What Is Genre Hopping?

Is it dangerous? Is it fun? Should you try it?

Conventional wisdom for writers tends to say: stick with a genre. From the business end of things, that translates into cultivating a “brand.” Readers prefer to know what you’ve got for sale. If sometimes it’s novels, sometimes poetry, sometimes biographies, that muddies the message. Who are you, and where can I find you in a bookstore? (being optimistic about brick-and-mortar here).

But what if you don’t want to stick with one genre? Or sub-genre, for that matter – i.e. cozy mystery novels vs. hard-boiled vs. thrillers. What if you want to write a historical novel, then some creative nonfiction, then a poetry collection, then maybe a fantasy series? Does that make you fickle, unfocused, a dilettante? Is this a personal problem?

I asked (and berated myself with) these questions a lot before I settled on an answer I can live with. For years I published scholarly articles – then a travel memoir – then a blog and guest posts for other bloggers – then invited articles for Publishers Weekly and The Huffington Post. I’ve now got completed manuscripts of a novel, a poetry collection, and a memoir I edited for a Vietnam veteran (the latter, forthcoming October 2021). Sound familiar? What’s up with that?

Possible Problems for Hoppers

Agent/Publisher Trouble: When you write a query letter to find an agent, they won’t assume your published memoir means you can pull off a novel. Or vice versa. And if they think you’re genre-fickle, they might worry about selling your future projects. However much agents love to get good books in print, they’re on commission – they want profitable clients. Once you build a following with an excellent sci-fi novel, selling a second one is that much easier. Switch paths, and your readers may not follow. That’s not good business. Publishers like to invest in a known quantity (if you’re self-publishing, this is less of an issue, but still can’t be ignored).

Craft: Every book you write makes you a better author. But will writing a novel help with your next project, if it happens to be a screenplay? I believe any writing helps improve all your writing, but planning/plotting (or pants-ing) one novel teaches you a lot about how to do the next novel. Switching genres might lead you perpetually up one steep learning curve after another. That’s a lot of work!

Floundering: Are you fish or fowl? Sports writer or essayist? For some writers, identity matters a lot. Not sticking with one genre can feel like a problem – “Who am I? Why can’t I make a commitment?” Maybe there’s something out of whack with your writing process and ability to focus. Maybe you’re stuck in “the grass is always greener” mode. Even the phrase I’m using, genre hopper, can sound sketchy (as in, bed-hopper). Who are you, really, if you can’t make up your mind? A serial cheater?

Awesome Advantages for Hoppers

Challenge: For some of us, the pleasure lies in answering this question: can I do it? You don’t lack focus – you like to switch focus. You write a novel and think, that was fun. Now, would a memoir be harder or easier? Poetry is nice and short – but what would it take to write poetry really well? Are you up to the challenge of pulling together a coherent collection?

Staying Fresh: This is different from taking on a challenge. Some people identify as writers – not screenwriters, or food critics, or novelist – because they love message more than genre. Rather than “what’s my next novel?” they ask, “what’s the next idea I want to explore or story I want to tell?” Maybe poetry is the best way to do it, maybe a play. If this is you, you’re not a cheater. You’re polyamorous.

Become a Better Reader: I’ve been teaching literature classes since the ’90s. I’m sure I’ve had some valuable things to say over the years. But I’ll never teach a novel the same way again now that I’ve written one. There’s nothing like playing the game to make you a better spectator. Even if you’re not thrilled with a book, you can always learn something from it if you read with a writer’s eye.

In upcoming posts, I’ll dig deeper into what I think different genres have to offer – to writers and to readers. I’ll also invite guest writers to speak about their own perspectives. Genre hopper? Genre faithful? Something in the middle? I haven’t tried every genre out there (yet), so I’m looking forward to learning a lot more from biographers, screenwriters, graphic novelists, and others.

Deciding that I don’t need to commit to one genre was very liberating. I stopped beating myself up for not “sticking with” something. If you’ve felt the temptation to stray beyond whatever genre you started with, maybe give yourself permission to do just that. There could be some costs (irate agents, frustrated readers, etc.) – but truly, it’s your call.

Check in soon for guest posts by authors Dorothy Ours, Erika Mailman, Faye Snowden, Christy Lenzi, and more! And a new genre-hopper topic from me on the 1st of every month.