Exploring different genres or age groups. Question for you!

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?

17 Responses to Exploring different genres or age groups. Question for you!

  1. kris August 2, 2010 at 11:57 am #

    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!

  2. Jennifer Shirk August 2, 2010 at 12:00 pm #

    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.

  3. patti August 2, 2010 at 12:16 pm #

    ABSOLUTELY! That’s the beauty of writing for the Audience of One!!!

    Blessings, dear writer friend.
    Bloggite.
    Deep thinker

    Patti

  4. anne gallagher August 2, 2010 at 12:23 pm #

    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.

  5. Marcia August 2, 2010 at 1:35 pm #

    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.

    • Laura August 2, 2010 at 1:58 pm #

      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… 🙂

  6. Paul August 2, 2010 at 2:05 pm #

    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.

  7. Lydia K August 2, 2010 at 2:17 pm #

    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!

  8. Laura Marcella August 2, 2010 at 3:12 pm #

    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!

  9. Karen Strong August 2, 2010 at 6:26 pm #

    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.

  10. Catherine A. Winn August 2, 2010 at 8:59 pm #

    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.

  11. Catherine A. Winn August 2, 2010 at 8:59 pm #

    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.

    • Laura August 2, 2010 at 9:44 pm #

      So, I guess I’m not the only one. I feel a lot better!!!!

  12. Jen August 3, 2010 at 1:15 am #

    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!

  13. Elaine August 3, 2010 at 11:33 am #

    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.

  14. Andrea Vlahakis August 3, 2010 at 12:10 pm #

    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.

  15. Robert Guthrie August 3, 2010 at 8:24 pm #

    Go with the story you need to tell.

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