, blogs, etc. You’d have to work to tie in your pen name to your real name (that’s already branded.) I’ve done this and it does take a lot of extra energy.
Agent Wendy Lawton wrote a great post some time ago on the Books and Such blog about switching genres. She points out that most of a writer’s dedicated readers don’t want to follow along into new writing ventures. She states:
They have expectations. They don’t want you to write like Jodi Picoult. If they want Jodi Picoult, they’ll buy Jodi Piccoult. They want you to write like you.
Another point that Wendy Lawton makes (that I hadn’t really thought of) is this:
And wanting to write it all– even if we can– displays a strange kind of hubris. It’s like you are saying you are all any reader needs. “You like mystery? I’ll give you mystery. You want a tender memoir. I can do that. You want literary fiction. That’s me. You want a book on how to save your marriage? Let me get right on that.”
All that being said—I’m likely going to branch into other genres at some point. I’d like to have another 25 years in this business and at some point I’m going to be interested in trying other things. I’ve already decided that when that day comes, I’ll probably have to query an agent for that particular genre and also write under a different name.
In the meantime, I’ll write magazine articles, poetry, and the occasional short story to just shake things up a little bit.
Are you a writer who writes different genres? How are you approaching representation and promotion?
ELizabeth – You bring up some good arguments for writing in just one genre and some interesting reasons why people write in more than one.
I have my name “out there” as an academic author, but in the world of fiction, I write crime fiction. I admire people who also write in other fictional genres, but I don’t think I’m at the point right now.
Interesting thing about names, too…I debated choosing a pseudonym when I started to write fiction, but decided against it. It’s enough of a challenge to get one name “branded” without, as you say, building up name recognition for a second one.
“Writing other Genres” is right up my alley. I’m eclectic in reading and that tends to be true in writing. However, I think it’s best to focus on one–in the beginning. Focusing is good. :)
I write both MG and YA. My stories tend to have humor and heart and I try to stick to that. It’s not really a genre but… I’m not agented yet so I have a little freedom.
I’m definitely trying to hone in on one particular area (thrillers with a strong sci-fi element). I’m hoping eventually I’ll be an established author and will have the opportunity to occasionally dabble in a different genre. I think someone who is seriously considering writing in different genres needs to communicate that to a potential agent up front and make sure that agent is willing to work with the idea.
I’m published in nonfiction, but am currently writing a women’s fiction. I used to think my genre would be mystery, but that’s not what developed.
I’ve written both YA fiction and self-help non-fiction. I think it works if the two genres are vastly different. I’m probably going to stay with non-fiction from this point on though. Sells better and ties in better with what I do as a speaker.
So far, my genres are connected. Romantic suspense, contemporary romance (short stories) and mystery. So, maybe I’m playing around with sub-genres, not genres. (And to further mess things up, I wrote a romantic suspense as part of one of my series, and the publisher closed their romance imprint but is going to publish it in their mystery line. Same book, same genre, different label)
Terry
Terry’s Place
Romance with a Twist–of Mystery
This is something that has bothered me – although I enjoy writing quirky mysteries and am building up a series of these, I’ve also tried sci-fi and historical fantasy. Some time last ear I decided to use a pseudonym for the mysteries and my real name for the others, so I’ve set up a separate blog for my mystery persona which I try to keep ‘in character’!
Although I am not at all well-known either for my writing or my day job in an art gallery, I sometimes also worry about getting my writing life mixed up with my professional life.
I’ll stick to my historical mystery genre for now, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I dropped the ‘mystery’ and wrote a historical fiction in the future. There is a subject that has started to whisper – but oh…the research involved!
I not only write in several genres, I also cross them in odd ways. But…
I made the decision when I first started publishing that I would just leave it all under my own name. I write too many different things to manage the effort to build dozens of different brands — so I have decided that my variety is a part of my brand.
As for helping my audience keep things straight: I am self-publishing, so I’m responsible for the titles, covers, blurbs and the overall look and feel – and that’s what I’m using to try to connect similar things. At the moment I don’t have too many things to lump together, but that should change by the end of the year.
I remember an agent and a writer friend both telling me it would be good business to stick to one genre. Trouble with that for me, though, is these stories keep popping into my head and some are mystery, some are romance, and some are YA or children’s.
But I can see the problem when it comes to marketing one author in several genres.
I stick to action but incorporate other genres such as sci fi, technology, and a little romance. This is just the way my stories develop. I don’t try to squeeze them in. They elegantly roll out and there they are.
My genres overlap significantly–mystery with elements of suspense… suspense with elements of mystery… And other than the Cozy ones, I almost always have a prominent teen–my difficulty is sometimes the story is a teen story and sometimes it just ISN’T regardless of having a teen at the center–that will be my main marketing trouble, I think, but I don’t think it will be that jarring for readers–it will be the editors. I think I am going to focus on YA until I have a NAME, then maybe the other ones will be okay to sell.
I want to establish myself in one genre first, but yes, eventually I’d love to write in different genres. I’m also against the pseudonym idea, though I definitely see why it’s useful. I suppose it would depend on how famous you are. For instance, Judy Blume and James Patterson are popular enough that they can get away with keeping their names for all the different genres they write. That’s my goal, lol!!!
Laura–Those genres are definitely similar enough (young audiences) that you shouldn’t have any problems with that, I’d imagine. Sound like interesting books! :)
Margot–Pen names serve a purpose, but you have to multiply your branding time by two, for sure.
I’m with you…there aren’t enough hours in the day for me to write more than one genre right now.
Helen–Big market for women’s fiction right now, too. And, I hear, family sagas.
Diane–I’m thinking the rule doesn’t follow with non-fiction. After all, readers shouldn’t be expecting the type of stuff we write in non-fiction form. Hope that’s the case, because I definitely plan to write non-fiction in the next few years.
Sheila–I think you’re smart to start out with a couple of different names. It probably becomes second nature to promote them both after a while.
I know another writer with the same work issues–and she writes under a pseudonym. But she’s put a LOT of effort into building up the pen name, and it’s working out beautifully for her.
Teresa–That’s my motto, too!
Stephen–Genre blending, for sure.Works out well in the course of one story–I think where you’d run into trouble is if you suddenly started writing Regency romances or something. It wouldn’t be what Stephen Tremp fans are expecting (nor me!) :)
Sierra–I think you’re right. Or perhaps, never mention it and just use 2 or 3 different agents (which makes my head hurt a little!) :)
Hart–Yours do overlap and I think you’re mostly genre-blending, which works a lot better.
Terry–I think you’re all about genre-blending. Now, if you suddenly started writing YA, you might run into a few problems.
Laura–Good point! Although I think even John Grisham ran into a little trouble with his “Painted House.”
Elspeth–The research makes me wince!
Your article really gets me thinking. You make some excellent points. I believe some of my WIPs are different genres. I’ve never intentionally set out to do it. A story just takes hold and I just go with it.
Thought provoking post, Elizabeth. I’ve mainly done self-pubbed works so far, and I find it hard to remain in one genre. So many subjects, so little time!
I do appreciate your tips, since I recently found this blog. Many thanks!
Great post! I’m trying out a variety of genres to see which one fits me the best. I imagine once I get to the stage where I’ve queried, found an agent and even published a book, I’ll be sticking with one genre for a bit! :)
I’ll stick to speculative fiction and probably not stray past science fiction. I did discover that my writing crosses genre though. Most of my fans don’t even read science fiction!
I try to avoid doing stuff I’ve already done or seen done by others, so it would seem I have a built-in tendency to avoid that sort of branding. Most of my stuff is in the Fantasy/SF/paranormal area, where the lines are fortunately very blurred.
The Daring Novelist–But you’re definitely thinking about connectivity of brand. Good idea using a visual approach for it.
Maryann–And we like to go with our creative flow! It’s true. Especially if new stories are speaking to us.
Amy–And it’s great for us, as creative people. I think the problem enters with the business side of things. I’m thinking of authors who are really, deeply branded–Stephen King, for instance. Even he used a pen name briefly, for a project that wasn’t particularly Stephen Kingesque, if I’m remembering right.
Alex–A crossover hit is the best of all possible worlds. :)
Lynn–There is that time element, too! I wish there were more hours in the day. I do get ideas for other genres, but I think I’m successfully squashing them now. No time and no energy at this point, for sure.
Jemi–Maybe it’s that we’re all so exhausted by the process of getting a book deal that we’re just happy to stay put for a while? :)
Author Guy–I think you’re right that it’s an area where you get a little room to experiment with different genres *within* the same genre. Nice. :)
I completely understand your reasoning in not trying to emulate too many different authors–your readers want to read *you* and not Jodi Picoult, etc. However, I respectfully disagree–I think your real branding comes from the elements of your fiction that transcend genre. Elements that become your “trademark”, so to speak. For instance, if your readers know you are merciless and ruthless with killing off characters, a la Joss Whedon, then they know that no matter what genre you’re writing (space western, contemporary paranormal, dystopian speculative fiction), they’re in for a gut-wrenching and emotional ride. Focus on your writing as the brand moreso than the medium you tell it in.
I understand the agent´s point of view perfectly because even if one of my favourite crime writers switched to another genre, I would not follow her. I do dabble in different subgenres, but always crime or mystery, and mostly with a touch of humour so I think one agent would be enough for me. And I definitely want an agent for my novels. On the other hand I have thought about writing novellas, and as agents and publishers don´t seem to want those, I´ll probably just publish them myself via Smashwords, just like I do with my flash fiction.