I am completely new to writing, I have only been writing for two months now and the three books I have already finished are from different genres, it has been stated to me that I should stick to one genre but my mind does not work like that and my imagination comes up with a variety stories. With the three books I am currently writing now these are all from different genres, so am I wrong or right in how I write my books? Shall I be a Jack of all Trades and a Master of none as long as I enjoy being the Jack and hopefully people will enjoy what I have written or sit scratching my head in front of a PC screen trying to stay in one genre? Will the fact I write in different genres be a negative as far as publishers are concerned. Opinions would be gratefully accepted.
If you are completely new to writing, then it's good when you can write in different genres. That way you can see which genre your readers will like best.
I think this discussion may fit a bit better in the general writing section @Iain Aschendale I would right some shorter works in those genres and see how they pan out. All genres have specific audiences attached to them, all with specific things those audiences are looking for. As an example, it's very easy for science fiction writing to get thrown off into science fantasy when things don't add up for science nerd crowd (like me). I think you should do a bit of experimenting and throw it up on here. Many reviewers will show you your strengths and weaknesses not only in writing quality and story, but also in genre. You also don't need to confine yourself to a single genre. Sometimes the limitations can take away from the story you really want to tell. But really go experiment before committing to a full novel. I suspect certain types of genre writing will come more naturally to you than others.
Lots of genres are mashed and combined these days. As a writer, I love exploring all genres. I simply go where the story takes me. I would hate to write only one genre and if that hurts my marketability or success so be it. I think your voice is more important than finding a genre you fit in. If people enjoy your voice then they will read your work regardless of the genre. At least that's how I feel as a reader. I'm willing to give anything a chance if the writing is interesting. I know there are some readers out there that only like to read one genre, but I think that's boring as hell and feel sorry for them. It's like those people who only listen to one genre of music. It's a shame really. There is so much variety out there. I say, explore it all!
Lots of writers write in more than one genre. Writing in a single genre is more of an issue of branding than writing. If you're new to writing and haven't published anything yet, I wouldn't worry about it, but if you have a series of books and your name is synonymous with a certain style, like James Patterson, Clive Cussler, or E.L. James, and putting your name on anything else would be a travesty readers could not abide, then sure. You could of course also use pen names to avoid the confusion, like J.K. Rowling and Anne Rice did. Or you could be one of those writers that writes in multiple genres, like Neil Gaiman or Stephen King. Either way, it's probably not something you really need to worry about until you start getting traction in the market.
Don't worry about it. You're brand new. Just write. Don't be offended if someone says you suck. You probably do at this point. Quoting someone whose name I can't remember, 'the first million words are practice.' Good luck.
Hello, friend. If I were you, I don't worry about this that much. Nowadays, genres fuse since the audience knows them and understand that writing just one genre isn't an easy job. And let's face it, writing one genre can be a little dull. I'm sure just horror of example, would be bland. Because of that, writers fuse horror with something else, examples: erotica, action, psychological, etc. So my advise just write the story you want to tell, but keep in mind what the genres are about.
I was going to say more things, but it was basically this. So yeah, this. (You even named most of the same people I was going to. Great minds...) In the case of Anne Rice and many others, the use of a pen name had much to do with writing in not only drastically different genres, but potentially disturbing material for which an established star might receive an angry, offended backlash. The Sleeping Beauty series she wrote under a nom de plume was full on bondage porn, not Fifty Shades style erotica, but hard-core, sexual violence in every paragraph, masters and slaves BDSM (with an underaged protagonist no less!) I imagine her publishers raised a branding concern or two at the time. I've considered doing something similar, use my name for the majority of my novels, a second name for the graphic sex and horror stuff I wouldn't want my parents to read (another motivation cited by Rice) and a third and far sillier name for the Seuss and Silverstein-like rhyming picture books for kids. I don't actually have to make those decisions until (if ever) I get to the publishing phase though, and you don't either, so don't worry about that stuff yet. Don't let a genre dictate or confine your writing. Write your best books and see what happens. If anything, knowing from the beginning that you plan to genre jump and experiment with various styles, it's best to establish that early in a career, like Neil Gaiman did. Though you may find, as with Gaiman or Stephen King, that you end up with a distinctive and very recognizable essence despite a diversity in subject matter and lack of an easily defined niche. Either way, go for it!
I do not know how many you are supposed to write but I write all of the time, it helps with my mental health and especially my insomnia so if writing three 80,000 word books in two months is weird so be it I will gladly wear that title. It has now paid off as I am signing to a publisher tomorrow. My writing keeps me away from somewhere I struggle to stay away from and that is why I write three books at a time to keep my mind busy very busy. This may not be for everyone but I was advised to do it by my therapist and it is working. I hope this answers your question as I have disclosed all I am prepared to about my mental health issues and how writing is helping me. All the very best to you and I hope you have a great weekend ahead. Phil.
Three novels in two months, sure, I guess I can get behind that. At least having them in first draft, maybe...maybe second. But fully edited, test read multiple times, completed, AND signed on for publishing directly? Nope. Sorry man, I just don't buy it. The only way that could happen is that you first drafted three novels and uploaded them directly to self-publishing. I can get behind loads of personal work, but not behind the system in place for publishing working that quickly.
I have to go to publishers tomorrow and they have my manuscripts and state they need to work with me on them so I do not know what way they may change them or whatever they do to them, I do not know how long it will be before the books will be published or the procedure involved. I have been invited to go and sign a contract and that is what I am going to do if it is a sensible contract. I am prodding around in the dark over this publisher and I hope they will do a good job and my books will not change too much from the way I have written them and they do not rip me off, my support worker is coming with me so I do not have to try and deal with this on my own. I will gladly keep everyone informed of what happens whether its a positive or negative.
You should NEVER have to pay a publisher a dime. Seriously, if they are asking for any money from you, run in the opposite direction. The publishing world moves slow. It would likely take months to get any sort of answer from a legit publisher. Please don't give any money to a publisher to publish your book. They should be paying you and hopefully paying you some sort of advance. The reason I question writing three novels in two months is because I'm not sure how you could possibly get your manuscripts up to a level a publisher is looking for in that amount of time. Every writer does revision. And revision can often take a lot longer than the original writing did. And that's just a lot of writing. I'm a full time writer and I can't write that fast and have my work ready for a publisher in that amount of time and I've been at this for a while. Maybe you're super gifted and super fast, but that doesn't change the speed of the publishing world or how it works. Also, if I were you, I would probably take a little more time going through your novels. Editing and revision is hard but necessary. Just saying all this because I'm looking out for you and don't want you taken advantage of by some opporation calling itself a publisher when really they're more of a vanity press or scam. YOU NEVER HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING TO A REAL PUBLISHER!!! And being new at writing your stories likely need a little more work. It takes me about the same time to write and revise a short story. Then selling it can take six months to a few years. Again, I am a professional writer. I write all the time. I know I'm not the fastest, but I also know how the publishing world works. There are some red flags here. Just trying to point those out to you so that you have the best chance of succeeding with your writing dreams and goals.
