I grovel in homage, O Most Exalted Queen of Snarks!
Please can you answer a market question, or at least point me in the right direction to research the answer myself?
I'm considering attempting a Medieval military adventure series in the vein of Cornwell's "Sharpe", but with more plate armour. Would I be wasting my time?
The thing is, this sub genre seems to be dominated by established writers of earlier generations: e.g. Cornwell and Macdonald Fraser.
Is this because the sub genre is dead, and these chaps persist through a kind of grandfather clause? Or is it simply that not many people can write historical adventure?
My sword is ever at your service (so beware sentences beginning "Who will rid me of this turbulent...")
There's something rather charming about a swordsman at one's beck and call. Makes the question of how to move those ne'er do wells out of the subway doors a bit more fun (for you non NYers, there is a sub group of sub humans who ride in the space in front of the doors on the subway and then forget to move their sorry asses out of the way when the doors open. It's the subject of many a rant on CraigsList).
But, I digress.
I didn't even know there was such a thing as medieval military adventure. Perhaps because my idea of military adventure involves a handsome man in a naval uniform rescuing Miss Snark and her poodle from a desert island...
but, I digress.
Here's the thing. You have to write the thing that fills you with passion. You have to write something you love the way you love your children: all the time, even when you want to murder them. You have to write something you love so much it doesn't even cross your mind to ask "am I wasting my time" because to NOT write it would be wasting your heart.
If medieval military history is what makes you lose track of time and space out during conversations with your spouse, then that is what you will write.
There isn't a genre in the entire world that is so glutted that there isn't room for a great addition. The key is "great". Which is why you have to love it, cause you may hear a lot of "no" but if you love it, you will persevere.
And there is no such thing as "a grandfather clause" about why books stay in print. I assure you that the beady eyed accountants in the basement at Random House do not leave books in print if they do not generate sales. Ergo, if they are still on the shelves, they are selling. And if the authors are dead chances are they won't be producing more books (you'd think this would be an ironclad rule, but it's not). And if there aren't more books coming and this genre is selling, well...sounds like a time for a good man with a sword to ride out of the hills...
But, I digress.
This is your creative life and your passion. Do what you love. Make it great.