Being stuck in one genre of writing works for loads of writers. Then there’s the people like me; never satisfied, can’t decide, wanting to try multiple genres. Is that you? Do you want to try new topics, new ideas, new ways of expressing yourself?
I really believe writers can stifle their creativity by thinking its necessary to choose just one genre to write.
Fiction, non-fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, essays, journalism?
The other limiter might be form of publishing. I understand the pursuit of a traditional publisher. That was something I wanted too. The ironic thing is I never pursued a publisher, never submitted a proposal, never wrote a letter to be published. Instead, I was writing my little heart away and one day, I was contacted by a real live editor from John Wiley & Sons from New York. Of course, it seemed like a scam at first. But the reality was that the editor was looking for a writer on the topic I had published multiple articles on. She had read through them, found them exciting, followed my progress for a while, then contacted me to be in a leadership book. So writing prolifically paid off; it got me an actual publishing gig.
But then I switched up. I got bored writing in that field so I felt lost again.
The other publishing options would be ebooks, Kindle books, print on demand books. I’ve done all of these, finding them exciting and some topics better than others for each format. Then there’s the actual writing for the web idea. Creating online articles, autoresponder series, courses, programs. All of this is exciting.
What’s I’ve learned over the years is that stifling creativity is not good for a writer. In fact, as highly creative people, writers have a difficult time with being put into a box. So I had to learn to just write. That doesn’t mean I have to change topics, niches, focus, or anything that drastic. All I needed to do was produce the writing. When the muse hit, I’d use it.
I’d write spiritual ideas when it was time to Praise God through words; write business concepts when it was time to put the serious stuff into words; write the fiction when it was time to let the imagination run wild; write creative nonfiction when it was time to be expressive and powerful.
In the past couple of years, I’ve had a mentor who’s turned me on to producing words with my voice. There’s so many ways to become a “writer” by speaking your words first. It’s a fascinating way to get the ideas from the head to the paper. Now I have audio products to go with the written work.
That’s why I now believe that every writer should explore all genres. Be brave, explore, try all formats. Some of what you write you will want to share, some might be just for you and now one else to see. Don’t let writer’s block become your companion because you can’t write in a particular genre that day. When you do your writing practice, try a new way to put the words on the paper. Let the goal be to just write.
rgN / itlcaetiACrite r kI had really bought into the idea that you needed to find one niche to write it. It ne ecnn hle.