I had about 5 hours in the car today, so I was thinking about writing, as usual, as I drove through what we in the South call gully-washers. I’ve heard it suggested many times that writers should pick one type of book and stick to writing that. Others say that writers should diversify so they’re not putting all their eggs in one basket. What if all you write is historicals set in Scotland, you have a backlog of them just waiting for some wise publisher to buy them all, and suddenly Scotland is no longer the hot thing and publishers won’t touch your books with a ten-foot pole? You’ve got nothing you can send out there into the big bad publishing world.
For the most part, I write romantic suspense, but I’ve also written some young adult, plain ole romance, even a chick lit. I feel comfortable writing any of those, so if one sells I know I can come up with other stories of that type.
What about you? What’s your take on this quandary — stick to one type of story or diversify?
Today’s writing progress: I just got through Page 140 of my revisions, which is about the halfway point. Did three chapters tonight and hope to do tons more tomorrow.
August 27th, 2005 at 10:03 am
I diversify so I can suck in myriad subgenres.
August 27th, 2005 at 8:33 pm
I’m with Jody.
August 27th, 2005 at 10:59 pm
Whatever! Y’all don’t suck.
August 27th, 2005 at 11:06 pm
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September 5th, 2005 at 11:13 pm
By coincidence, I attended’The Singapore’s Writers’ Festival’ (http://swf.sg) recently. I am hardly a writer. I only write a diary and a blog. The diversity of events was staggering. Anyhow, I attended only two events when a few science fiction writers and futurists came to speak. One of the writers, Norman Spinrad, has recently written a historical novel, ‘The Druid King’.
As for diversifying, I think people should pursue what they writing what they enjoy most. Diversification or otherwise. (Well, this is coming from a non-writer. A reader rather… Someone who love books.)