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Writing in Multiple Genres Is Not a Sin
Why writing what you want, whenever you want, is a great idea
Is it okay to write in more than one genre as an author?
At a recent writer’s conference, a panelist had a clear answer for me. New author? Looking for traditional publishing? Stick to one genre. That way, the publisher can market you to build your following. If you feel like writing other stuff after that, cool.
It’s logical advice, based on the fact people pick books based on expectations you’ve already set as a writer. But maybe it doesn’t capture the whole picture. What about writers who use pen names to play around (e.g., J.K. Rowling)? Yes, they have to build distinct followings/brands. But they get to explore and don’t get pigeonholed, either.
Plus, I’m guessing that, like other readers, you pick books up randomly based on the back cover, based on whether the story compels you. You might not even know the author is a bestseller or that they’ve written anything else. If the story compels, then why not write a bunch of whatever you want?
The third point is, what if what you have been writing and selling is doing well but really isn’t what you really prefer (hey, if it pays the bills…). Gaining a following or selling x copies is not the only reason to write something…
