6 tips for writers who want to try something new

As writers, we always want to create something new. Often that something new will be in genres and styles with which we are already familiar, but what about those times when we want to try something completely different? Starting something that’s entirely different to what we have done before can be daunting, so with this in mind, here are some tips for writers who are interested in trying something new.

Read. As much as you can. It sounds obvious, but if you want to write in a new genre, it helps to know what that genre is like. It’s useful to know the things that other writers are writing about so you can work out where your own work might fit – and so you can see what ground has already been covered.
Find out who the big players are. A bit of research never goes amiss. Of course, you shouldn’t let yourself be put off by or, conversely, shaped too much by the authors currently making an impact in your chosen genre, but it’s still useful to know who the most successful writers are and what they have written.
Research the market – and marketing. How saturated is the market for your chosen genre? Do you fit into a niche within it or does your work fall into the mainstream? How will that affect your marketing?
Network with readers. This is something you most likely will already have done with your current work, but you can’t assume that your current readers will be the same people who read your new genre/style. The groundwork still needs to be laid.
Look at links to your previous work. Often, no matter how different your new work may seem to what has come before, it will still have links to your previous projects. For instance, you might be examining similar thematic elements in a new way. Looking for links can help you to chart your growth as a writer and see how it builds on what you have already done, even though it might seem entirely new and scary to begin with.
Write, write write. You can do as much research and read as many books as you like – and you should do both – but if you want to write in a new genre, you need to practice doing just that. Get some words on the page and give it a go.