Glutting the Market

[Peg Herring]

I recently read an editor's comment that she wasn't accepting Tudor-based materials anymore because that era has been "more than adequately covered." Being the author of a soon-to-be-released Tudor mystery, that got my attention, and I must admit, the Tudors have been dissected and analyzed plenty lately. I can't help it if I've always been fascinated with the period. It's Shakespeare's time, for heaven's sake.

That led me, however, to wonder if the Knights Templar might not be a bit overdone these days as well. It seems every other book I pick up has them plotting to control the modern world, find the Holy Grail, and protect the masses of treasure they stored up during the Crusades.

How about the detective novel set in the South, with chases through the bayou and dangerous critters, human and not, everywhere? The craft-based cozy? The smart-aleck girl detective? The drifter who is drawn into the lives of innocents and feels he must help them?

The list goes on. Yes, they could be stereotypes, and yes, it's been done. But if you do it well one more time, people won't mind.

[Clair Dickson]

Trends come and go. Something that's "done" now may be fresh and new in a year or two when what's currently popular fades away.

And while one agent may thing a topic worn out, another may think this is a good time to piggy-back on that popularity. So, I'd be cautious accepting what one agent says/things... two or more, then you're starting to see consensus.

[I. J. Parker]

Dana is right. My observation has been that readers are creatures of habit. If they like the Tudors, they'll buy anything Tudor.
And you should see the list of Sherlock Holmes spin-offs.

[Dana King]

The only way to tell if any subject area has been "more than adequately covered" is if people have stopped buying them. Agents and editors who have their ears to the ground and decent instincts may be able to anticipate such things a little, but they're wrong a lot, too. Writing is an art, but knowing what will sell is probably as much art as science, no matter what some would like you to think.