Do You Concentrate on One Single Genre?

Welcome, Cindy. The short answer is, do whatever works for you. No two projects will be just alike, even if they are the same genre. A lot of folks here write in several different genres while others specialize.

For myself, I write historical fiction with a strong military element. Pretty specific. But right now I'm shopping a novel for adults while I write one for middle graders. Both historical fiction, but otherwise very different.

There is something to be said for getting really good at one thing. There's also something to be said for casting a wide net and figuring out what works for you, and what readers want.

So, to make a long story longer: do what works for you.

HN

While you're figuring out what you want to write and what you want to write well, I say try anything and everything.

Unfortunately, when it comes to selling fiction, you do have to specialize. This is tough for me b/c I would like to write in a number of different genres, but I have to establish myself first. Right now I am trying to get established in YA supernatural romantic suspense and possibly adult romantic suspense. All my humor/chick lit/family drama ideas have to wait.

Similar to what Claudia says, my agent has advised me to stick with the humorous fantasy, at least for a while. The goal is to build an audience, and that's harder to do when each book is drastically different from the last.

With that said, if I was really dying to write something different, I might do it anyway. But since I'm enjoying the quirky stuff, this works for me.

Good question! I have only written historical romance, but am thinking about crossing over to modern romance/fantasy or something like that. EEK!

I write a little bit of everything, but my novels are usually dark suspense and horror. I get my other-genre fix by writing short stories.

When I first started taking writing seriously, I went to a conference that had contests. I entered all of them: YA, childrens lit, spiritual, non-fiction, speculative fiction, short story, novel chapter, you name it. I approached it completely as a throw-it-against-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks sort of thing, and was pleasantly surprised when a few things stuck.

So until you find the thing that sticks, keep throwing at the wall.

Shoot, I can't even concentrate on one genre in the same story!

I write in several genres, but I'm trying to focus for a while since I'm trying to get established. It's difficult because the same agent rarely reps both children's and adults. I do like to write short stories in multiple genres. It keeps things interesting for me. I write middle grade now, but I enjoy mystery, fantasy, and horror shorts.

I write *mostly* fantasy and some sci-fi, but I also have novels in the works in romance, suspense, horror, literary, etc.

Genre

I think it's probably best to stick to one genre until you actually sell a novel. After this you can branch out all you like. But diluting the effort in the beginning can make it awfully tough to write a novel that sells.

Selling a first novel is great, but realistically, you may have to write four or five or six in one genre before your skill level catches your talent level and something clicks.

So I think it's important to write in a genre you absolutely love, and forget market until you're a good enough writer to sell what you write.

So far I've written one Fantasy, and one SF. I don't know if that was a good idea or not, but they were the two novels I wanted to write. For me, it was the way to find out which genre I was better at, and to stretch my authorial wings.

For me it's a conscious decision to work within SF&F but try not to get pigeonholed to one subgenre until I find which one I'm most suited for.

One friend of mine initially wrote in YA fiction - she was told by so many people that that was the best way to break in. One year, for NaNoWriMo (I think) she decided to have some fun and wrote a mystery. She ended up having so much fun writing the mystery that she finally understood why she was struggling so much with YA fiction - YA fiction was not a genre she loved or was even the least bit interested in! Now that she's writing mysteries, she's having the time of her life.

Sometimes, a person has to play with different genres to see what fits.

Personally, I'm a science fiction gal. Always have been. It's always been my most favorite genre to read, and I dream in science fiction. I mean, seriously, Riker and Picard and Troi and Jack ONeill (with three Ls), Daniel, Sam, and Teal'C playing in my dreams! It's only natural for me to write in science fiction. But, you know, I hit a brick wall and stopped having fun. I'm now playing with fantasy, cuz the story idea hit me and it feels fun. I need fun, too.

Sometimes, a person has to play with different genres to recharge their fun batteries. And no, no dirty innuendos intended with that.


But I do agree that, with publishing in mind, it's usually better to stick with one genre to build up a fan base.

YA YA YA.

It's all I know how to do.

I write fantasy, but that is such a diverse genre what with urban fantasy, Tolkienesque fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, alternate history, and so on, I don't feel I'm actually just "stuck" in one genre.

My thing on genre is that I want to write what I want to read. That's both SF and Fantasy.

I used to genre float like crazy (espionage, contemporary military fiction, college life/reality-type stuff, fantasy...), but now I've settled mostly into westerns. I mix in non-fiction from time to time, and in a sense it's my first writing love (and the one I've been most successful publishing-wise in).

Shadow_Ferret said:

I write fantasy, but that is such a diverse genre what with urban fantasy, Tolkienesque fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, alternate history, and so on, I don't feel I'm actually just "stuck" in one genre.

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Same here. It's what I love about the all encompassing Fantasy label. My work tends to hover in some undefined space between Urban Fantasy and Soft SF, but I draw in elements from other genres, as well (such as romance, action/adventure, mystery, humor). But the defining nature of the work is almost always Fantasy.

That doesn't mean I will never branch out. My first novel was mainstream. I love westerns, and want (some day) to adapt my western screenplay into either a novella or novel. However, until I can get my foot firmly wedged into the literary door, I'll stick with my UF/SSF.

I actively work on NOT staying in a genre. I'd get bored.

My novel is sci-fi. I have a short out in an anthology that's fantasy. I did a couple of movie scripts that are fantasy, and another that's a heist/crime movie. In comics, I've done horror, super-heroes, military, fantasy, humor, dark, gothic, and all points in between.

I like to read mysteries and writing them is fun too. I'll probably stick to that.

I'm putting myself in the speculative fiction category. So I guess that would be science-fiction/fantasy.

I've finally decided to stick with short stories as I do not have the patience, drive, or discipline for a novel at this point in my life. I have lots of ideas and have a hard time sticking to one for the amount of time it takes to write a novel.

My writing dream is to write a novel about Mars and follow in the footsteps of Bradbury, Bova, Bear, and Burroughs. Hmm...if I ever get married maybe I should make sure my surname will start with a B.