Can I Write for Multiple Genres?
Q: I’m interested in writing in many different categories: adult fiction, young adult fiction, picture books, poetry and, possibly, memoir. Do I need to choose just one to be successful?…
Q: I'm interested in writing in many different categories: adult fiction, young adult fiction, picture books, poetry and, possibly, memoir. Do I need to choose just one to be successful? —Laurie B.
A: Absolutely not. While there are clearly advantages to focusing on one genre—platform building, audience base, honing your skill set—many authors have found success in writing for a broad range of genres. Remember, the bonus of being a writer is that you have the opportunity to dabble in many different forms. If that’s something that interests you, take advantage of it.
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Jane Friedman is a full-time entrepreneur (since 2014) and has 20 years of experience in the publishing industry. She is the co-founder of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, and is the former publisher of Writer’s Digest. In addition to being a columnist with Publishers Weekly and a professor with The Great Courses, Jane maintains an award-winning blog for writers at JaneFriedman.com. Jane’s newest book is The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press, 2018).
