A while ago, I received the following question on my Tumblr:
When an author writes a book should they think about the marketability and genre of their books as they write them?
And boy howdy, is that a loaded question! I typed up what was probably too extensive of an answer, which Tumblr (hellsite that it is) chose to delete right as I was finishing up, so it took me a while to come back to the question (apologies to this anon). And when I did, I realized that I’d be able to answer much better in a blog post format because, like most things in publishing—say it with me, kids!—
~it depends!~
This was an anonymous question on Tumblr, though, so I can’t get more info about the asker’s situation, and I know this is a question that gets floated around by a lot of people in a lot of different stages across the industry. So I’m going to try to answer it for the three main stages I think it’d apply to, and y’all can pick which response to read choose-your-own-adventure style.
*As usual before we start, a quick note on perspective: I work on the children’s lit (fiction only) editorial team of a smaller press within the traditional publishing ecosystem. Please keep the path to publishing you’re interested in in mind as you read. Also, y’know, YMMV, etc.
I don’t have an agent yet
I have an agent, no book deal yet
I have an agent and at least one book deal
I don’t have an agent yet
When an author writes a book should they think about the marketability and genre of their books as they write them?
No. As a matter of fact, please, I beg of you, don’t. Marketability is a vague, fluctuating term. It is an ever-shifting goal-post that, at the glacial speed things move in publishing, will have a wildly different meaning than whatever you were thinking of when you first started writing your manuscript. (For example, YA dystopian fiction was one of the most “marketable” books in ~2008-2014, but five years later most major publishers wouldn’t touch a new one.) Writing toward marketability is an exercise in futility.
Focus on writing what you enjoy—that will shine through in the pages and serve you (and your readers) much better, in the end.
As for genre…if you’re the type of person who needs those guideposts before/while writing, then it might be helpful to consider which genre (or genres—crossover fiction is great!) you’d like to be in. As a matter of fact, if you’re that type of person and know you want to be traditionally published, I recommend you write the whole query letter before the manuscript. If you’re not, though, don’t let it stress you. You can figure it out after.
I have an agent, no book deal yet
When an author writes a book should they think about the marketability and genre of their books as they write them?
First and foremost: Please talk to your agent instead of a stranger on the internet. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your agent about strategy like this, please find an agent whom you do feel comfortable with. This is like….the core of their job. This is why you agreed to give them a portion of your advance. They’re supposed to be the one to guide you through your authorial career, and if they’re not doing that or you don’t feel comfortable with them doing that, then you’re not a good fit together. I know it can be scary, but a bad agent is always worse than no agent at all.
With that in mind: Only you and your agent know your writing speed/styles, in combination with your career goals, to be able to appropriately answer this question. Are you really fast and looking to be one of those multiple-books-a-year, career authors? Then, sure, by all means, write toward the current market. (Just, y’know, talk out what that market is exactly, with your agent first—they’re the one who has to sell the manuscript!)
Or are you a slow-and-steady, passion-project, one-book-as-it-pleases-you type of author? Then I definitely don’t recommend writing toward the market. Marketability is a vague, fluctuating term. It is an ever-shifting goal-post that, at the speed things move in publishing, will have a wildly different meaning than whatever you were thinking of when you first started writing your manuscript. Focus on writing what you enjoy—that will shine through in the pages and serve you and your readers much better, in the end.
I have an agent and at least one book deal
When an author writes a book should they think about the marketability and genre of their books as they write them?
First and foremost: Please talk to your agent instead of a stranger on the internet. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your agent about strategy like this, please find an agent whom you do feel comfortable with. This is like….the core of their job. This is why you agreed to give them a portion of your advance. They’re supposed to be the one to guide you through your authorial career, and if they’re not doing that or you don’t feel comfortable with them doing that, then you’re not a good fit together. I know it can be scary, but a bad agent is always worse than no agent at all.
With that in mind: This is the scenario where genre comes most into play, because theoretically, you and your team have worked hard to build you a following within a genre/age category now. But still, only you and your agent know your writing speed/styles, in combination with your career goals, to be able to appropriately answer this question. I’ll discuss the two ends of the spectrum, and if you fall somewhere in the middle, talk it out with your agent (or at least a trusted mentor/friend).
Are you really fast and looking to be one of those multiple-books-a-year, career authors? Is that something that works within the age category/genre you’ve established yourself in? If not, is there an age category/genre you’re interested in expanding into to make that work? Are you prepared to need to potentially “start fresh” with building name recognition in that new space? Then, sure, by all means, write toward the current market. Who am I to stop you? (Just, y’know, talk out what that market is exactly, with your agent first—they’re the one who has to sell the manuscript!)
Or are you a slow-and-steady, passion-project, one-book-as-it-pleases-you type of author? Then, honestly, I don’t recommend writing toward the market. Marketability is a vague, fluctuating term. It is an ever-shifting goal-post that, at the speed things move in publishing, will have a wildly different meaning by the time your book is published than when you were first coming up with the book idea. You’re much better off focusing on writing what you enjoy—that will shine through in the pages and serve you and your readers much better, in the end.Still have questions? Curious about something else publishing-related? You can contact me or ask me on Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr. And as always…
Happy writing. You got this.
❤ Elanna
Elanna Heda, Editorial Specialist 