Thread: Writers of popular genres.

A thought;
When a genre generates a lot of readers those readers tend to follow only a few authors. It’s a guess, but there are probably similar numbers of published authors in most fields, but gaining more readers each in the popular ones.

But there are also a lot more people inspired to write in the genre, so that the percentage of authors writing in it who are being published drops dramatically. The competition gets hot, so you need to improve your chances of getting noticed in your first letter.

Why not write something in a genre where it will be easier to get published? So that when you return to your favoured way of writing you have credits to cite. Even “My only published works to date are flat pack assembly manuals” would make you stand out.

That's a really good point.

That is a good point, but I suspect many writers (myself among them) are comfortable in a little niche or, maybe, two -- me, for example: I write high fantasy horror and urban fantasy-slash-slice of life. Writing manuals would scare the pants off me, because I'd have no idea where to even start!

I take your point though -- and perhaps it could be extended to include publication in anthologies, magazines, etc. Even the most niche-y of people probably have some interest outside of writing: photography, gardening, horse-riding, watercolouring landscapes, computers, whatever, which could be turned into a nice non-fiction article... which, come to think of it, could break them out of their little niche and kill two birds with one stone.

...I think I should potter off and take my own advice. Excuse me while I go and look for hobbyist magazines on subjects I'm interested in...

This is why I don't write sci-fi, horror, or fantasy. The sheer amount of people on forums like this who write in that genre is incredible. I haven't met more than half a dozen people who write thrillers. That doesn't necessarily mean that that market will be more open, but there are far less people submitting manuscripts -- that's gotta mean something.

Writing within a genre but addinga twist refreshes the whole process. I have one published novel and 2 under way each has I hope a twist that causes thought and a little discomfort for the readers to stimuate their interest.

Originally Posted by Olly Buckle

A thought;
When a genre generates a lot of readers those readers tend to follow only a few authors. It’s a guess, but there are probably similar numbers of published authors in most fields, but gaining more readers each in the popular ones.

But there are also a lot more people inspired to write in the genre, so that the percentage of authors writing in it who are being published drops dramatically. The competition gets hot, so you need to improve your chances of getting noticed in your first letter.

Why not write something in a genre where it will be easier to get published? So that when you return to your favoured way of writing you have credits to cite. Even “My only published works to date are flat pack assembly manuals” would make you stand out.

You see that happening a lot with the fantasy genre. With the exception of George R.R. Martin, nobody has come up with anything new since Tolkien and Lewis. You just see the same old recycled plot ideas being thrown out time and again.

Although both of my novels so far have been in the fantasy genre, I don't consider myself a fantasy writer - I consider myself a writer. That's to avoid what you've just said there - I want my work to be original, not just recycled garbage.

Unfortunately, publishers are business people. If you come up with something new and original, they'll be apprehensive about publishing it. They will have no guarantee whatsoever that it will gain an audience. However all of the previous novels that they've published full of recycled garbage have gained an audience. What are they to do then?