GENRE FLUIDITY

It’s easy to get a prestigious label like “novelist” or “poet” stuck in your head. But remember, there are many kinds of books on the market and most successful authors cross genres. If you’re hitting roadblocks selling your manuscript, staying stubbornly wed to an unrealistic fantasy can lead to frustration, rejection, and failure. Wouldn’t you rather be open-minded and published?

WHEN RETHINKING YOUR CATEGORY CAN BE REWORDING

While stressing over voice, tense, and narrative structure, few aspiring authors realize that their most important choice is classification. It’s not just publishers who decide your audience and section of the bookstore. It’s your job to figure this out—and it’s not as simple as you think. As a writing teacher, I’ve seen many students heartbroken when their first attempt at an adult literary novel didn’t sell. Yet by switching to middle grade, young adult, romance, or another kind of popular fiction (like crime, fantasy, Western, inspirational, mystery, horror, or sci-fi) they made a splash that led to a series, bestsellers, and ongoing careers.

For a rough draft, it might be best to follow your original vision. But if that doesn’t work, don’t give up. Consider taking a class, joining