There’s no such thing as a dead genre in novel writing.
Are there some genres to avoid? can you write about anything? which ones sell?
Walk into any bookstore and you’ll see countless genres with countless books on display. Some sell more than others. The public prefers some more than others. But are some to be avoided? Are there some with a new writer should avoid? Can a certain genre be labeled a dead genre?
in this blog, we will be looking at why there’s no such thing as a dead genre in novel writing…
THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A DEAD GENRE IN NOVEL WRITING
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No one sets out to write a novel that will fail. They want to fly out of the gate with a bestseller. But one of the big questions they’ll ask is “is there a dead genre I need to avoid?”
There are some who believe there are. Countless publishing houses will avoid “certain genres” believing the public wants nothing to do with them. Seeing it as a waste of time and money. They’ll be the first to quickly tell you to avoid them.
THERE IS NO DEAD GENRE
However, the truth is, history has shown there is “no dead genre.” As a new writer, you can write and have success with any genre. But why do so many believe there is such a thing as a dead genre? Why are there so many websites that teach about writing that tell you to avoid certain types?
We’ve seen this disproven time after time. When J.K Rowling wrote “Harry Potter” she had no idea the world of “young adult fiction” and books about wizards were being avoided by publishers. She only wrote what made her happy. She sent it off to literary agents looking to be published as fast as possible. If she did know anything about book publishing she might’ve avoided writing about a young wizard named “Harry Potter.”
IT WOULD NEVER SELL
If she had connections in the book publishing world they would’ve told her “what’s in and what’s out.” She might’ve listened to them we would not have Harry Potter books to enjoy.
Publishers who rejected her at first told her “it would never sell.” “Kids don’t read anymore.” “Books about wizards has no audience.” But one publishing house took a risk, it was released and sold ten of millions. Publishers were shocked they couldn’t believe a “dead genre” sold so many copies.
WATERED DOWN COPYCATS
But we need to ask, “Why do some successful genres suddenly stop selling?” With publishers believing they need to be avoided because they are no longer popular.
One of the biggest problems in the world of publishing is “watered down copycats.” A book is released in a certain genre selling well, only to have all the other publishing houses try to copy it as fast as possible. They’ll print countless books that are ripoffs of the successful book.
THE PUBLIC GETS TIRED OF RIPOFFS
The ripoffs are nothing like the original successful novel. The quality of writing and characters do not match up. In fact, the vast majority of copycats novels are horrible. Written way too quickly and released just as quick looking to cash in. Wanting fans of the successful book to buy theirs.
The public gets tired of seeing all these “bad ripoffs” and avoids them, leading the publishers to believe the “genre is dead.” The truth is if they had released well-written copycats books that were as good as the original the public would not have avoided them. They would have bought them and enjoyed reading them.
THE PUBLIC LOVES A WELL WRITTEN STORY
In reality, the public will never tire of a well-written story no matter what genre. It’s not like they walk into a bookstore and see an amazing novel and reject it because of the “genre.” They’ll read whatever is good regardless of genre. Even if it’s a diary.
The success of Anne Frank’s diary proved it. It was not a detailed account of the war, but of her life. The public was moved by it. Even after all these decades later it’s still read by millions.
PUBLISHERS SEE BOOKS DIFFERENTLY
However, there was a time when some asked, “why publish a diary of a young girl, that’s not about the war itself? Who would care about reading that?” But the book was published and ending up being one of the top-selling books of all time. Proving the public doesn’t judge by genre, they simply like a good, emotional book.
It’s important to remember the public sees books differently than publishers do. Book publishers live in the world of books all day. Their idea of books are different than the public. It’s all they see, it’s all they know. However, your average person reads one or two books a year.
PUBLISHERS GET INUNDATED WITH THE SAME THING
A publisher will quickly tire of seeing the “same genre” books being submitted day after day. After Harry Potter came out they were inundated with Harry Potter knockoffs. Everyone was now writing about boy wizards and castles. It was the last thing they wanted to see. The same thing happens the “The DaVinci Code” and “Twilight.”
However, the general public doesn’t see all the knockoffs submitted, they only see what’s for sale in bookstores. They don’t judge a novel as harshly as a publisher would. The public likes what it likes. They won’t judge a book positively or negatively based on its genre. If it entertains them, that’s all that matters.
THINK LIKE A MOVIE CRITIC
What publishers think is important the public never thinks about. In the publishing world, there are genres that are dead that are to be avoided. But to the public, they like what they like regardless of genre.
Think of a movie critic. They see and review two movies a day. Their idea of movies is different than the public. They see all the cliches and knockoffs. If a genre gets exploited they have to sit through them all. However, the general public only sees one or two movies a month. They do not judge movies as harshly. If they like it, they like it and that’s it.
HORROR WAS ONCE A DEAD GENRE
Book publishers live in the same world of movie critics. They have to judge the same knockoffs every day. They can tell if a genre is dying or rising.
There was a time in the 1960s when “horror” novels were considered a “dead genre”. Publishers never cared about publishing such books, until the book “Rosemary Baby.”
OPENING UP NEW DOORS
It became a huge success. Surprising publishers everywhere. Opening up new doors no one thought of. They believed such a book would not make it. It then opened the door for countless horror novels. Publishers couldn’t print them fast enough. (Stephen King coming along in the 70s helped as well.)
(There’s a book released in 2017 called “Paperback from Hell” that covers all the countless horror novels released in the 70s and 80s)
BRINGING A DEAD GENRE BACK TO LIFE
But into the 80s the market was full of horror novels. Some not as good as the ones before. Publishers started holding back.
They believed it was now a “dead genre,” never bothering to print another one. But history shows it’s only dead until a new horror novel comes along that’s amazing. Creating the next cycle. Bringing a so-called genre back from the dead. Just like with Harry Potter, the popularity of that book lead to countless just like it. Until the quality started to wear off. and the knock-offs were no longer selling. Killing the genre off.
IT WAS ALL OUT OF GREED
If Rosemary’s Baby had not sold well all the other countless horror novels would never have been released. Convincing publishers “horror” is a dead genre.
However, if the publishers only released well-written “knockoff books” the genre would never die off. But they bring it onto themselves by releasing less quality books quickly out of greed. Watering down the market. Leaving fans of the genre bored. So they move on. Leaving publishers to believe the genre is dead.
THE PUBLIC SIMPLY GREW TIRED OF IT
It’s like a well-written song on the radio. It might be “gothic” or “heavy metal,” but the public doesn’t care what genre it is. If it’s good they’ll keep listening. It doesn’t mean the public is now into all “gothic” or “heavy metal” music, it simply means they like that certain song.
However, music producers hear a successful song and copy it. They flood the airwaves with bad knockoffs, causing listeners to turn off their radios. Leading to producers believing that genre of music is dead. But in reality, the public grew tired of the bad knockoffs, not the genre.
THEY ALL BELIEVED THE WESTERN WAS DEAD
We see the same thing happening in Hollywood. For the longest time producers believed the “western” genre was dead. Believing the public no longer cared about seeing any type of western movie. Until Clint Eastwood came along in 1992 with “Unforgiven.”
A western movie the public loved, even winning best picture. Catching all producers off guard. Left them wondering “how?” Believing it should have failed because it was a western.
THEY LIKE SEEING A GOOD MOVIE
In reality, the public doesn’t care about a “so-called” dead genre. They like seeing a good movie. Unforgiven was a good movie therefore they went to see it. That doesn’t mean they will see every western made afterward. They’ll gladly see whatever movie is good, no matter what the genre.
The problem was Hollywood producers thought “all western” movies were dead because no one was seeing them. They had their heyday back in the 40 and 50s but stop being entertaining in the 70s 80s and 90s.
THEY SIMPLY WANT A GOOD STORY
But the reason why the public stop seeing them was they simply were not good. The producers were making a ton of them without putting any effort into them. Believing the public would pay to see any western. But in reality, the public wants a good movie. So they stopped going to see them. Leaving the producers convinced the public got bored of westerns.
The producers didn’t realize they caused the death of the genre. They made a ton of bad knockoffs of a good genre which drove the public away. But when a good movie in that “so-called dead genre” comes along the public goes to see it.
IT LEAVES THE PUBLISHERS CONFUSED
Book publishers have the same problem. They’ll rip off a successful book that took a long time to write with knockoffs written in a few weeks. When the book fails to sell the producers “believe” the public has grown tired of that genre. But what the public has grown tired of is bad ripoffs.
Once a new book is written in the so-called “dead genre” that’s good the public reads it leaving the publishers confused.
GIVE SOMETHING THE PUBLIC CRAVES
We saw this with the countless ripoffs of the “da vinic code” once Dan Brown’s novel was released selling tens of millions there were countless ripoffs. All written within weeks to get them out there as fast as possible. But the books were not as good. Leaving the Dan Brown genre of mystery thrillers feeling dead. But in reality, the public simply wants a good book.
As a new writer, you might be hesitant of writing a novel that’s labeled “a dead genre,” but your goal should be writing an amazing novel. One that has powerful characters, a moving storyline, emotional. Something the public craves and wants. There might be a few publishers who might hesitate in publishing in believing the genre can not sell. But smart publishers will see it for the well-written story it is and give it a chance. The public will read it and love it. Not because of the genre but simply because it’s a good story.
you might be interested in these blogs…
WHY YOU SHOULDN’T MIX GENRES WHEN STARTING OUT
DESTROYING 30 MYTHS ABOUT BEING A WRITER
WHY YOU SHOULDN’T SWITCH GENRES HALFWAY THROUGH
