I admit freely that I'm a creature of habit. I like starting my mornings off in a certain way, I like to plan vacations with the detail a five-star general gives to an invasion of a country, I like to have two definite routes to get to work (one usual, one an alternate in case of snafus), I go to certain restaurants and order the same thing every time because, hey, I know what it tastes like and if I don't go that often then why not get a sure thing? In fact, I'm such a regular at a particular bagel place near work that all I have to do is walk in, they see my face and say "The usual?" Yup. The usual. Everything bagel, double toasted with chives light cream cheese and coffee. My daughter is envious I have a usual. To her it means I'm in a familiar, friendly place. Sort of like the Cheers theme song where 'everybody knows your name'. Good thing it's a bagel and not a scotch and water.
So what's this got to do with writing? (Cuz you know, most everything has something to do with writing for me.) Well, I got to thinking: is it a good thing to have a 'usual' in your writing? Some people call it branding, other people call it writing in your own genre, still others call it being stuck in a rut.
Now me, personally, I LIKE knowing what a particular author is going to give me in a story. For example, if I need a good Regency romance fix I know I will satisfy that fix with a Julia Quinn romance. I have loved at least 95 per cent of what she's written. I know what I'm getting with that author and she usually doesn't disappoint. Same with Sarah Dessen. If I want a good, character driven YA that has themes of family, love, relationships and believable characters she delivers. Now neither one has written (to my knowledge)a sci-fi thriller or a horror novel but if they were, would I buy that book just because it's written by Ms. Quinn or Ms. Dessen? Hmm, maybe out of curiosity, I guess, but I think I'd be kind of disappointed because what I expect and what I would get would be so totally different.
Now many authors have switched genres after finding success in one. Nora Roberts being the most famous. And I'm sure legions of her loyal romance fans followed her to the J.D. Robb franchise. But she started writing J.D. Robb mystery/thrillers under that name because she was so well known as Nora Roberts and she -or the publisher- were worried that the romance label might hurt her sales. It was only later (I think) when she started getting a Robb fan base that it became more widely known that it was Roberts penning those. But I also know several authors in my Toronto Romance Writers group who write YA, romantic-comedy, and pure romance (as well as hot romance) and seem to be thriving.
So, what's the gist of all this? Is having a 'usual' a good thing or not? Well, for me - and my writing for now - the usual is YA. There are a few sub-categories of YA that I can go down but I know I'd like to have a reader come to me as a 'usual' for contemporary, realistic YA with some humour and a bit of heartbreak thrown in there too (Dessen light?). Maybe, eventually, some paranormal YA too. We shall see.
How about you? Do you have a usual or do you like to sample?
This is a good question. I go back and forth between dark and twisted and lighter and funny. I do the same with my reading too. Recently, for the first time I tried writing YA - mainly because I've received comments that my MG sounds older. And my new plot just wouldn't work. Too complicated. There are also a lot of authors that branch out after a couple novels and if it's good, it's good. Doesn't matter. I'm rambling. My usual? A story with secrets, some humor and twists. Are you thinking about writing a paranormal? Can't that be humorous with a bit of heartbreak in it? :) Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHi Laura: I know how you feel, write this or that? Will it fit this market or that? GAH. Sometimes I think we just need to write the story and forget about all the rest. But we are part of a business and a business with certain rules. My WIP has a bit of paranormal in it but it is more about heartbreaking choices. So maybe I'm still keeping true to my 'usual'.
ReplyDeleteI always order Cashew Chicken at our Chinese place, and Pad Thai at our Thai place (though I vary between chicken and veggie with the Pad Thai -- I try not to be rigid *grin*).
ReplyDeleteWith my writing, I'm trying to branch out, but I can't seem to keep "funny" out of it. I guess my warped sense of humor colors everything. ;)
Hi Linda: I'm not rigid either - just 'less flexible' than I used to be :)
ReplyDeleteAnd thank God for your warped sense of humour - I expect to be chuckling madly when I read your book one day!