I've noticed that an increasing number of online publishers (particularly ezines) are grouping sci-fi, fantasy, and dark fantasy/horror together under the single banner of "Speculative Fiction." The assumption, I suppose, being that these genres are sufficiently similar to appeal to the same general audience. The trend has yet to present itself in print to the same degree, but online it seems to me as though authors are often categorized less as "Fantasy" or "Sci-Fi" authors than as "Spec-Fic" authors.
I know that most print publishing houses are nervous (understandably so) about authors who "hop genres" and risk alienating readers. (I seem to remember reading somewhere that this is why Dean Koontz used to use so many pseudonyms.) So here's my question: do authors who are focused mainly on epublishing need to stick solely to a single, specific genre? About half of my writing is science fiction, and the other half is dark fantasy. Do you think that these genres are similar enough to be promoted under a single banner and marketed under the very generalized category/umbrella termof speculative fiction, as many ezines are, or do I need to use a different byline for each genre?
I know that most print publishing houses are nervous (understandably so) about authors who "hop genres" and risk alienating readers. (I seem to remember reading somewhere that this is why Dean Koontz used to use so many pseudonyms.) So here's my question: do authors who are focused mainly on epublishing need to stick solely to a single, specific genre? About half of my writing is science fiction, and the other half is dark fantasy. Do you think that these genres are similar enough to be promoted under a single banner and marketed under the very generalized category/umbrella termof speculative fiction, as many ezines are, or do I need to use a different byline for each genre?
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