Should A New Author Write In Different Genres?

I am often asked tis question at conferences. Is it a good idea to have a wide variety of projects in my portfolio as a new author to show my depth of knowledge of just focus on one area? This is a great question and I am sure there are a lot of different answers to this. Of course, like everything in publishing, I cannot say one answer is better than another. With that said, here is my take on this.

I personally believe new authors need to focus their attention on one genre only before branching out into other areas. I have several reasons for this.

The first comes down to learning the craft of writing. Every genre out there is unique. Each genre uses different techniques and an author needs to really get that genre fully understood well before moving on to another area. Too often, I can read a story and see that an author has just a surface level knowledge of what he or she is writing. They may get the trope but that is about it. When you read it though, you get a sense that "something is missing". It is kind of like eating a dish where someone has followed the recipe but just doesn't fully understand the ethnicity behind the dish. Sure it might taste like Tikka Masala (sort of) and look like Tikka Masala, but it is missing that special something that the grandmother who has cooked it all her life brings to the table. 

The second reason comes to the submission process. Let's say you submit your project to an editor and they like your style of writing but the project just is not right for them. So they ask what else do you have to offer. Now you are stuck. You submitted a thriller and your other story is a YA? Is that going to work? No. I know of one publisher who loves to know that your story has a series potential? Writing all over the place is not going to help.

The third reason is developing your brand and keeping your readership. Even authors who do write in different genres know that their readers do not cross genres. If they read romance in one genre, they do not jump over and read the paranormal stories under the other name. New authors believe that they will follow, but they will not. And you cannot try to please them all. 

There is certainly nothing wrong with writing in other areas but make sure you are solid in one before going to another genre. I truly do believe, you will be much happier.