Well this has given me a smidgen of hope. I too have a butterfly mind and I write in many genres, admittedly some far more successful than others. I’ve written 2 vastly different comics, short radio drama, full length radio drama, audio sitcom, short stories literary, comedy, fantasy, sci fi and more, book introductions, CNF, and those are just the ones that have been released into the wild! My ideas folder and hard drive is just as eclectic as yours sounds to be. Thanks for sharing this.
I've never described myself as a generalist, but I certainly fit the description and enjoy not being in a writing silo, although I can also see the joy and advantages in specialising. My experience of publishing books with half a dozen different publishers is that some understandably want very specific expert knowledge (Haynes) while others are more flexible (Frances Lincoln/Quarto). Having said that, I feel less imposter syndrome when I'm writing about certain subjects (bookish ones) than when I'm entering new territory (e.g. the latest one about the British weather). Not heard of the book so thanks for the recommendation, I'll hunt it down.
I often feel like I should have specialised in something, but honestly, my personality just really isn't a specialist's personality at all. I'm too easily distracted, and am interested in just too many things.
I totally hear you about impostor syndrome though – I often think about writing a non-fiction book, but my fear of making factual mistakes means it would probably turn into some sort of purgatory.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I was just thinking about how I have 3 distinct fiction voices, and I am totally unwilling to give up any of them. My stories dictate the way they should sound, and I serve them. They don't serve me. I've been published, but in lit mags only, and with only one of the three. I write fantasy, dark fantasy, and comedy-fantasy, but also essays and CNF.
I don't do the monoculture thing. I think that what we writers do is natural, and what agents and publishers do to us is unnatural. Finding comps is unnatural. Forcing a genre on the name of an author is unnatural. IDK, I try not to worry about it. I just write as much as I can.
Well this has given me a smidgen of hope. I too have a butterfly mind and I write in many genres, admittedly some far more successful than others. I’ve written 2 vastly different comics, short radio drama, full length radio drama, audio sitcom, short stories literary, comedy, fantasy, sci fi and more, book introductions, CNF, and those are just the ones that have been released into the wild! My ideas folder and hard drive is just as eclectic as yours sounds to be. Thanks for sharing this.
Sampling a wide variety of types of writing might make us better writers, but it doesn't make life easier!!
I've never described myself as a generalist, but I certainly fit the description and enjoy not being in a writing silo, although I can also see the joy and advantages in specialising. My experience of publishing books with half a dozen different publishers is that some understandably want very specific expert knowledge (Haynes) while others are more flexible (Frances Lincoln/Quarto). Having said that, I feel less imposter syndrome when I'm writing about certain subjects (bookish ones) than when I'm entering new territory (e.g. the latest one about the British weather). Not heard of the book so thanks for the recommendation, I'll hunt it down.
I often feel like I should have specialised in something, but honestly, my personality just really isn't a specialist's personality at all. I'm too easily distracted, and am interested in just too many things.
I totally hear you about impostor syndrome though – I often think about writing a non-fiction book, but my fear of making factual mistakes means it would probably turn into some sort of purgatory.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I was just thinking about how I have 3 distinct fiction voices, and I am totally unwilling to give up any of them. My stories dictate the way they should sound, and I serve them. They don't serve me. I've been published, but in lit mags only, and with only one of the three. I write fantasy, dark fantasy, and comedy-fantasy, but also essays and CNF.
I don't do the monoculture thing. I think that what we writers do is natural, and what agents and publishers do to us is unnatural. Finding comps is unnatural. Forcing a genre on the name of an author is unnatural. IDK, I try not to worry about it. I just write as much as I can.
Not worrying about it is the best way forward!!
I agree! My conviction is that it’s not an abnormality.