Genre Jumping for YA Writers

I don't think it's as much of an issue. Part of of the drawback of writing in multiple genres (not the whole drawback, mind you, just part) is that it makes it harder of people to find your books. You might have two of your books in the sci-fi section and two in the mystery section with no guarantee that someone would browse in both places (as an example). With YA, all of your books are shelved together.

Just my two cents.

Xvee said:

Thank you Kathleen. I was thinking that the YA umbrella might offer protection that adult fiction writers don't have.

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I think it does. My agent has seen all of the ideas I'd been working on fleshing out before signing with her, and, though they have similar elements, they're all in different slightly different genres (UF, dystopian, paranormal). She hasn't said anything.

Another great example would be Elizabeth Scott - her works transcend such a variation of genres, and they only add to her writer cred because of her versatility. Probably the whole YA umbrella effect does help though.

I'm curious: which agents and publishers frown on adult fiction writers jumping genres? Yes, they do often write under different names, and yes, it might be a drawback if you want ALL readers to know ALL your books, but that doesn't seem like something that's "frowned upon."

It confuses the fan base, for one thing. I'm not saying the majority of readers are stupid, but if they've read (for example) the Banned and the Banished series over in sci-fi/fan, they're not going to be expecting the Sigma Force novels, over in general fiction. They're written by the same man, who writes under James Clemens for fantasy and James Rollins for fiction/thriller. When Nora Roberts wanted to be taken seriously as a mystery writer, she published under J.D. Robb, so that people wouldn't assume they were the same thing.

For adult fiction the practice of genre jumping is frowned upon by agents and publishers.

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Says who besides this Maass dude i've never heard of? I know a ton of Romance writers that have gone YA.

John Jarrold (former SF/F editor, now agent) says so too. There are people who publish in multiple genres in adult fiction (under multiple names), but they're often prolific and fast writers who turn out three or even four or five novels a year.

Heard of Judy Blume anyone? She writes MG, YA, and adult books, all under the same name.

Alyson Noel writes YA contemporary, YA paranormal, and now MG paranormal. Lisa McMann write YA paranormal and MG paranormal. Shannon Hale writes YA, MG, and adult fiction. They haven't used pen names, regardless of which genre they're writing.

If you're writing different subgenres within YA, it definitely won't be a problem. YA is a genre. YA romance, YA paranormal, YA fantasy, etc, are subgenres.

Dot Hutchison said:

It confuses the fan base, for one thing. I'm not saying the majority of readers are stupid, but if they've read (for example) the Banned and the Banished series over in sci-fi/fan, they're not going to be expecting the Sigma Force novels, over in general fiction. They're written by the same man, who writes under James Clemens for fantasy and James Rollins for fiction/thriller. When Nora Roberts wanted to be taken seriously as a mystery writer, she published under J.D. Robb, so that people wouldn't assume they were the same thing.

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I love J. Rollins and never for a second have heard of James Clemens (and I do read a great deal of Scifi/fantasy in addition to my thriller/sigma force fix.)

So this is a pretty perfect example of building different fan bases, and how pen names isolate an author's different works from each other.

[And thanks a bunch for this post--I'm going to have to go check out this James Clemens dude ]

I think how it's handled varies. My YA & upcoming adult are both under the same name, frex. OTOH, I know some authors use two names. Sometimes it's a sort-of-open-secret to the point of the author havign both identities on the same website. In other cases, it common knowledge (JD Robb/Nora Roberts, frex) once the author gets a few books in under the new ID. Other times it's kept quieter (no examples for obvious reasons). I don't think there is a "one answer fits."

The "it's frowned upon" is more a matter of dividing your energy. I think the logic is that one ought to build the identity/brand rather than be all over the place in energy/attention.

Just my .02

I have a MG on sub that, if it sells, will probably be under a pen name. It would be, as in Melissa's example, a very open secret, I'm pretty sure.

genre jumping is so hot.

everyone who said the reason for pause is "brand"-building (sorry Maureen, I<3u) is correct. If a reader loves your first book, they'll be expecting your second to be in the same genre. But that doesn't mean you can't jump. I'll have two contemporaries come out before my third book, which is in the YA age group but a different genre, and my agent and I hope the two will build my audience before throwing them a curveball. Still, this is pretty YA-only, because like others have said, we're all shelved in the same place.

wandergirl said:

genre jumping is so hot.

everyone who said the reason for pause is "brand"-building (sorry Maureen, I<3u) is correct. If a reader loves your first book, they'll be expecting your second to be in the same genre. But that doesn't mean you can't jump. I'll have two contemporaries come out before my third book, which is in the YA age group but a different genre, and my agent and I hope the two will build my audience before throwing them a curveball. Still, this is pretty YA-only, because like others have said, we're all shelved in the same place.

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I had a talk with my editor the other day about this. My books, while all YA so far, are hugely disparate. My editor told me I'm going to essentially have to build a brand new fan base with every book. Woohoo.

Shady Lane said:

I had a talk with my editor the other day about this. My books, while all YA so far, are hugely disparate. My editor told me I'm going to essentially have to build a brand new fan base with every book. Woohoo.

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even my contemporaries are insanely different, so I'm in a similar boat. I just could never be a Sarah Dessen-type writer (same setting, similar narrators, know-what-you're-getting cozy-blanketness). I guess we can hope we keep fans based on our writing styles, instead of subject matter?

wandergirl said:

even my contemporaries are insanely different, so I'm in a similar boat. I just could never be a Sarah Dessen-type writer (same setting, similar narrators, know-what-you're-getting cozy-blanketness). I guess we can hope we keep fans based on our writing styles, instead of subject matter?

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That's so funny, because that's exactly what my editor kept saying, "You're not going to be Sarah Dessen."

And yeah, my fingers are crossed.

When I was talking to agents on the phone (after my previous agent quit agenting) I heard a lot about branding. I'm looking to make a big jump, but once I jump (and a pen name could be invoked here, I dunno) I need to stay in genre for awhile.

Still YA, but my first book is Realistic Contemporary and my new book...isn't.

Tuuli said:

Alyson Noel writes YA contemporary, YA paranormal, and now MG paranormal. Lisa McMann write YA paranormal and MG paranormal. Shannon Hale writes YA, MG, and adult fiction. They haven't used pen names, regardless of which genre they're writing.

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I think the difference here, though, is those authors are diversifying within a genre. If they go into a new genre, it might be a genre that'll have a crossover audience appeal or work with an audience that likes a certain voice/style. Meg Cabot, for example, writes futuristics, fantasy, contemps, etc for MG, YA, and adults, but her books go, for the most part, have a similar style - her readers know that no matter the genre MC writes in, they'll have something fun and light to read.

The readers can grow up with the books if they continue to read paranormal and enjoy how the author writes. But, if the author was to switch from FFP to straight historicals, their current reader base may change because the material is going to be different (trading in the werewolves for dukes, the rayguns for swords and all that).

Dot Hutchison said:

It confuses the fan base, for one thing. I'm not saying the majority of readers are stupid, but if they've read (for example) the Banned and the Banished series over in sci-fi/fan, they're not going to be expecting the Sigma Force novels, over in general fiction.

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See, as a writer I want to say, but that's what covers and blurbs are for! If the cover has spaceships and a dark backdrop on it, I'm not going to think wacky contemporary. If the blurb goes on about how Jill knew Jack was the one for her, I'm going to believe romance is going to be a key component of the book. For reasons like that, I rather have an author write whatever they want under one name.

The reader in me, on the other hand, gets bummed out when an author I'm following for his/her action adventure series releases two westerns in a row (a genre I don't read quite as much). I rather just get an email when it has news that'll directly impact me (b/c I'm self absorbed like that) and my reading interests/wallet. 8)

Still though, I rather authors write all their genres under one name. I can decide on my own what I want to read and what I don't want to read. If I pass on an author's current book for xyz reason, that doesn't I'll pass on their next book or some from the backlist if I find it intriguing enough. Covers and blurbs usually play a big part in my book buying decision. And, if the author's someone i really like, and they write something in a genre I usually hesistate to read, well, chances are, I'll try the new genre/book because I think "well, if this author wrote it, maybe it won't be that horrible..." OTOH, I know people who shop becuase of author name and genre and don't pay attention to blurbs and cover - they just skim for the name and if the name gives them a thumbs up, the book ends up going home with them. Sometimes they like the author's new genre...othertimes, not so much.

Honestly, as long as the releases in the chosen genres are spaced out and I know I won't have to wait a long time for the third book of SuperCoolLikeWhoaActionAdventure to come out, I'm happy.