A Shift in Focus
Lately, I’m hearing more and more about the declining historical romance market. Agents have told me that they just can’t sell historicals unless they are New, Bold, and Different (but not so risky that a publisher won’t take a chance). I’ve heard from more than one that I should write contemporaries instead. But I don’t wanna! 
So many authors, formerly historical romance power-houses, have switched genres. Jude Deveraux is now writing women’s contemporary fiction. I used to love her medieval heroes and westerns. Julie Garwood is writing suspense. Lisa Kleypas will be writing her first contemporary novel for St. Martin’s Press. And Kristin Hannah made the jump from historicals to women’s fiction a long time ago. I’m left to wonder, is it a self-fulfilling prophesy? Are their agents advising them to jump and abandon ship for a more lucrative genre? Or do they genuinely want to write something new? What makes a person re-examine their writing persona and shift?
All I can say is, I hope Johanna Lindsey doesn’t go there. She’s just about one of the few historical romance authors who has stuck around through the years.
I do think historicals are in need of a face-lift. Gone are the days of the Regency women who would wear a velvet riding habit with a jaunty feather and swoon in the arms of her hero. And I say to that, “Thank God!” I have a hard time believing that women hundreds of years ago are any different than women now. Yes, it was a paternal society and women’s legal rights were next to nothing. But some traits are universal. If anyone threatened a medieval lady’s children, she’d serve him up for breakfast. While her man was off fighting in the Crusades, it was her responsibility to keep the castle running.
I think we need to see more heroines like these, strong women and heroic men who love them. I’d like to see more of the human emotion, perhaps some commoner romances like the servants of the castle instead of the lord/lady. Instead of abandoning historical romance, I’m hoping that it will undergo a dramatic shift that will renew all the reasons I enjoyed it in the first place. I do think the pendulum will shift and they will come back in a strong way.
And still I wonder, why did these bestselling authors stop writing them? Was it market pressure or personal choice?
Quitting is never an easy thing to do. A few years ago, I took up figure skating. I worked my way through the levels until I reached the point where I would have to pull those 4-hour practice sessions in order to get better. Skating was no longer fun because my skill weren’t getting any better and I had hit the wall. It was a very tough decision to quit, but I knew that Olympic skating wasn’t my dream. Skating was recreational, for fun, and I just didn’t have my mind wrapped around it as a career. I felt so guilty when I stopped, but it gave me more time for other things, like my dream of becoming an author. Now I’m okay with the decision. Maybe someday I’ll go back to skating, just for fun.
Have you ever given up on something in your life? Were there any dreams you had that you were forced to abandon? Did you regret it?
Michelle posted in Writing @ 7:47 am | Viewed 1697 times
Bonnie Ferguson Says:
I hope the historical market comes back because that’s what I’m writing. Although has it really gone away or is there just more competition now with myriad new subgenres? I don’t know why people decide to shift genre :confused2:. People have their reasons and I can respect that
Thing is I love the Regency period, and the Victorian, Medieval and Georgian. Of course you want a likeable Heroine to match the dashing Hero 
I guess the key is to write what you love to read. I mean just a few years ago paranormals were supposedly ‘dead’ and now they are thriving. 
Peggy Says:
I’ve often wondered about switching gears as well, Michelle. Try to get published in contemporary rather than historicals. Not sure what would be easier.
Peggy Says:
I’ve often wondered about switching gears as well, Michelle. Try to get published in contemporary rather than historicals. Not sure what would be easier.
Larissa Says:
Dreams abandoned…well, I came within a hair of giving up writing. Glad I didn’t!:confused2:
I did give up a career in the Air Force, which was something I really wanted. It was a hard decision, and one I regretted for a long time.
I hope the historical market picks up. Seems to go in waves. Lots of new historical authors got picked up just a couple of years ago, so maybe it’s time for more!
Kelly Says:
The way I figure it, you have to write what you love. I’ve been told its easier to break into the market for a new author if you’re writing contemporary. Maybe so, but I still see new authors breaking thru on the historical market all the time, so somebody’s buying. And in the end, I still believe a good story, is a good story, is a good story. If you write it, they will come. Most people I know who read romance read historical. It may not be all they read (like me…) but it’s on the list and they’re buying the books.
Kelly Says:
Just as an aside, I heard the reason Lisa Kleypas switched to contemporary was that she had been writing historical for so long she felt she had written all she could and gone as far as she could with that market and wanted to branch out and try something new, flex her creative muscle as it were. Which I totally understand, although if I branch out, it’ll be to historical mainstream most likely… big stretch huh?
beth Says:
I think a good story will sell, regardless. I’m guessing that many authors switch genres because the new genre is something they’ve wanted to try for awhile but thought it would be easier to “break into a new genre” when they already have a name behind them. Look at how many contemporary romance authors are switching to mystery/suspense. I remember reading one interview (can’t for the life of me remember with who though) who essentially said she tried to do mystery first, was told that the market was closed to new authors, so did romance to get a name and then switched back, bringing her fans and name with her. (Sandra Brown maybe? Not sure.) Anyway, don’t give up on historicals, there are lots of folks who still read them and if it’s a good story, it’ll sell.
Leslie Says:
I also write historicals and am concerned about the downward slide of that subgenre. To me, it is truly how the romance genre began. I think part of it is the movies which influence the public’s tastes. Not enough movies like “Pride and Prejudice” out there to keep them interested in history.
I do write in other genres, but main love is - and always will be - the historical world. A place where I can truly lose myself in a fantasy life!
Melissa Says:
I really and truly believe that the historical is not dead - it’s just on hiatus for some odd reason. Paranormal, vampire, and chick lit has really seen a boon in recent years. It is just the shift of the pendulum. But it will come back to historical again - and I know there are those readers out there (including myself) who love reading historicals and have no plans to quit.
Stacy Says:
I gave up writing for a few years thinking I had to be an adult and earn a proper living with proper jobs and aspirations:fryingpan:…yeah, I was stupid. Taking it up again seriously two years ago was the best thing I ever did.
Steph T. Says:
I think writing what you love to write is the most important thing. I don’t see the harm in you writing contemps - if you wanted to. But you don’t - and I feel like you’re SO close with what you’re writing…well, I’d hate to see you give it up for a fickle market. Tides turn and you’ll be ready
But I’ve always fought harder when someone told me that what I wanted was impossible - I’m a PITA that way :):)
April Alsup Says:
Sabrina Jeffries recently talked to my RWA chapter. She spoke about this issue. She said she isn’t leaving historicals. That while she may not sell as many as quickly over the next few years, it’s going to be those authors that stuck it out that will thrive when it comes back around. I can’t believe they’ll ever go away completely. I mean, I buy them. It’s easier to read a historical while I write because a contemporary gets my mind confused. Plus, who doesn’t love a good historical?
On the dreams issue: I’ve had so many it’s rediculous. I wanted to be an opera singer, I even trained for it. I figure skated, I did gymnastics, I played piano, I wanted to be a tae kwon do expert, I wanted to act, I even considered learning to fly… But I’m accident prone, so I changed my mind on that one. That’s part of what led to writing. I can do all of that and more when I write!:shimmy:
Amy K. Says:
I’m not a huge historical fan but it’s for the reason you mentioned…I want something different! I love Jan’s western and am so glad it finally found a home, and I really wish Sharon’s would find a home because hers are…different! I’m betting yours have just the type of spunky characters you mentioned, Michelle and I hope someday soon I can pull them off the shelf as well.
(Is this your way of saying you’re considering writing contemps?)
Sharon Says:
I’m not as discouraged with the historical market as I am just pissed. You’ll hear agents and editors alike whine because they want something different, and the market is glutted with the same old tired Regency ballroom puke, but they aren’t BUYING anything different!
I stopped reading Avon eons ago because every month they trot out the same plot and premise, just dusted off and given new names and slightly different elements.
I can’t even tell you the last time I bought a historical. I’m voting with my wallet. Death to the same ole shit, I say. If and when they ever publish something DIFFERENT, I’ll be all over it.
Michelle Styles Says:
Who says histoircals are dead and buried? Harlequin Historicals are making a comeback. I do think the market is on an upturn. The problem is that there was a glut and people want something different.
I am hoping my Roman stories will do well.
Also I can understand when authors want a change. Many authors have done it before — Catherine Coulter and Jennifer Blake to name a few. I do remember when Johanna Lindsay went into sci fi… La Vryle Spencer has always done both contemporary and historical…
Danica Says:
Re: The Market… how many times have we heard of some of our favorite authors who were told over and over that that particular niche was dead? And now look at them. Those exact books that were rejected over and over became bestsellers.
That said, I just had the painful experience of judging some historicals for a contest. What made it painful (and what I told the authors, albeit in a nicer way) is that they were all the same old, same old. Great. Devices used a thousand times by a thousand authors. So what? If it’s going to be a bestseller, there has to be that extra something that makes it stand out
I think that’s the key. I don’t care what the “market” is doing, if you’ve got a fantastic book, it’s going to sell.
So if it’s your dream, and you’ve got the stories burning in your heart, keep at it. Don’t give up. Unless it stops being your dream. Then follow the next one.