I have a question. For you. Published or not published. Agented or not agented.
I write middle grade. I’ve been writing middle grade. I love reading terrific middle grade (lower mg or upper mg). But I also love reading YA. Even adult fiction. What it comes down to is story. I love stories with humor, heart, and suspense. And that’s how I try and write.
I’m just curious how many of you have jumped off the solid bridge/cliff/skyscraper of what you normally write and tried something different. Like you normally write picture books and you tried YA. Or you write for adults and tried a chapter book. Or you write contemporary and tried a dystopian. You get the idea.
I have an idea of the pros/cons of making such a decision. But when an idea for a story outside your genre or age group grabs you by the heart, would you listen?
I started by writing picture books manuscripts. I thought I was good at it–got a few nibbles from agents and editors, and published two in an online magazine.
Then an idea for a YA novel literally grabbed me by the heart and I thought I was crazy. And then I realized I liked it better than picture books. And that I was sort of good at it. 🙂 Go for it–follow your heart!
I did try to write a women’s fiction book once, but after a few chapters it didn’t hold my interest. I might go back to it, but it depends on what happens with the romance I have on submission now.
ABSOLUTELY! That’s the beauty of writing for the Audience of One!!!
Blessings, dear writer friend.
Bloggite.
Deep thinker
Patti
I wrote a Regency romance. I have 4 others lined up in the queue. I am in the middle of finishing a women’s fiction. I also have a YA paranormal romance I’ve been dying to get back to.
Write what your heart wants you to write. Variety is the spice of life and quite a few blogs I’ve read lately, the authors write in two or more different genre’s. There’s nothing wrong with that.
I’ve made three jumps like that. First, after several contemporary MGs I wrote a historical. (The publisher asked me to. It was in the heyday of Dear America, and historical was big. I loved it.)Then, after these MG novels, I wrote a YA biography. New age group, and a jump from fiction to nonfiction (more history). Life was feeding me a TON of interruptions at that time, and I just couldn’t sink down into a fictional world. The bio got published, but with a different house. Now, I’m working on a “mild dystopian” MG. I wouldn’t have chosen the genre, and when I got the idea I never thought, “Hey, dystopian is hot now (and what if it’s not by the time I get this done?).” I just got the idea, thought it was higher-concept than anything I’d ever done, and started in. So yeah, I’ll go with an idea, but I think it’s getting harder to do that now. There’s so much emphasis on branding, which idea should be your debut, what should follow it up, etc. I feel like I’ll have to earn the right (with good sales) to genre-jump, even though I’ve already done it.
Thanks everyone, I think I will go with my heart. Or at least explore the idea and see where it goes. I have a humorous mg mystery, outlined, ready to go, when this other What if jumped into my head/heart. I’m going to be revising an upper mg for the next few months, so I’ll explore the new idea on the side. I don’t have to decide now.
And Marcia – you make a good point. If I ever get a book published, I have no problem writing another couple in that genre. But, since I’m not published yet… 🙂
I write contemporary YA. That said, one of my books is on that line between MG and YA. (I think it turned out this way because I was telling the story I wanted to tell) My most recent YA novel is set a tiny bit into the future. It’s still realistic book but isn’t contemporary but it’s a story that I want to tell. And, I have two picture books that I’ve started.
So far I’m only writing within YA, but as you know that’s a huge range of stuff. So I’ll have historical romance, urban fantasy, and dystopian under my belt…and I love that variety!
I definitely listen! I have files dedicated to ideas for adult novels, adult short stories, children’s novels, children’s short stories. Though I have a particular softspot for middle-grade novels, I really don’t have a favorite genre. I love reading everything and anything. So I really do want to try my hand at different kinds of writing. That’s part of the joy of being an artist and a creative person; we’re never stuck writing (or painting or singing) just one thing. We can branch out and explore many options!
This is an interesting question, Laura.
I started out writing middle-grade. It’s my first love. A MG novel is how I got my former agent.
The novel I’m working on started out as a MG and I fought hard for it to stay that way, but it really needed to be a YA so now it is and the fit is much better.
I think you can have a stronger area in a particular genre/age group but definitely keep your mind open to other opportunities.
I truly believe as a writer that you find the best way to tell a story — even if it means its outside of your area.
I’ve written mostly MG (my first love) and this summer began a YA, it is slower going than the MG’s were, but I’m still enjoying it. Problem is that I have to stop myself from having the MC act like a 12 year old!
I do write adult fiction, contemporary mysteries, but only in short form. It’s a good break.
I think every writer should try different genre’s just to find out where they really belong.
I’ve written mostly MG (my first love) and this summer began a YA, it is slower going than the MG’s were, but I’m still enjoying it. Problem is that I have to stop myself from having the MC act like a 12 year old!
I do write adult fiction, contemporary mysteries, but only in short form. It’s a good break.
I think every writer should try different genres just to find out where they really belong.
So, I guess I’m not the only one. I feel a lot better!!!!
Different is my middle name! I dabble in Adult Chick-lit and Horror along with YA fantasy and historical novels!! As a writer we are allowed be creative and always stay outside the box… it’s so much more fun that way!
Realising I had a burning desire to write YA paranormal romance came as a shock to me. Switching to MG action adventure was more predictable. I enjoy the second but adore the first.
Laura, if an idea grabs you I think you have to go with it and see what happens. I think you should keep experimenting and pushing the envelope. It may work, it may not, but you’d never know unless you tried.
Go with the story you need to tell.