Do you write only in one genre?

[rssllue]

I was just curious how many of you out there write in more than one genre. I have written across almost all genres and I guess I am trying to see if I am the oddball or not.

[Liot]

The sub genre I write in is always Romance but the main genre varies. I have two published novels. One is an historical drama/romance/supernatural and the other is a contemporary romance. My current novel project is an historical adventure/romance and my current screenplay project is a contemporary murder mystery/romance. I also write traditional British Pantos and audience participation murder mysteries on stage.

It may be an old adage but 'variety is the spice of life' is my mantra.

Fran Connor

[ShawHamp]

I have a published book that's a travelogue, so it's written like a diary. The stuff I'm working on now varies from epic fantasy to sci-fi (or cli-fi, really) and I've even been dabbling in children's picture books, so I think it's typical for writers to branch out, even if they're not well known for it. I agree with Fran that variety is the spice of life It helps with perspective too, I think.

[MaryMathis]

NO, not all the time. But if you talk about reading then I got stuck to same genre but I like to write on different genre.

[ALynnPowers]

I feel like I never write in the same genre, so no, you are not an oddball.
When I first started writing, I felt like I was only writing the same thing again and again (it was always dramatic stories about young people with common mental illnesses: depression, panic attack disorder, anxiety, etc, or young people dealing with the death of a loved one... because that's what I had experienced at the time) but then I forced myself to branch out and try other things that were "lighter" and I ended up finding out that it was also good for me emotionally.

[SharisseEM]

I generally write romance but I branch out to different subgenres for romance. It's what I enjoy so it's what I write. I do think of writing crime novels but that's for the future.

[ALynnPowers]

I might ha w lied before. I guess I do always write in YA genre. But within that area, I write across lots of subgenres. At least, I hope I do.

[Valrose]

I think that this is such a great question. I feel pressure to decide what genre to write in, but I guess I really don't have to! Thanks everyone!

[rssllue]

Very cool! Glad to know it helped in some way!

[moderntimes]

My series of novels are modern American private detective, 2 novels sold and published, the 3rd still negotiating. And I started the 4th. But I also write mainstream short stories, and some supernatural or horror shorts, too. I also write magazine articles and essays in all sorts of genres, religion, philosophy, history, etc.

[rajesh]

Yes,fiction

[zeldas_lullaby]

Well, when I first started writing, I wrote a short story that scandalized my entire family: a campy crime noir story named Unlawful. ("For unlawful carnal knowledge." BANG.) It garnered comments such as, "Please don't publish that anywhere," and, "That's the worst thing I've ever read in my whole life," and, ultimately, "Can you write something--anything!!--that's a bit more wholesome?" So I did--I wrote some middle grades books, plus a combined edition that's adult coming-of-age/visionary.

I guess that the point of this story is that you have to find your niche.

I do have another idea for a short story: The Therapist Who Knew Too Much. I ran the plot by my dad and he seemed horrified.

[moderntimes]

I was very lucky as a young kid. My folks encouraged my writing and my dad especially was delighted in my rough and tumble stories.

Like most young writers, I started with what's now termed "fanfic" (fan fiction) -- I wrote a short Tarzan story and then a John Carter of Mars story -- my dad was an early science fiction/fantasy fan and I had read all the original Tarzan books and other Burroughs books when I was quite young. These stories are thankfully long lost.

But "wholesome" was never in my vocabulary. In fact, when I wrote a short mystery story for high school English class, the teacher was "appalled" at my language and violence, and phoned my parents. Dad told her that I had his approval to write whatever I wanted, and to read whatever, too. And that the teacher should just grade me on the quality of my writing. She was not amused and gave me a "D" on the story, which my dad laughed at. It took me a while to see the humor in it.

So I've always written graphic fiction, still do. Some of my friends have said that my mind is in the gutter, with a few of my horror short stories. When I'm told that, I know that I'm on target! ha ha (My girlfriend still won't read some of my stuff.)

[Anacoana]

I've written tons of fanfiction, and though I'm mostly in fiction I do have a nonfiction book that I've been working on and haven't gotten to the proposal stage with. I stretch across multiple genres with my stories and short stories, but I do like to have at least some elements of fantasy or psychology in everything.

[hayisa]

Just like how I read a variety of genres, I'm also into writing different genres. Over the years, I've tried Teen Fiction, Fantasy, Fanfiction, Thriller, Mystery, and Comedy.