Many writers find themselves drawn to multiple genres and writing fields. The allure of exploring diverse narratives, characters and styles – whether in memoir, journalism, poetry or commercial writing – can be both exciting and daunting. But is it possible to succeed as a writer across various genres and disciplines? Absolutely.
The Power of Versatility
Being a versatile writer means more than just dabbling in different genres; it involves developing a diverse skill set that allows you to adapt and thrive in various writing environments. This adaptability is crucial in today’s dynamic writing landscape.
1. Expanding your reach
Writing across genres opens up new audiences. For instance, an author known for fantasy novels might find success in the romance genre, attracting readers who appreciate their storytelling style. This cross-pollination can lead to a broader readership and increased visibility.
Similarly, a writer who moves between creative and commercial fields discovers unexpected synergies. The narrative skills honed in fiction writing can transform dry press releases into compelling stories. The precision required in journalism sharpens the clarity of memoir writing. Each field feeds and strengthens the others.
2. Enhancing your skills
Each genre has its own conventions and challenges. By experimenting with different genres, writers can hone their craft, learning to master various narrative techniques, pacing and character development. This continuous learning process enriches a writer’s overall skill set.
Moving between writing fields offers similar benefits. A poet learns economy of language that enriches their prose. A copywriter develops persuasive techniques that make their non-fiction more engaging. A journalist’s research skills deepen the authenticity of their fiction. These cross-disciplinary skills create writers who are more adaptable, more employable, and ultimately more creative. Discover the different fields of writing here.
3. Building a resilient career
The publishing industry is ever-changing. Writers who can adapt to different genres are better equipped to navigate these changes, ensuring a more sustainable and resilient writing career.
Financial resilience matters too. While working on a long-term memoir project, a versatile writer can sustain their income through copywriting assignments or journalism commissions. When the fiction market contracts, they can pivot to content creation or editing work. This flexibility provides both creative satisfaction and economic stability.
Writers who cross professional fields
Lorraine Forrest-Turner, our web writing tutor, exemplifies the power of crossing writing fields. She seamlessly moves between writing non-fiction articles, fiction, copywriting and press releases. Her career demonstrates how skills transfer across disciplines: the emotional honesty required in playwriting brings authenticity to her commercial copy, while the strategic thinking of press release writing helps structure her narrative non-fiction. Lorraine’s diverse portfolio has made her not just a more versatile writer, but a more sought-after professional who can meet varied client needs while pursuing her creative projects.
Arja Salafranca, our tutor for the Introduction to Poetry Course, combines poetry with journalism and editing – fields that might seem contradictory at first glance. What actually happens is that the compressed intensity of poetry informs her journalistic voice, making her articles more vivid and memorable. Meanwhile, her journalistic training in fact-checking and clarity strengthens her editorial work and keeps her poetry grounded in concrete detail. Her editing work, in turn, has sharpened her critical eye, improving both her poetry and journalism. Arja’s career shows how moving between creative and analytical modes can create a writer with unusual depth and range.
These examples reveal a crucial insight: versatility isn’t about being scattered or unfocused. It’s about recognising that different writing fields develop different muscles, and exercising all of them makes you a stronger writer overall.
Practical strategies for switching between writing fields
From Fiction to Non-Fiction (and Vice Versa)
Fiction writers moving into memoir or non-fiction often struggle with the constraint of truth – you can’t simply invent a better ending. However, fiction’s narrative techniques translate beautifully: scene-setting, character development, narrative arc and emotional pacing all enhance non-fiction. Start by writing personal essays that use fictional techniques like dialogue and scene construction before attempting a full memoir.
Conversely, non-fiction writers approaching fiction sometimes create wooden characters or over-explain everything. The solution? Remember that readers don’t need every detail. Apply your research skills to character development, but trust the story to unfold rather than explaining it.
From Creative Writing to Commercial Writing
Many poets and novelists resist commercial writing, fearing it will compromise their artistic voice. In reality, the discipline of copywriting – conveying maximum impact in minimum words – can sharpen creative writing immensely. Start with projects aligned with your values: arts organisations, non-profits or businesses you genuinely admire. This maintains your integrity while building commercial skills.
The key transition is understanding your audience and purpose. Creative writing often explores ambiguity; commercial writing provides clarity. Both require craft; they simply serve different masters.
From Journalism to Creative Writing
Journalists bring invaluable skills to creative writing: research ability, deadline discipline and clear prose. However, they sometimes struggle to unleash their imagination after years of serving facts. The bridge between these fields is creative non-fiction or literary journalism, where factual accuracy meets narrative artistry.
Start by choosing true stories that fascinate you, then practice telling them with the narrative techniques of fiction: sensory detail, dramatic structure, character interiority. Gradually, you’ll develop confidence in your storytelling voice.
From Poetry to Prose (and Back Again)
Poets approaching prose sometimes write sentences that are beautiful but static, full of imagery but lacking momentum. The solution is to think of prose rhythm differently: not as compressed intensity but as sustained music. Your poetic ear for language is an asset; supplement it with attention to pacing and narrative drive.
Prose writers exploring poetry often produce work that’s too explanatory or narrative. Remember that poems create experience rather than describe it. Focus on imagery, compression and the white space around words. Your prose experience helps you tell complete stories; now learn to suggest them instead.
Tips for writers looking to cross genres and fields
1. Start small: Begin by writing short stories or novellas in a new genre before committing to a full-length novel. This allows you to explore the genre without overwhelming yourself. For commercial fields, take on small projects – a single blog post, one press release, a short copywriting assignment – before pursuing larger contracts.
2. Read widely: Immerse yourself in the genre or field you wish to explore. Understanding its conventions and nuances will help you write more authentically. Study both the content and the business models. How do successful practitioners structure their careers? What do they charge? Where do they find work?
3. Take courses: Enrol in writing courses that focus on the genre or field you’re interested in. For example, The Writers’ College offers a Writing Articles for Websites and Blogs Course that can help bridge creative and commercial writing. Anyone who is considering writing a non-fiction book or a memoir would do themselves a big favour by studying the Basics of Creative Writing Course. Structured learning accelerates your progress and connects you with communities of practice.
4. Find your transfer points: Identify which of your existing skills translate to the new field. A memoirist’s vulnerability can make copywriting more relatable. A science fiction writer’s world-building can enhance business storytelling. A journalist’s interviewing skills can deepen fictional characters. Recognising these connections builds confidence and speeds your learning curve.
5. Create separate professional identities (when needed): Some writers use different pseudonyms and separate portfolios for different fields. A literary novelist might use their full name for fiction but a simplified version for commercial work. It is very common for authors who straddle different genres of fiction to use a different name for each. This isn’t deception; it’s strategic branding that helps different audiences find the work meant for them.
Two examples of famous writers who use various pseudonyms for their different genres are:
J.K. Rowling
J.K. Rowling herself is a pen name (her real name is Joanne Rowling), adopted because her publisher worried young boys wouldn’t read books by a female author. She later created another pseudonym, Robert Galbraith, to publish adult crime fiction including the Cormoran Strike detective series.
Stephen King
Stephen King famously wrote under the pen name Richard Bachman to determine whether his success was purely due to his name recognition. He published several novels including Rage and The Running Man under this pseudonym.
6. Build a portfolio gradually: Don’t wait until you’re an ‘expert’ in a new field to show your work. Document your learning journey. Share experiments. Be transparent about expanding your range. Authenticity attracts opportunities, and versatility itself becomes part of your brand.
7. Network across disciplines: Attend events and join communities outside your primary field. Poetry readings can lead to editing work. Copywriting conferences might introduce you to publishers. Cross-pollination happens at the boundaries between fields.
8. Maintain your core practice: While exploring new fields, keep your primary craft alive. The poet experimenting with copywriting should still write poems. The novelist trying journalism should still work on fiction. Your core practice is your creative home; other fields are enriching journeys you take from that stable base.
The mindset of the versatile writer
Perhaps the most important quality for crossing genres and fields is intellectual curiosity combined with humility. You must be curious enough to venture into unfamiliar territory, yet humble enough to be a beginner again. This mindset allows you to grow without becoming paralysed by imposter syndrome.
Versatility also requires rejecting the myth of the ‘pure artist’ who works in only one form. This romantic notion serves no one. The greatest writers throughout history have crossed boundaries: Shakespeare wrote poetry and plays; Dickens published journalism and fiction; Maya Angelou created poetry, memoir and essays. Your versatility places you in excellent company.
The future belongs to versatile writers
As the publishing landscape continues to evolve, writers who can move fluidly between genres and fields will thrive. They’ll have multiple income streams, diverse audiences and the creative satisfaction of exercising different aspects of their craft.
The question isn’t whether you can succeed across multiple genres and writing fields. The question is: what’s stopping you from trying? The writing world doesn’t need you to be just one thing. It needs you to be everything you can be.
