Comments on: Writing in Multiple Genres or for Multiple Audiences

By: Karen Collum

Karen Collum — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:04:47 +0000

Mary, thanks so much for addressing this issue as it’s certainly something pertinent to me. I love writing PB and have an absolute passion for them, but I also thoroughly enjoy writing MG or YA. As an author I find my most comfortable style is PB but I love the challenge and freshness that writing MG or YA brings, which then in turn has a positive impact on my PB writing. (And hello to Peter just above me. Fancy seeing you here Another SCBWI QLD member here…)

By: Peter Taylor

Peter Taylor — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:54:49 +0000

Your post and comment to Van are most interesting and refreshing. Here in Australia I have an agent who I am delighted to work with to plan my next non-fiction ‘how to’ crafty books for adults and children and to work with me on my YA - but she has no contacts for picture books or junior fiction.
I’ve just paid my registration fees for SCBWI Bologna. I see Laura will be there. You too?
With many thanks for all that you provide here.
Best wishes
Peter Taylor
Coordinator SCBWI Queensland

By: Heather Z.

Heather Z. — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:16:46 +0000

I love this. This is something I have thought a lot about myself. And I really appreciate that you can take specifically and kid lit’s stance on it. I can’t tell you how much I am loving this blog of yours. Just found it, so happy I did.

By: Mary

Mary — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:41:35 +0000

Van — Good question. Some agents are generalists and dabble in multiple genres and markets. Other agents are specialists. I only rep children’s books, from picturebooks to young adult. When you’re querying agents, maybe query those who rep all the stuff you want to write. AgentQuery.com has a great Advanced Search function that lets you check off all your genres and return only those agents who rep all of your interests. If you find someone who only reps some of what you want to write, talk to them. Most agents, as long as you keep them appraised of everything, are okay with their clients having another agent for markets they don’t sell to. Plenty of writers have, for example, an adult agent and a children’s agent.

By: Van Pornaras

Van Pornaras — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:17:46 +0000

You have touched upon an issue that I have pondered for quite some time. I thank you for bringing light to it. I write in several different genres and find it to be quite cathartic. Especially after being totally wrapped up in an adult suspense novel, and being consumed in the evil antagonist’s character, I need to ‘cleanse’ my soul with a lighter genre, when it is completed. From comedy screenplays, to picture books, fantasy to suspense, I find that each story is a facet of creativity that needs to shine. My question, are there agents out there that can handle a client that has amassed such a collection?

By: YA Sleuth

YA Sleuth — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:43:45 +0000

Early Links…

Friday Links come early, as I’m vowing to get crackin’ on plotting a new novel. There isn’t much to report in the YA department—aside from the myriad of author interviews and chats in light of YALSA’s……

By: Mary Train

Mary Train — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:52:47 +0000

As a picture book author who has felt the pressure to expand into MG and YA based on market trends, I am thankful to read that, as an agent, you are more focused on working from a place of authenticity and developing a career path for your authors. Thanks for the great thoughts! Time to digest:)

By: E.A. West

E.A. West — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:24:53 +0000

Thanks for the information! I’m a writer who writes in a variety of areas. It’s a relief to know there are agents willing to work with authors who write in more than one genre.

By: Michelle Munger

Michelle Munger — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:24:35 +0000

I’m glad you like to see an author who likes to diversify. Much like a stock market portfolio, you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket. I like to dabble in a little of this, a little of that, I love picture books because it gives me the opportunity to showcase my illustrations, but I also love fantasy and mystery and that’s hard to do in picturebook form. You have to span out into MG or YA.

By: Samantha Clark

Samantha Clark — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:55:18 +0000

Great question and answer. My first and second novels are middle grade, and I have a bunch of ideas that are MG, but one of my down the road ideas is definitely YA and another is leaning toward that age group. Which to write next is always a question. I’ve been going toward whichever is speaking to me the most, but looking at it from a career consideration is important.

Thanks for the info.