NaNoWriMo: Experimenting in Multiple Genres
How do those authors who publish in multiple genres do it? It’s challenging enough to craft a good story in one genre, especially for brand-new writers. The first time I pitched to an agent at a conference, she told me my premise sounded perfect for romance.
I was befuddled—I’d written a middle grade fantasy.
As a new writer, I couldn’t imagine tackling something so different, but I’ve changed my tune a few years into the writing journey. Authors ranging from Brandon Sanderson to Jacqueline Woodson publish in multiple genres. If publishing in a two or more genres is an idea that interests you, NaNoWriMo can be the perfect time to stretch your writing muscles and try it.
Writing in multiple genres may help you paint a vibrant picture this NaNoWriMo.
Why try multiple genres?
Although it can be challenging in the beginning to brand yourself in multiple genres, it’s also a strong way to buttress a writing career. All genres and subgenres ebb and flow in popularity. When your hard-boiled private eyes aren’t selling as well, your paranormal were-bears might hit the market’s sweet spot.
The energy of NaNoWriMo makes November a fun time to try something new. There are plenty of writing buddies to help cheer you on. For beginning writers, experimenting across genres can help you discover who you are as a storyteller. If you’re a more seasoned writer, the thrill of figuring out how to construct a story can sometimes feel long in the past. But building a different type of story can help you recapture that excitement. There’s research to do, like reading in the new genre, examining its expectations and tropes, and adjusting voice to target a different audience.
Even if you never publish in multiple genres, experimenting can be refreshing and energizing. Tired of the research involved in historical fiction? NaNoWriMo gives you the chance to set something in the contemporary world. Is the epic fantasy four years in the writing exhausting you? A shorter thriller set in the same world, with the same magic system, might be fun—and a month might be the perfect amount of time to draft it.
How to try a new genre
If writing in a totally new genre feels overwhelming, try altering your target audience. Writers of middle grade, YA, and adult manuscripts can all benefit from experimenting with stories for different age groups. Pay special attention to voice, vocabulary, and pacing when writing for a new audience. Don’t expect to be as proficient writing in this new way, but don’t let discouragement make you quit. That’s part of the magic of NaNoWriMo—no time to edit! Must draft!
Other authors branch out into multiple genres by trying something genre-adjacent to their usual stories. One of my friends was burnt out with women’s fiction, so she introduced a monster and ended up with a fantastic horror story with a romance subplot. I write historical fantasy. After writing a research-heavy alternate history set in the aftermath of World War I, I drew on that research to spend one November drafting a murder mystery set in the “real” 1920s. Taking a break from my typical work—and its accompanying research—was refreshing and fun. Other ideas can be found here.
Think about trying something new this November! You might discover that writing in multiple genres excites you, and you’ll definitely learn more about yourself as a writer and the expectations and challenges of a different audience or genre. Even if the experiment flops, it’s not a waste. Stephen King says aspiring authors need to write a million words to master their craft, and experimental words count—especially if they’re hard. Besides, you can always pivot on Day 10 of NaNoWriMo and turn that middle grade fantasy into a romance. I know an agent who might be interested.
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