Skip to main content

The Importance of Not sticking to one genre in writing

 A while ago I wrote a post about the importance of sticking to one genre when writing. READ POST HERE. I don't write in one genre. I also don't read in one genre. I read a variety of books and I want to be able to write a variety of stories.


But in this post I pointed out how switching genres can disappoint readers who signed up to your newsletter while you wrote young adult fantasy, then a few years later you send them an email to announce your new science fiction novel, then send an email to announce your latest supernatural thriller.

That post highlighted to me that I really needed a pen name for some of my books. So I created Jonette Blake, who writes suspenseful mysteries and thrillers, and I moved my supernatural thrillers over to her. It does mean I've had to build up a totally new audience.

The other pro for sticking to the one genre is that I would be able to release more books by the same author and target the same audience and build on the sales over a series of books. That has been he model for quite some time, and an author who genre hops can find it difficult to finish a series or release books in a timely manner. Often there might not even be a release strategy. Books are written when we're in the mood to write that genre, and they come out when they're finished.

But this post is going to be about the Importance of Not sticking to one genre in writing.

Here's why: 2020.


I don't think I need to say anymore. But I will. 2020 has been a topsy turvy year. Nothing has gone to plan. And I have seen a lot of authors who are writing a series in one genre suffering from a steep decline in sales. Suddenly that genre isn't selling (mostly post-apoc because we only need to turn on the TV to see that!).

Whereas, someone like me who genre hops and has three pen names has seen no decline in sales. In fact, my sales have gone up. 

Diversity was a strategy I've utilized at SupaNova and ComicCon over the past years. I took all my published books - sci-fi, dystopian, YA fantasy, supernatural thrillers, plus I took along t-shirts and book bags. And each time, I have been lucky that I'd taken a mix of things to sell, because, without the sales of t-shirts or book bags, I wouldn't have made my money back.

My best sellers for 2020 have been my YA fantasy book "The Bird with the Broken Wing", my kid's book "Dog Town", my word search books written as Louise Jean Wray, and my murder mystery written as Jonette Blake. Certainly, nothing apocalyptic is selling, although my space series is starting to gather some interest.

This year it has been vitally important for me to have a diverse catalog. It isn't easy juggling 3 pen names, 3 social media profiles, and 3 websites, but it seems as if it's paying off.

Labels:

Comments

Post a comment

Popular posts from this blog

Latest news! I've signed up to write a post-apoc series

When I started writing, I had one set goal: to become a prolific author. At the time I was into reading Stephen King and Dean Koontz, and I wanted to write books, lots of them. 

Now I have that chance. After writing, publishing, and promoting 10 books, I've signed up to to write a series of post-apocalyptic fiction books for Mission Critical Publishing. The reason I signed up was simple. They're innovative. The publishing industry today is fast and fluid. 



I've agreed to write 3 books in 6 months. Each book will be around 60,000 words when completed. I'll need to become a writing machine. To accomplish this I'll need to do 2 things:




#1 Write fast



The only way for me to write fast is to write an overview of the entire book (or series). This can be one page per book. Then I write dots points that become the chapters. Complications, conflicts, solutions, all fit into these chapters.


Then I set a daily word count. I'm now at the stage where, provided I know what I'…
Post a comment
Read more

Top 10 Australian independent magazines for teenage girls

First up, I have to say that there aren't 10 blog/magazines listed, only 9. I couldn't find 10 so if you know of any please please please let me know who they are so I can include them on this list.

Flicking through the internet for stories is a bit like flicking through a pile of magazine clippings on the floor. It can be fun putting everything you want to read together in one pile, but after a while you might want to sit in a chair and have that pile put together in more manageable fashion for you to read, say maybe like the magazines or blogs the articles were cut out of.

Okay, that's enough of that analogy. This article is about finished product of blogs and magazines that compile together a host of articles on subjects a reader is interested in. I'm featured ten nine Australian independent magazines both virtual and tangible which I came across during one of my wild searches through hundreds of internet sites.

Magazines have really taken a bashing over the past decad…
1 comment
Read more

The great Aussie drop bear

Just for fun, I thought I'd write a post about a great Aussie icon, the drop bear.

A drop bear is a hoax in contemporary Australian folklore featuring a predatory, carnivorous version of the koala. This imaginary animal is commonly spoken about in tall tales designed to scare tourists. Why? Because Australia actually has some of the world’s deadliest animals. And Australians truly are larrikins, so we love a good joke. 
If you don’t know what that word is, then you’re missing out on some great Aussie slang. Here is an extensive list of Aussie slang and their meanings if you're interested. If you ever set foot in the Outback (make that most of Australia), you will hear Aussie slang. Watch Crocodile Dundee and you'll pick up some Aussie slang: larrikin, strewth, fair dinkum, esky, bottle-O.  It’s like another language. 
But that’s not all that Australia is known for. We are also known for our dangerous animals.
There is a common perception amongst tourists that everything in Aus…
Post a comment
Read more