Although I’ve had over 100 books published, I was a “late bloomer.” I didn’t have my first book published until 1993, well into my writing-and-editing career. The contract for that book, a book of children’s activities, written for parents, included the provision for a more-than-decent advance (a rarity in 2016 but more easily attained in 1992, when I made the sale).Inspired by the advance and by the fact that the book had been accepted by one of the first publishers I sent it to, a New York biggie no less, I got to work writing another book—another book of children’s activities, written for parents.
But I didn’t want to be a one-trick pony, nor did I even desire to spend the rest of my book-writing career writing about nothing but children’s activities. Moreover, I saw it as career-limiting in another way: How many books of children’s activities could I write before the market became glutted—or before I ran out of ideas? So I switched gears. I wrote about family customs. I wrote about old-fashioned games. And, at the request of an editor, I wrote a book for pregnant moms to read to their kids who were about to get a younger sibling. That, in turn, led to a book about kids whose families were about to move, and a book explaining death to kids.
Nineteen nonfiction books for second- and third-graders followed before I switched gears again and wrote three novels for women. Those were followed by more nonfiction for adults, and along the way I wrote a couple more activity books. Then came some fiction for kids, and then more nonfiction for adults. I kept switching off: fiction à nonfiction à adults à kids. And my nonfiction was on quite an assortment of topics, even including over half a dozen cookbooks.
Had I stuck to one genre, one topic, one age group, I would not today have over 100 published books to my credit. But there is a downside.
If she or he writes well, a writer develops a following. But if Jane Doe writes mysteries, her readers are not likely to buy a book of home decorating ideas just because Jane Doe wrote it. They mostly aren’t interested in reading about fixing up their homes. In fact, they may not read nonfiction at all. They are mystery readers…period. If John Smith writes nonfiction examining historical events and has a following, his readers are not likely to buy his next book if, for a change of pace, he writes a sci-fi novel or a thriller.
So what happens to a writer like me—a “Jill of all trades and mistress of none”? We don’t have the following a dedicated mystery writer, do-it-yourself writer, or motivational writer has.
Nor does the media seek us out as “experts” very often. It does happen occasionally. Shortly after I wrote a series of six short books for young kids on abduction prevention, a deadly kidnapping took place on the West Coast. A San Francisco TV station asked me to appear on their six o’clock news via video up-link as an abduction prevention expert, interviewed in front of a “green screen” by a news anchor I pretended to be facing but who was really only a voice emanating from an earbud in my left ear.
That doesn’t happen often, though. It’s tough for a writer in my position to claim “expert” status on any subject.
So what are the advantages to writing on such an assortment of topics and in such an assortment of genres?
Well, for one thing, as I said earlier, I’d never have written over 100 books if I’d stuck to one genre, with the possible exception of mysteries or romances.
And for another, those over-100 books are a very valid credential. Consider that besides writing books I do other writing as well. I write business materials, web copy, and just about anything else except grant proposals and super-technical stuff that is beyond my sphere of knowledge, and I also ghostwrite books for others. My having had that many books published tells potential clients that, yes, this woman can write, and write well.
There are damn few writers who can make a living on book-writing alone. Most either have a side hustle, or their book-writing is their side gig in addition to a “dayjob.” Me? I write and edit for others. And my published books are my “references.”
So do I regret not writing on one subject and amassing a following and gaining “expert” status? No! Resoundingly, no! I still don’t want to be a one-trick pony. I still don’t want to write only motivational’s or only self-help or only children’s picture books or only cookbooks. Or only anything. It does have its drawbacks, yes, but I’m happy with my life.
I would say maybe I should write a book about that—about being happy in life—but, never mind, I already wrote that one, too.