I swear I start out with the best of intentions, but somewhere along the line things go horribly awry. I cannot for the life of me seem to focus on one genre. Yes, I know doing so would enable me to build a steady readership, expand my fan base, and keep my agent from yanking his hair out, but I can’t do it.
Believe me, I’ve tried.
I start out with a nice simple vampire idea, and then poof, a gargoyle ends up in my story. Actually, not only does the gargoyle invade my story, but it takes over like it owns the place. I truly envy writers who’ve found their niche and focus all their attention on it. What does that feel like? Bliss, I bet.
Me, I’m like a shotgun blast going off in a crowd, intent on hitting everything and everybody within firing range.
No, I’m not ADD, so I can’t even use that as an excuse. I’ve come to the conclusion that my mind prefers the scenic rural route over the bustling highway. The ride’s sure been pretty, but the behavior has hindered my newfound career.
Although I continue to build name recognition through my releases and my blog, readers don’t know where to ‘put’ me. When pressed, they say I write funny action-adventure stories. I suppose that’s not a bad description, even though it’s not entirely accurate. Unfortunately, funny/action-adventure won’t exactly forward my career if the stories are also time-travel, urban fantasy, contemporary and historical. And we won’t even discuss the dark humorless tales that I’ve yet to publish.
By now, I’m sure several of you are saying to yourselves, why don’t you just pick something and stick with it? Certainly sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? I swear I have tried. (Let the wails of frustration begin.) I thought focusing on paranormal novels would help. I love my new ideas, but even they don’t fall neatly into a specific category of paranormal. I’m like a genre-crossing magpie. Ooh, that looks shiny, new and interesting. Let’s add it to our story idea and see what happens.
Now I realize that as time passes the lines/genres begin to blur. Thank goodness. This makes me extremely happy. Or should I say it will, once they get to my category.
Any other magpies out there?
No related posts.
I’m very fond of cross-genre stories.
I haven’t had a novel published (yet, anyway *g*), but I hear where you’re coming from. Most of my fiction tends to straddle the fantasy/horror/romance fence. I’m very relieved that genre “fusions” are coming into style… cause before, people like me didn’t have much of an option!
oh i hop….. lemme see, i’ve written fantasy, contemporary, suspense, paranormal and dabbled in light historical. And I’m playing with an urban fantasy and a sci fi. I can’t decide if I wanna write more vamps, or more elves.
;p but i think i prolly do have ADD. it’s actually pretty common among uh… creative types.
I may not stick with one genre, but I have fun with them and the good thing is… some readers who normally only read paranormal occassionally try my other stuff… and vice versa.
besides, i’d get bored doing the same thing.:mrgreen:
I’m a Magpie! I like shiny new ideas.
For most part, my WIPs or BTBs (Books To Be) are firmly in the fantasy genre…But the few that aren’t are all over the place.
My writing friends call me the butterfly, because I can’t manage to land any one place for very long.
Honestly, I think this is a case of writers whose ideas don’t remain neatly in one area but scatter all over the place. Just like I enjoy reading books across genres – romantic suspense, paranormal, Young Adult, historicals set in Medieval England – my writing taste tends to be spread out as well. There are certain aspects about each genre that I love, so it makes sense that the writer in me would want to have a chance at it.
I figure I’m just going to need several pen names to go with my writing multiple personality. Certainly I know that things will never get boring.
Like you, I write in different genres, and most of my work seems to be cross-genre. If you have a longish short story, you might want to check out the “Interstitial” anthology call for submissions… an anthology of cross-genre stories.
oh hello {waves frantically}
I am with Shiloh – I so have writers ADD – I get bored (with my own work) so easily. I have 20 – that is 2 and 0 open WIPs of various genres. I cannot stick with just one thing. But I will admit – with mommy-dom and having to stop what you’re doing at any given moment and who knows when you can get back to it… It’s hard to stay focused!
Readers jump genres, why should writers? If I read too much of the same genre–historicals, romantic suspense etc. I end up in a rut. It makes sense that authors might have the same problem and let themselves wander elsewhere. As readers we may not always like this, but it’s understandable that authors need change too.
I’m with Nonny, I like fusion romances. Horror/Romance is a great mix, the ultimate good vs. evil, with lots of blurred lines.
I’m big fat magpie Jordan, with a lovely nest full of shiny new trinkets. That’s why I have three separate writing personas, and if I finally make the decision to write that YA novel, I will have four. Embrace it I guess, and work with it, because you know you’re not going to change. Learn how to use it to your advantage. And when do, share it with the rest of us schizos!!!!
It’s so nice to see so many other magpies (and butterflies) out there.
I do sometimes worry that behaving like a magpie in my writing is another example of ‘monkey brain’. That’s a term my yoga teacher uses when your mind refuses to calm/focus during relaxation poses. So I guess the questions are: Does the cross-genre hopping occur due to lack of focus? Or is it a covert form of procrastination? It doesn’t prevent me from finishing a book, but it can sometimes slow the process.
Thanks Bernita!
Nonny, I hear you on not having much of an option. I have a few that are starting to skirt the horror romance genre.
Shiloh, That is true about the cross over. I’m just not sure how frequently that happens. I suppose it depends on the author. *g*
May, Me too. It’s rather embarrassing how short my attention span is these days. I feel like I’m two. LOL!
Lynn, I hear you on the pen names. I have friends who write in multiple genres under various names. Even with the name changes, it still negatively affects their careers. (It slows growth in ALL areas.) That’s what worries me.
Michele, Thanks for the heads up. I’ll have to check them out.
Dennie, Kids definitely test ones attention span. *ggg* I have a few open WIP, but I’m currently attempting to systematically work my way through each one. I can’t stand having them around.
Tara, That’s true. I totally agree, but there are also a lot of readers who prefer to put authors into a specific category. They don’t like it when their favorites stray. :-/
Vivi Anna, Here I was hoping one of you would have the solution.
(fellow loose cannon, waving hello…)
I am NOT ADD, and I’m now deciding to write in several genres. I like diverse reading–why would it be strange for me to enjoy writing that way?
Wearing the same outfit every day, and cooking the same meal every day would uncomplicate life, and people would know exactly what to expect of you. And of course, the career would be simpler if we stuck to one thing. But what the hey–if you CAN write in several genres without sucking, and you ENJOY it, why limit yourself?
Jordan
Um. Yeah. Paranormal, Contemp, Fantasy, Futuristic, BDSM, Romantic Suspense….shall I go on?
But I don’t like limiting myself to one genre only. I’m afraid I’d end up terribly bored. As a reader, some days I’m in the mood for a juicy romantic supsense. The next book I’m in the mood for a haunting paranormal. The next book, a romantic comedy. The next, an erotic contemporary. As a writer, I like the same flexibility.
And it opens you up to the potential for more sales, too. And opens up your reader base. So it’s all good, in my opinion.
Raising hand here. Yep, I read widely and write all over the board and I vowed I would stick with one thing this year. I’m into a chicklit mystery and loving it, but the idea for a series RS popped into my head and stuck.
Jaci, It seems to be working quite well for you.
Jan,
Isn’t that always how it works?
Have you tried versioning? I do this with short stories, but perhaps it won’t work for novel length. As I write, I’m rigid in my genre, but I also have a text file open to jot in all of the wild ideas, characters, etc that invade my space. Think of it as a place for those things to live in temporary seclusion. Later, I may open the cage and rewrite the entire story based on these notes, sometimes not.
Mary, I hadn’t thought about doing that hmm…I may have to try it.:smile:
Oh, I like this one.
I’m with everyone else. Why should you get yourself in a rut by writing one genre? I’m writing so many different stories it’s not even funny. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to sit down and just write one story, without another one rearing its ugly head. *sigh* It’s enough to drive me mad.
I tend to read anything, as long as its good. If you stick with one genre, after awhile it tends to get old.
I can totally relate!!! I’m still trying to decide between suspense and chick-lit. People say, “Oh just write both.” But realistically, a chick-lit suspense novel leans toward one or the other. I hope I can figure it out soon.
Camy
Kaitlin, I mix genres all the time. I think it helps to stick with one or two in order to build your career. Someday maybe I’ll figure out how to do that.:roll:
Camy, Good luck!!!:smile:
Genre Jumper, guilty as charged. But some of my favorite authors do the same. I read everything from dark erotic futuristic paranormal to sweet contemporary, and when I find an author with a writing style I like, I don’t worry too much about what genre they’re writing in, I just like their writing. I’ll read the book because I know that the story will entertain. Besides, I appreciate an author that can move around and strech. They can always give me something to suit what ever mood should strike me. For example: I love regency historicals, but I reached max about six months ago. Have not picked up one since. If on of the authors I liked had other genre novels, however, I’d go straight for them. Same author, but, a breath of fresh air.
Also, I think you evolve and as such, so does what you write.
Is it good for the market? I’m not sure, but, it takes you across markets, and exposes you to more fans. In the end, I bet it all comes out in the wash.
Ursula, I read the same way, but I do admit that when my favorite authors switch genres I experience a tiny spark of disappointment.
Alas, the solution is to be bored. Somehow, though, I think that would probably end up making you boring.
So what’s wrong with writing in different genres? Isn’t that why Nora Roberts writes romance and the futuristic suspense. Isn’t that why Loren Estleman writes mysteries and westerns? They don’t want to get bored and stale and boring.
So – my advice is to embrace your ADD. It’s an asset not a liability. Not everyone has the ability to switch genres. Enjoy your blessing.
Mo
Mo, There’s nothing wrong with writing in different genres, especially when it’s done like you describe above. Nora changed her name in order to explore futuristic suspense. I definitely think being able to write in several genres is an asset to a writer’s career, but it helps if you’re already established. It’s difficult to build a new writer when they’re jumping all over the place.
hmmm…very interesting
Another magpie raising her hand… er, wing. My WIP was supposed to be a nice simple romance. Then, the ex-girlfriend shows up (completely uninvited) and now it looks like she’s going to be killed off… going from a nice simple romance to a suspense/romance. Why don’t characters just do like they are supposed to do????
Judy, LOL! I hear you on characters misbehaving. For the longest time every book I wrote included someone getting killed off. I thought for a while I was incapable of writing anything else. *ggg*
Denise A. Agnew
http://www.deniseagnew.com
Denise, Good luck with your new series.