It’s a common question among writers. There are several writing genres. So, should authors stick to one or branch into a second…or a third? That’s a great question to think about.
What are Writing Genres?
Writing genres can be defined differently by different people. For some, it means the differences among fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, drama, or literary translation. That’s what we discuss in my MFA program. But some would call it the difference in content. For example, I tend to write science fiction and mystery, while others focus on romance, western, humor, or historical fiction. Others of my colleagues blend the genres, such as those who write romantic suspense. Their books speak to an audience that may not respond to traditional thrillers or romance, but enjoy when those elements are combined.
So while we talk about several distinct genres, there are often elements of more than one genre in a piece of writing. But most of us would still identify any of our stories or novels as being primarily one genre over another.
Challenges of Writing in More Than One Genre
One pitfall of writing in more than one genre may be that you are diluting your author brand, or making it difficult to establish an author brand. The value of the brand means that folks know you for what you write, and it’s consistent. If it isn’t, how would they find you and your works?
But perhaps you aren’t so interested in selling books—though we all want to sell books—and its more about expressing yourself creatively. In that case, multiple writing genres may be okay.
You can write successfully in multiple genres, but you must first understand what’s involved in each genre, and being sure that you are writing and marketing your books in ways that fit a very new writing niche. In my case, writing both science fiction and mystery novels, I have not mastered the best ways to market my books, particularly my science fiction works. That’s because I’m more connected to authors and readers of mysteries and thrillers. This is where writing in multiple genres can make you less successful as a writer. Lesson learned!
Essential Tasks When You Switch Writing Genres
One difficulty when switching writing genres is the amount of research needed. I have a western trilogy in my head that I’ve been playing with for years. What’s holding me back is the need for research. I know very little about ranching in New Mexico in the 1970s, but my main character is a former Buffalo soldier who moved to New Mexico in the 1870s to become ranchhand. I’ve been poring over information about ranches in New Mexico, race relations, etc., for months, and still don’t feel ready to begin outlining. The last thing I want is to write a great book that is so historically inaccurate that people criticize it for that without understanding or appreciating the story itself. That’s a clear pitfall of changing writing genres, particularly those you aren’t as familiar with.
Benefits of Writing in More Than One Genre
But there are surely benefits, which is what I was shooting for when I got started. By changing writing genres, I learned methods to improve my writing in my primary genres. For example, writing a romance short story helped me understand more about close relationships. I had shied away from having any protagonists in my novels engage in romantic relationships because I simply wasn’t good at it. But reading more romance and trying my hand at a few short stories helped me create a different kind of banter between my characters that made them more complete. This helped to round out the characters in ways that I couldn’t do until I tried my had at romance. I’ve become a bit more versatile as a result.
Things to Think About
Ultimately, when you switch writing genres or add another one, this requires developing a deep understanding of the other genre. A shift from say, YA mystery to adult mystery, is not such a big change. But changing from mystery with no romantic elements, to straight romance, is far more difficult. What readers look for in romance novel, such as pacing, relationships, etc., is far from the pacing in a mystery novel. And pacing is only one element of a novel. Mastering each of the genres is extremely challenging—which means that when writing in a second genre, we may find ourselves quite skilled in one, and a fledgling in another.
Perhaps this is why I haven’t backed down. I like being challenged, and the more I stretch in terms of writing genres, the more I learn as a writer. In essence, this is my own personal “trial by fire” as I develop my craft. What about your writing genres? Are you ready to add one more?
