Thursday, July 5, 2012

WRITING ACROSS THE GENRES, a blessing or a curse - by Vijaya Schartz


I write romantic fiction across the board, from early medieval fantasy novels to contemporary romantic suspense, to paranormal and shape shifters, to futuristic romance and speculative science fiction. And while finding publishers for all these stories, I kept the same name. I didn’t want to divide my readership.

Besides, maintaining several identities like many of my author friends do, is time consuming and costly. I wanted to believe that my loyal readers would cross the genre lines and appreciate all my stories, whether the setting was contemporary, historical or futuristic.

Through all these genres, I found many common threads in my work: Lots of action, smart plots, great villains, strong heroines, guns, swords or blasters, and of course sizzling romance. I thought it would be enough to make my readers try something different. I was wrong.

Now that my new Curse of the Lost Isle medieval fantasy series started, I realize that, although many new readers flock to this series, they only buy these particular books. Similarly, few of my romantic science fiction fans are crossing the line. I still have to advertise my futuristic romance separately from my medieval series, have to maintain different blogs for each genre, etc.

I only have one official website and one Facebook fan page, and I still hope that it will help my readers discover my other books and warm up to a new genre. But it seems readers know what they like and are not eager to try anything unfamiliar, even when you offer a story for free.

I observed that the authors who limit themselves to a narrow niche, especially erotic romance, are more successful in their marketing efforts at reaching their specific audience. But I made my choice long ago, and I’m sticking to it.

In conclusion, writing across the genres might be considered as a curse, but for me it’s also a blessing. I would not want to write in the same particular genre or subgenre for the rest of my writing career. I like variety in life and on the page. So I’ll keep writing the stories of my heart and keep hoping that my readers will eventually learn to like all the facets of my imagination. Because despite the variety, I believe I found my personal style, and it is branded in everything I write.

Vijaya Schartz
Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick
Vijaya's books on Amazon:


VIJAYA’S BIO:
Born in France, award-winning author Vijaya Schartz never conformed to anything and could never refuse a challenge. She likes action and exotic settings, in life and on the page. She traveled the world and claims to also travel through time, as she writes with the same ease about the future and the far away past. Her books collected many five star reviews and literary awards. She makes you believe you actually lived these extraordinary adventures among her characters. Her stories have been compared to Indiana Jones with sizzling romance. So, go ahead, dare to experience the magic, and she will keep you entranced, turning the pages until the last line.

Blurb CURSE OF THE LOST ISLE:



From history shrouded in myths, emerges a family of immortal Celtic Ladies, who roam the medieval world in search of salvation from a curse. For centuries, imbued with hereditary gifts, they hide their deadly secret... but if the Church ever suspects what they really are, they will be hunted, tortured, and burned at the stake.

11 comments:

  1. I write in several genres as well, I've not seen any crossover either. But that's okay. Great post!

    Jesse
    jesse.kimmelfreeman(at)gmail.com

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  2. I also love to mix it up. Makes writing more interesting!

    Morgan Mandel
    http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.com

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  3. great blog Wendy and Vijaya!

    my own muse has his / her hands into so much that quite naturally i write and a few genres... and for me, there isn't a problem, except that i can't decide which i love more.

    Mimi Wolske

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  4. Vijaya, I've written across genres, too. I started out writing historical romance, then found that paranormal romance was wide open, with so many subcategories, such as vampire and time travel. Fantasy appealed to me, too. With fantasy, you can let your mind roam free, with no bounds to hold you back.

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  5. Vijaya--good for you. I'm glad you don't write under different names-yours is too good to give up.
    I write under one name--my very own--but I often have people ask when they learn I write romance--"Do you use your real name?" It amuses me, because when I answer, "well, yes, I can't think of any reason not to." I get replies like--"well, I thought if you wrote really....those sexy novels, you might not want people to know you did that."
    I don't write as wide a variety as you--only the century varies--contemporary or historical. But all my books are "all Texas."
    I wondered if I should have different blogs, but I really don't have the inclination to do that much work. So, yes, keep everything on one website--if not one blog--your readers can figure it out. I'd think someone might wonder why you had a different website or blog and wonder why she didn't know about it. In other words, someone may feel left out.
    Good thoughts--thanks!

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  6. Great post, Vijaya. I, too write in different genres under the same name. I applaud you for writing what you love and enjoying it. Life should always be so simple :-)

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  7. Good for you. Yes, it can be difficult to attract readers to different genres if the style is very different. Most of mine is fun SF romance - but my first novel was a dark, based on fact, historical novel. Even so, people have read and enjoyed both. My latest is a contemporary paranormal. I'll be interested to see how it goes.

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  8. I love to write in all genres and of course read them too. Great books Vijaya :)
    Mary Keith
    mary@keithpublications.com

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  9. I write across the board because that's what my muse gives me. If I don't keep her happy, she doesn't give me anything. It's not like the automat, you know? :) (Does anybody still remember those?)

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  10. Me too. I write multiple genres and multiple heat levels--all under one name. The way I look at it, I offer something for everyone with my own distinct writing style and voice. :-) I might not be wildly successful in one over the other but I'm happy.

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  11. Someone told me I needed to write in one single genre to build a following. Why? Today writers cross and combine genres in their books and create richer stories!

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