The Indie Writing Circle
When I was in the indy's writer group of Indianapolis, meeting every Saturday at the main branch of the Indianapolis public library, it struck me as odd that the people in the group stayed in niche markets. Not calling out any names, I consider them friends, and I generally thought they were all good authors in their own regards. But it struck me as odd that they didn't seem to have a desire to try other genres.
Now, at the time I wasn't really any better. I kept throwing alien Sci-Fi stories. Mostly because when I was in college sharing work I was frequently told to "stay in my lane" when it came to writing certain things. For instance, I suck at poetry. I absolutely can't do them. Doesn't mean I don't appreciate a well-constructed Haiku or a stanza about radishes. But it always struck me as very odd that the people didn't want to share their genre.
The Multi-Genre Dream
I knew early on that I was going to write a horror novel, some romance, maybe a thriller or two. I didn't want to tie myself down to just one genre. Now in certain professional cases, Stephen King and J.K. Rowling, they developed a nom de plume to hide their other works for a time. Rowling with Detective Novels and King with Bachman writing Bachman stories. I didn't like the idea of moving from pen name to pen name for a genre. But I knew also that certain genres were very demanding as to what went into them.
For instance some of them absolutely won't let you join their little club as long as you're a member at another writing club. I tried long ago to join the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America when I was working on The Chronicles of Loth webcomic. But because it was self reported and a webcomic that didn't count to join the club. I probably still can't join because my three novels combined have earned I think 500 dollars. Which isn't a lot.
The Specialization Problem
So why then, did so few of these starting authors stay out of other genres? Why is it that a mind or style gets so siloed that they only work on a particular type? Not that this is wrong. Tolkien was an absolutely fantastic fantasy author, if you like stories about tree leaves and walking. Asimov had great and fun stories, such as the I, Robot items.
I think it's because just like most things in life, the Jack of All Trades is dying. There isn't much call for a person to write a horror novel and then turn around and publish a mystery thriller. Anymore you're going to get a blend of the two, but it's going to be heavily featured in one area or the other. And so early on the writer thinks they must be true to a certain genre.
Freedom in Obscurity
But most of us aren't getting paid, not seriously paid, to write. So why shouldn't we have fun and write a story about throwing a love potion at a werewolf? Why shouldn't we write about the kids who are solving the mystery of where their neighbor went only to find out it's a straight up horror thing and they're now locked in a life and death battle with a set of mannequins that have come from the future?
The other thing, because the literary market is filled with somebodies hoping to be found that experimentation can potentially hurt your burgeoning career. Which is why folks like King wrote under the name Bachman. Because for a bit, it protects them and lets them hone the craft in multiple ways.
But no secret like that can be kept for long, at some point you find out that the detective novelist wrote a thrilling coming of age story about some poor English boy that sold millions and was made into a movie. Maybe it was intentionally spilled that they wrote detective novels, maybe some super sleuth put together that a particular turn of phrase seems very on the nose for another author. Or maybe it's as simple as the checks going to the same bank account.
The Market's Narrow Vision
So, my dear reader. Why aren't we letting authors flex their mental might? Why aren't we encouraging them to become the next Grisham AND George R. R. Martin? Because the market doesn't want an average author in multiple fields. They want a super author in their field, be it science fiction/fantasy, romance or detective novels.
As for myself, since I'm nobody I don't have anyone but the people who bought my book to disappoint. So, bear with me while I meander my way through the creative world.
Incorrigibly yours,
J.E. Flint