One of the main disadvantages of being a writer is that there are only so many stories we can write.
This knowledge is highly frustrating. Taking a glance at my Notes app, I have enough ideas lined up to last me a career, yet I know I’ll probably only work on one or two of those before thinking up something fresher.
To some, it isn’t as much of a problem. Some writers prefer to specialise in one genre, and that’s cool. If you enjoy writing in a particular genre, then you should do that. However, there are another set of writers out there — writers like me — who enjoy exploring different worlds and sets of conventions. Enter, the multiple genre writer.
The Multiple Genre Problem
Many authors argue that a writer should stick to one genre because breaking free of this convention ‘dilutes their brand’, as it were. This is a fair argument. If you write thrillers and then suddenly throw a romance out there, your readership will be baffled, and probably go sit in a corner and sulk while figuring out what the hell’s going on.
However, I think there are two problems at play here.
Firstly, the idea of any author as a ‘brand’ discomforts me. It gives the impression that said author is writing in such and such a genre/style because that is what their brand image demands, and not their creative impulses.
Just a note: I’m not slating the idea of the author as a brand from a business point of view. That’s a different thing. ‘Branding’ yourself is everything, from how you come across, your website, social media, etc. But creatively, I struggle with this ‘brand’ idea. Really, you should follow your creative impulses, not the constraints of your self-imposed ‘brand’.
This whole idea of a ‘brand’ comes from traditional publishers, anyway. With self-publishing, authors have the freedom to explore whatever the hell they want. The rules have changed, so enjoy that freedom if you so desire.
Secondly, I think that fearing reader confusion is an over-simplistic view of our audience. Listen, people are clever. If you put a new book out, chances are they’ll read the blurb/see the cover, and decide whether they want to buy it or not. If they throw themselves into buying it without even investigating, then they’ll likely be the sort of reader who picks up and loves all your work regardless of generic constraints.
I just want to give you a little bit of context, ’cause I like doing that. I’ve currently published four titles. One is a suspense-horror short story, one is a science-fiction thriller, one is a coming-of-age childhood mystery, and one is a creepy horror. I’ve never had any complaints from readers about mixing it up with multiple genres.
Why haven’t I? Personally, I think it’s because my writing style holds it all together. I write with interchangeable themes in my work, often upbeat things like loss, and the desire to put things right. If you can find a theme or a motif, you can get away with writing in multiple genres. You don’t need a pen name — all you need is your creativity.
As with everything in writing, I think the key here is to follow your own path rather than the path somebody has forced on you. If you are comfortable writing in one genre, then that’s absolutely fine. If you want to write in multiple genres, then that’s absolutely fine too. It matters more that you, quite simply (if only), write a good book. Do that, and you don’t have to bother about all this single/multiple genre silliness.
So, there you go, dear reader. You have personal permission to write whatever the hell you want. I have to dash: I have a thriller and a mystery to work on…
What are your views on writing in multiple genres? Are you a single genre person? Why does that work for you?
Image courtesy of Enokson via Flickr.
Glad you posted this, Ryan. I like to write YA fiction thrillers. Having just put my first book on Amazon, I am in the middle of the second book, it’s a trilogy. However at the same time I am writing a love story set in mid 1800’s, I really enjoy switching from one genre to another. I don’t think it dilutes my work, in fact it gets the flow going when I am stuck. I read in both of these genres so that’s why I like to write in them, too. Hopefully, the more I write, the better I will get, and maybe I will stick to one particular genre. I agree that it’s important to enjoy your writing and go with your heart. I attended a workshop on publishing with Vanessa O’Loughlinn of the Inkwell Group recently and she made a good point about using a different name if you write in different genres. Even changing to using only the initial letters of your first two names, together with your surname, can look very different on a book cover. Of course the blurb on the back will tell a reader what the book is about anyway, but if a writer is concerned about confusing people this might be the answer.
Thanks, Jean. Using a different name is a good idea if you’re writing YA and then something completely different, otherwise one name should be good as long as the genre is made clear.
Then again, it’s all a personal preference thing. 🙂 Keep on writing and best of luck!
I’m with you: I read everything as a kid, I will write whatever my brain throws out.
However, I’ve decided that it will all come out under my name – I’ll just make sure the cover, title, and description are accurate – and if I ever acquire fans (can’t publish yet – long story), and create the kind of newsletter that informs them a new book is out, that I will make sure the announcement locates the work properly in the spectrum of fiction. Or non-fiction, if that is what the ol’ brain tosses out.
Too bad: I had such lovely plans for pseudonyms!
I’ll follow Margaret Attwood’s lead – and write what I please.
As you say, the writer and the writer’s style/voice will hold it together.
And readers are incredibly smart people – they can definitely handle it.
I pretty much agree with you on this. Unless writing two radically different genres (as Mary’s comment covers with MG and crime), I too plan to publish everything under the same pen name.
Best of luck with your publishing adventure!
I write two genres: MG fantasy, and crime fiction. An author I spoke to said it was impossible; I’d have to focus on one. But I love them both. So I decided to listen to Jonathan Mayberry instead and write them. I think you have to write the story that you are passionate about, and if you’re passionate about stories in different genres, well, do it. At a recent conference, Mayberry (and a few others) said don’t be afraid of genre-crossing. Donald Maass even said that genres are becoming “guidelines” not “boxes.” Most said the old model of “a different name for every genre” is also a thing of the past.
Now, I did make the decision to publish the crime fiction under a pseudonym, but that’s because I think the rules are slightly different when you’re writing for kids (8-12 in my case). Were I writing YA and some 18-year old picked up one of my crime stories, I wouldn’t worry. But I don’t want an 8-year old picking up a story expecting a fantasy and getting a woman with her head bashed in and the F-word. And in speaking to a father, he said he appreciated that.
But you are right about the “voice” being mine in both, and I think if you were to read them sans names, you could tell the same person wrote both. I look at it like Campbell’s soup. Campbell’s is the company with the brand. They make canned soups. But they make many different kinds of soup. To help consumers, they put different labels/names on the soup (chicken noodle, cream of broccoli, etc.). Now if the consumer just see’s “Campbell’s,” doesn’t read the label, and grabs what they think is a can of chicken noodle, they shouldn’t blame Campbell’s if it turns out to be cream of broccoli.
Great comment, Mary. Covers a hell of a lot of interesting and useful areas. I think you’re definitely right about a distinction in the case of younger targeted material and crime — you wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of angry parents!
I like Jean Reinhardt’s idea about subtly changing the name – even just the initials. It draws a (fine) line between one genre and another, yet it’s not enough to make a reader feel cheated. Robin Hobb often writes as Megan Lindholm because she likes to keep her stories separated. They’re not hugely different – Hobb is all about dragons and old-world political intrigue and Lindholm is contemporary animal-human stories. But they’re different enough that a reader would miss a step when they began to read. It’s all about the mood.
I’m still old-fashioned enough to think ‘Hmm…’ when I see that an author has a foot in two camps. I will give ‘the other’ genre a try, but cautiously. If it’s good, I will be pleasantly surprised. If it disappoints, I will feel justified in my scepticism. This has stemmed from experience, not simple stubornness. I will cite Stephen Donalson’s ‘Covenant’ series (loved it) against his sci-fi ‘Gap’ series (shudders) as an example.
Andrew,
Some good examples there of authors who have successfully/unsuccessfully used one or multiple writing names. I guess the point stands that each project name should be decided individually. It can be a good idea if you write in multiple genres to mix things up slightly.
Then again, it’s important to know where to draw the line, I think. If, like me, you write under a larger generic bracket (mystery/thriller) but are keen to explore other elements within that (a little bit of sci-fi, a little bit of horror), then you have to be careful not to create a new identity for every single release.
It’s a tough old dilemma!
I think you are safe – you have established yourself as a writer of varying genres rather than sticking to one for a time before making the shift. Your readers will know what to expect from you when you arrive in say…a 4X4. For an established writer who is always seen to be driving a Porsche suddenly turning up in a Buick…well, that does shake the expectations somewhat. I may face the same issue in years to come, once I’ve completed the supernatural trilogy. I would love to go back to my high fantasy and perhaps even my sci-fi roots. I think there would be a case for shifting initials there.