Thinking of Writing in Multiple Genres? 3 Things to Remember
Most writing teachers advise newcomers to stick to one genre. That’s a great rule to follow if your book is a hit. I discovered that if you don’t make it in one genre, trying another is the wiser choice.
A literary agent once advised me and other writers on a discussion forum to stick to one genre until after we’ve established ourselves. Only then should we think about writing in other genres. If only the path to publication could be as straightforward as that.
It’s true that sticking to one genre offers many benefits. It will certainly make your life easier in terms of writing, building a brand, and nurturing an audience.
My foray into multiple genres was not out of whim but necessity. As a Filipino immigrant living in America, I want to tell stories about the Filipino American experience. For so long nobody wanted to represent or publish my novels. Instead of giving up, I tried my hand at different genres.
My first published novel (In His Corner, 2015, Lyrical Press) was a romance I wrote under the pen name Vina Arno. It paved the way for the publication of my historical novel (My MacArthur, 2018, Sand Hill Review Press). In September 2023, my third novel, Multo, a contemporary thriller, was published by Agora Books.
3 Writing and Publishing Tips
Here are three of the most important things you must remember when writing and publishing in multiple genres:
#1 You need a core story or overarching theme for your novels.
#2 Use a pen name to separate your genres.
#3 Create a brand as an author, not based on a genre.
If you’re thinking of writing in multiple genres, learn more about the process. Read the full article on Damyanti Writes blog:
Writing in Multiple Genres Can be Bumpy: Three Tips to Ease the Process
Read a related article:
What Got Me Published Could Be the Very Thing You Need