The Pros and Cons of Writing in Multiple Genres

Genres categorise stories and are quite important as they help readers easily identify what they will experience when they read. Writing in multiple genres can be a good way for writers to explore their creativity but it is not without its own challenges. Let's talk about the advantages and disadvantages of writing in multiple genres.

PROS

Versatility: Writing in different genres gives you a chance to mix things up, explore sorts of stories and methods of telling them, and cater to a broader audience base.

Improve Your Writing and Boost Creativity: Writing in just one genre could have you running out of ideas or even result in repetition. Every book genre has different conventions and expectations. Writing to these new parameters stretches your creative muscles. It keeps your writing fresh and exciting.

Audience Reach: Different genres attract different readers. By writing in multiple genres, you can appeal to a wider audience and increase your fan base. 

More Market opportunities: Writing in different genres increases your chances with publishers and affords you more opportunities for collaboration, which in turn opens up multiple avenues for revenue generation.

Freedom of expression: It's fulfilling to be able to write about anything without the restraint of genre. If you are inspired to write a new genre, you can always just do it, since you're really inspired to write it, it could end up being your best writing yet.

CONS

Confusion: when you write different genres, you risk confusing your audience. They might not know what to expect from you, and this could make building a loyal audience difficult.

Could Affect Quality: it's hard enough to be a master of one genre and even harder when you're juggling multiple genres. You might find excelling in every genre you try difficult, which can affect the quality of your writing.

Burnout:  Constantly switching between genres can drain you both mentally and emotionally. When juggling multiple projects at once, you may struggle to maintain momentum and focus leading to decreased productivity and satisfaction.

Marketability:

Should you want to go through the route of traditional publishing, publishers might expect you to stick to one genre, as it's easier to market and develop a strong author brand. If you spread yourself too thin across genres it might be a challenge to be established as an expert in any one genre, potentially hurting your marketability and earning potential.

While it’s way easier to stick to what you know best, branching out and writing in multiple genres could be very beneficial. You can always self-publish under multiple reading categories, but the question is – should you?