I have written works across several different genres now, including poetry, short stories, children's books, YA fantasy novels, YA fiction, adult (low-spice) romantic comedy, with more content always in the works. I've heard on several occasions that in order to be a successful writer, you need to pick a genre and stick to it. Otherwise, you aren't mastering your content areas. 

While I absolutely agree that it's important to master the genres you want to write in, I do not believe you have to limit yourself to just one. That's like telling someone they can only wear one style of clothing for the rest of their life. What I would recommend, however, is getting to know each genre you wish to write in well. 

I have seen more success with my writing than I would have if I would have stayed with one particular genre, especially in the last six months. Personally, I get a lot more satisfaction out of the writing process, because I allow myself to work on multiple different projects at once, and professionally, I get to connect with all kinds of different readers and reach wider audiences. 

So, I thought it would be fun this week to share with you some things that I think help me succeed in writing across multiple genres. Enjoy!

RESEARCH
It helps to know each genre you wish to write in well. That means reading those genres thoroughly, being aware of tropes, covers, and formatting that fits the genre.

Understand the structure of the genre. Understand how plot works, how to describe various settings, write dialogue, etc. The most difficult thing for me when I started writing children’s books was understanding how the layout works. You’ll want to learn these things!

THE RIGHT MINDSET
Writing a ghost scene in a fantasy book or a poem about the dark, drifting sea takes a very different mindset than writing a children’s book might.

I would recommend keeping a running log for your ideas. A notebook works great, if you can have it on you at all times, but I find that sending myself a quick text message or jotting my ideas down in the notes app on my phone works so much better for me these days.

I personally write in at least two genres at the same time (I would only recommend you do this if it fits your process and you're able to keep the two projects separate). For me, it helps to write a poetry compilation, a children’s book, and a novel all at the same time. That helps me a lot with writer’s block, because then it doesn’t matter if I’m not in exactly the right mood. I’ll always have something to work on. When I do work on multiple projects at the same time, I always make sure I put most of my focus on the piece that I hope to complete first.

INTENTIONALITY AND AWARENESS
​Be observant. Write about what you experience through your five senses, and then some. How do these observations make you feel? Everything you experience can be some kind of inspiration.

CONSISTENCY
​This goes for anything you want to get good at. Working consistently at it every day (or at least several times throughout the week) is the most effective way to gain skill in that area. It’s also the most effective way to meet your goals and finish your projects! I encourage everyone who wants to publish their writing to dedicate time to consistently work on it.

That's about it for this week! Reach out if you have any questions, or if you yourself have a writing project you're working on! 

I wanted to take the next couple of posts and expand some of the things I discussed with a couple of creative writing classes earlier this month. Today, I wanted to address everyone who may have a tendency to let their self-doubt get in the way of them pursuing their dreams and exploring their passions. ​In today's post, I'm going to ask some questions for reflection and include some prompts that may help when you start to feel that self doubt creeping in.

Have you ever felt afraid to try something because you didn't have a "talent" for it? Do you feel you need talent to write creatively (and succeed with your writing)?
I think this is a lot more common for us than we care to admit, and honestly, I think it gets worse the further into adulthood we get. I can't tell you how many times I've heard other adults snidely comment on someone's pursuit of their dreams because they're "not focusing on one career." 

I often have people come to me and tell me they want to write a book, or they've already started writing a book, but when I ask them how their book is coming along, they simply shrug and say, "I don't have the talent for it." Or "I'm worried I'm not going to succeed at it, so I just put it down." 

First, I totally get that fear, and I understand that way of thinking, because I've been there. You're petrified of trying something because you worry you won't be good at it, or you won't be successful, or other people might think you're trying too hard. But I'll tell you this: If you don't try, you will never accomplish your goal. If you don't write, you'll never finish the book, and you'll never know what you can do with it. 

If you do try, however, then that opens every possible door to you. If you keep writing, you may find that you can finish the book, and even publish it. Even if you don't have a knack for it right away, you can only get better: There's always room for improvement and growth.

If you want to write a book, but you don't know where to start, I would ask you....
​​What genres do you enjoy reading?
What genres do you enjoy writing? OR What genres are you interested in writing?

TIP
Take 2 minutes to write down any and every idea you have for each of the genres you would like to write in. 
Ready? 
Set? 
Write.

You don't need to have every idea be brilliant, fully formed plots. Sometimes I find it's helpful to give myself a time limit and write down every possible thought that pops into my brain during that time. You never know when a good idea will strike, and when you've finished this activity, you'll have lots of ideas to review and choose from. I find this can even be helpful if you're experiencing writer's block at a particular point in your already started project. Sometimes it's helpful just to get words out.
​

MY ADVICE
For anyone out there who wants to accomplish something big (writing a book, getting published, producing music or art), here are some things I would recommend: 

1. Set goals and keep checking in
​Often when I talk to people who want to pursue their passions, when I ask them what their goals are, they have no idea, or where to start. That's okay! However, I find it very helpful if you can practice visualizing the things you want and the steps you'll need to take to get there.
Brainstorming Activity:
Take the next three minutes and write down your goals. What would you like to do with your writing? Where do you want to go with it? What do you need to do to get there? If you're not sure what steps you'll need to take, maybe write down how you can find out. Who can you ask for help? Where can you find your answers?

2. Don't be afraid to reach out to an expert.
If you want to do something big like writing and publishing a book, getting in touch with an expert can be daunting for sure, but it can also make a huge impact on your process. If you're afraid to reach out to someone who has found success in the area you want to explore, just remember: The worst thing that can happen is they say no, but you never know who might say yes, or what could happen if they do agree to help you.

When I was seventeen and almost finished writing my first novel, I reached out to an author who lived in my area. She agreed to meet with me and walked me through her process for publishing. This was extremely helpful in getting me my start, and I still think about the support and information she provided me each time I go through the process of publishing a new book. Thank you, Author Holly Kelly!

3. Keep working at your craft.
Talent or no talent, the best thing you can do to develop your skill is keep working at it consistently. Don't give it up just because you don't feel like you're good at it yet!

4. WHAT IS THE #1 BEST ADVICE I COULD GIVE YOU?
FINISH THE PROJECT.

Get past any potential fear of publishing or not being good enough. Work past your perfectionism. 

If you don’t finish it, you’ll never know if you can finish it. Editing comes later (and please, please edit!). If you don’t finish it, you can’t publish it. But if you can finish it, you can do anything with it. 

That's all I've got for today. If you're in this boat where you want to write or publish a book (or complete any creative project) and you'd like a little support, reach out! I'm always happy to cheer on my fellow creatives. ​Have a wonderful week, and check back next weekend for more writing-related content!

 I recently got in touch with a colleague I worked with briefly when I first started teaching, and she graciously allowed me to come visit her two junior high creative writing classes. Earlier this week, I took the day off to visit those classes and talk with them about writing creatively across genres. 

I have a lot to share about this experience, and I'm excited to share the information I put together for those classes, but for today's post, I want to share with you some inspiration that spurred from this interaction with these young writers, which I was able to share with my writing group this week. 

As I talked with these students, I really wanted them to be thinking about why they write, as well as what they want to come of their writing, because it's never too early to start working toward that vision. As with any good discussion, this one got me thinking about my own process. I realized that asking yourself some questions about why​ you're working on something and what you want to do with it can be incredibly helpful in keeping yourself motivated (and help with writer's block).

So, here are the questions that came from my discussion with those awesome creative writing students: 

WHO AM I WRITING FOR?
My first answer to this question has always been that I write for myself, because I have such a passion for the stories I have to tell that whether or not I should write has never been a question for me. I write to express myself, to get my stories and ideas out in some physical form.

Over the last couple of years, that has started to shift. Now, while I do still write for myself, I also write for my son. With my children's books, I write and illustrate with him in mind, as all of the stories I have to tell in that form come from my experiences with him (most often an oral bedtime story before they ever reach the page). But it's more than that. Even for my novels and my poetry, I write with my kiddo in mind. I want to have something out in the world that he can be proud of, something that he can look at someday and say, "My mom did this. If she can do this, then I can, too." 

Another change that has come up in the last year is that I now write for my readers. Of course, as a writer, I've always had readers in mind while writing, but for the first several years, I didn't have many readers, and none that I ever had the pleasure of hearing from. Since I released Bound back in September and I started hosting book signing events, I've had the chance to meet and hear from many readers, both in person and online. 

Now, I write with those readers in mind, excited to share my stories with them. 

WHY AM I WRITING?
I write because I love to write. Writing allows me to express myself and create the stories I have to share with the world. I write because doing so makes me feel whole, gives me purpose and direction. Publishing my work makes me feel like I'm contributing to the world, leaving behind a legacy. And maybe one day, a reader like me will find my work and draw meaning and satisfaction from the thing I've created.

WHAT IS MY VISION? WHAT DO I SEE FOR MY WRITING DOWN THE ROAD?
My vision for my main project right now is to have a finished, polished trilogy for Bound. I would love to have this trilogy affect someone's life in the way that many writers' work has affected my life. I would love to have my books affect readers in a positive way, have an impact on someone's life. ​

My vision for my writing overall is to continue writing and putting books into the world. By the end of this year, I hope to have published my tenth book, and I want to continue adding to that collection. 

I hope to continue with the momentum I've gained over the last year, hosting more events and connecting with more wonderful readers and writers. Eventually, I would love for my writing to be my main focus for work. 

Thank you all for reading, and have a wonderful weekend!