A friend of mine recently told me she has started writing in a whole new genre. It definitely wasn’t a career change I would have expected. Her previous books have been long, complex stories written in an elegant, almost literary style. Now she has decided to write in a genre that is much lighter and fluffier. The books are much shorter and the storyline simpler. These books are mostly about sheer entertainment.
Her decision got me thinking about how writers choose genres. In the beginning, I think genres choose us. The stories that come to us the most strongly tend to be of a certain type. Those are the books are that are the easiest to write, so as new writers, those are the stories, and consequently, the genre, we pursue. As we become better writers, we may branch out and pursue new genres. We may choose them because we know they are popular, or because we love to read that kind of book, or simply because a new story idea calls to us.
The ability to switch genres varies a lot between writers. Some are able to write all sorts of books. Other authors have a more defined voice and strong personal tastes that limit them to a certain type of story. If they want to try something new, they may do best by switching to a sub-genre of the type of book they usually write.
In a highly competitive market, the pressure to write something we can sell is very strong. But that sort of genre change doesn’t always work. Sometimes that type of story doesn’t come as easily to us as the ones that aren’t as commercial. We may struggle when we try to write to the market. Or, we can do it, but what we produce won’t be our best work.
There are other factors besides commercial viability that affect what we choose to write. Changes in what’s happening around us can affect the stories that call to us. The pandemic influenced a lot of authors to write stories they might never have thought of before going went through that experience. Events in your personal life can also affect your writing. A divorce or death of their partner can make some authors struggle and alter the kind of stories they are able to write. They may want to escape into a happy ending, or make sure there is a tidy resolution in their books. Or, their writing may become grittier and darker to reflect their personal experience.
The life journey also affects the books writers choose to write. As they grow older, some writers decide that life is short, so the hell with the market, they’re going to write what they want to write. Others become more commercially driven, determined to write stories what will boost their sales and finally launch their careers. Some, like my friend, pursue simpler, shorter stories that aren’t as demanding to write. They want to have fun and enjoy the creative process more.
Deciding what genre to pursue can be a complex process. You have to consider what will give you creative satisfaction, and also be aware of your abilities, your natural voice and personal writing style and how they influence what you are capable of writing. And you probably want to take into account the market—what you think you can get published, or, if you choose that route, self-publish successfully.
There are no real right or wrongs in choosing a genre. Although the riskiest thing you can do is jump around between genres. While that may be satisfying creatively, pursuing a lot of different types of stories is not a good way to build a career. Best-selling authors tend to write in one genre or in a couple of genres that are closely related.
Choosing a genre can be tricky for a lot of authors, and finding the right one—the one that hits that magic spot and balances creative satisfaction, writing ability and commercial viability—is challenging. I’m very pleased by my friend’s pursuit of a new genre, mostly because she’s excited. To me, that spark, that enthusiasm, is a sign she’s on the right path. There are lots of elements involved in writing success. including luck, but deep engagement with your story is essential. So, when you choose a genre, consider whether it’s one that ignites your writing passion.
It’s easy to lose sight of our passion, especially if we’ve been at it for a while. Thanks for this thoughtful perspective!
I look at all the other things connected to success and I keep coming back to passion. If you are deeply engaged in what you are writing I think it comes through on the page and attracts readers and drive sales.
Interesting post. Thank you for the food for thought.
I thought of something else that can help you decide on a genre (if you have multiple books out), and that’s reviews. In fact, I’m writing in my current genre not because the sales are great (it’s a niche market), but because my review ratings are consistently higher than they are for my books in other genres and sub-genres. That tells me that I am my best when writing in that genre, which happens to be where my passion is. Cheers!
Food for thought. I think I could write in other genres and in fact, are trying out a new one, domestic suspense, for my second novel (after straight-up women’s fiction) – who knows where the muse will lead?
Exactly. I hope your new venture goes well for you.
Your first paragraph described the choice I just made. After a year of joy and tears working on and completing a literary novel about a very complex woman, I have just made the decision that my next novel will be in a less demanding genre…a mystery. The main character for the new book is still very complex, but the genre takes care of a lot of the “bleeding” the author does at the keyboard that Hemingway alluded to. I made the decision because I need a rest from the intensity of that kind of writing, but I still want the joy of continuing to write—and I because I needed a new challenge. Perhaps your friend did, too.
Changing genres can be a great way to ignite your creativity and find new satisfaction and joy in the writing process. Cheers!