Writing in a genre they don’t LOVE, and don’t read, just because they hope it will be more profitable or successful.
I’ve seen horror with laughable clichés—purple people eaters and little green men, seriously. I’ve also seen romances without romance, fantasy with no fantastical elements for the first 100 pages, and cozy mysteries without a whiff of investigation.
I’m not saying you can’t write to market—sometimes that can work. But if you’re writing something your heart isn’t in, it always shows. Pick a part of the market that excites you.
Or, at the very least, read enough in your genre that you know the rules of the game.
Because a cozy mystery that doesn’t have a dead body within the first two or three chapters won’t fly.
PS: Want to take your manuscript or career to the next level? Currently accepting clients for developmental editing and a limited-availability 1:1 mentorship package.