Writing, Illustrating & Publishing > Writing

Trends - Chasing and Avoiding

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Beth S:
So, I was wondering if we could have a discussion about trends. I know it's a bit of a dirty word among industry folks, but it's something that frustrates a lot of writers.

Comments I've heard recently include:
- No more paranormal/dystopian! Why aren't writers getting the message?
- Ignore trends. Write what you love.
- Please write more xyz (I'm hearing mostly contemporary and MG)
- As long as it's written well, or is a unique take on the genre, I'll still look at it.
- I won't even look at that genre anymore.

I suppose my question is, do you avoid over-saturated genres -- even if it's a genre you love?

To provide an example, I have a project in the brainstorming stage. The idea I had originally was paranormal, but with some work I can wrangle it into a straight mystery/thriller. Should I do this, or should I stick to my original idea? I'm torn.

Any and all thoughts on the subject welcome :)

J.Ro:
I think you should write the best book you can - but have an eye toward the industry if publication is your goal. I had a manuscript fall victim to dystopia overload - great comments from editors but basically "sorry, full up, can't buy anymore."  But, that manuscript isn't going anywhere and in a few years, people may be once again hot for whatever trend and it will be waiting (if I still like it :0))

I think though, if your novel can take different paths and you're equally inspired, then why not take the path that has more room for publication?

My two cents  :)

JJwrites:
A number of years ago, when I first started writing, I posted a very similar request for discussion on another online writers' forum. I have a background in business, and I was simply curious about what was hot and what was not. I actually made it very clear in my post that I was working on a project I loved, and had no intention of being swayed by shouts of "Trend!" -- I simply wanted to learn more about the industry. Imagine my surprise when I returned to the thread the next day to find a dozen or so extremely negative responses, several of which literally told me that I would "never make it as a writer" if I insisted on being a "slave to trends". Wha, wha, what?!

Needless to say, I didn't stick around that forum long. (And, worth noting - very, very few of the members were published.) But I've continued to see/hear similar attitudes towards discussions about industry trends in many places. (Not here - this group is wonderful about balancing the "art" with the "business" side of writing!) As someone who is trying to make a living as a writer, this has often frustrated me. Personally, I have WAY too many ideas for books -- more than I'll ever be able to write. So, if I'm equally inspired by several different ideas, I think that it makes perfect sense to pick the one that has the best chance in the marketplace.

I would LOVE to see more data-driven discussions about writing trends. That doesn't mean that I'd shoehorn my ideas into a tidy little box to fit a trend...it just means that I want to understand the industry I've chosen to work in. I'll be interested in reading what others have to say here!

mrh:

--- Quote from: Beth S on August 16, 2012, 01:25 AM ---- No more paranormal/dystopian! Why aren't writers getting the message?
- Ignore trends. Write what you love.
- Please write more xyz (I'm hearing mostly contemporary and MG)
- As long as it's written well, or is a unique take on the genre, I'll still look at it.
- I won't even look at that genre anymore.

To provide an example, I have a project in the brainstorming stage. The idea I had originally was paranormal, but with some work I can wrangle it into a straight mystery/thriller. Should I do this, or should I stick to my original idea? I'm torn.

--- End quote ---

Oh, Beth, this is one of the things that's most making me  :groan right now!

I'm querying a, shall we say, "MG, near-futuristic, post-apolcalyptic-but-still-MG-appropriate" novel. Am I still falling victim to the "no more YA dystopian," even though my book is neither YA nor, technically, dystopian? Yup. When I started this book, YA dystopian was on the rise, and I never, ever dreamt this would mean trouble for my book and its timing. Because mine isn't YA dystopian! I simply loved the idea, and off I went. Meanwhile, I was writing, and agents and editors were acquiring dystopian like mad, for publication in, oh, around 2012, and here I am. The train's left the station, although maybe I can still catch a  :hamster, and it probably just looks like I chased a trend. I have a few more irons in the fire yet, but I'm facing that I just may have to save this book for another year.

Fast forward to WIP. No genres that seem too subject to trends this time. I'm about halfway through and LOVING it. Recent industry rumblings are that _______ could be the next big thing. Guess what my ms. is? Yep, it's _____. If I don't get it written, polished, and out there, I could miss this train too!

I would avoid over-saturated genres I love -- because I consider myself versatile enough to love and write different types of MG (and am already pubbed in contemporary, mystery, and historical MG). So it's not that I'd write something I don't love, but that I can love something else NOW, and maybe write the over-saturated genre I love later. The trouble is, I don't seem to be so hot at the timing thing.

I no longer trust plain, unadulterated "write what you love." Love's a necessary, but not sufficient, condition. I echo the opinion that a career writer should have lots of ideas to develop, and that the best choice for what to write next is the one that scores highest for you in both the love and commercial categories. And if you've got a tie, pick commercial: highest concept you can, and, as far as you can judge, not a category where they're saying the market's too full. 

NinjaWoman:
I agree with J.Ro.  If you write the best book you can write, and a story that you love, who's to say what the trend will be when it's ready.  And if it's not trending right that second, just wait a while.  That said, if you can tweek it to jump genres and it's still a story that you love, that you feel is YOU, then why not?  I think the trick is knowing what you can afford to change without diluting the magic.

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