What Happens When Authors Change Genres?

This post is brought to you by the Insecure Writer's Support Group, an online group where writers can express doubts and concerns, and those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance.

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I'm not sure if this counts as an insecurity exactly, but it's a question that I'm sure many writers have asked themselves, and one that I've been pondering for some time.

So here's the bottom line: I've been writing fantasy for the past several years. I've published those fantasy novels. People have loved them. Now I'm moving away from fantasy to write some contemporary romance.

What's going to happen? Will my Creepy Hollow readers not really be interested in picking up my new novels and thus "forget" about me? Or (hopefully), will my Creepy Hollow readers cross over to try my contemp books? Will my new contemp readers cross over to try my fantasy books?

I have no idea! Honestly, I think it'll probably be a mixture of those options I've mentioned in the paragraph above. Some readers stick to one genre only. Others like to read across various genres.

And here's the other thing to think about ... Some writers will only write in different genres if they use a different pen name. I've decided not to do that. I'm Rachel Morgan and I can't imagine "being" anyone else! And I've seen writers who use the same pen name across genres go on to become fantastically successful in each of those genres (ahem ... Susan Kaye Quinn), so I know it can be done!

What do you think? Do you have experience of this?

 Have you published in multiple genres? Do you use different pen names?

A Change of Scenery Will Help Your Writing

This post is brought to you by the Insecure Writer's Support Group, an online group where writers can express doubts and concerns, and those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. The IWSG is celebrating it's two year anniversary today! Congratulations!

So ... change is as good as a holiday, right? That's what people say. Unfortunately, I'm not talking about taking a holiday here! I'm still talking about working. And what I want to suggest is that changing your writing space can help reinvigorate your passion and creativity for your writing.

This is where I normally write:

I love my study. It has so much SPACE, and it's filled with my favorite books, and there's a comfy armchair in the corner and warm sunlight streaming through the blinds.
BUT.
I've been writing in this study almost every day for many months now, and I'm starting to get tired of it. Everything is the SAME. Every day is the SAME. I'm starting to feel a little bit like the hermit my husband tells me I am!

On Monday I wasn't able to be at home and so, for the entire day, I had to work in an environment I wouldn't normally work in (my husband's parents' house!). I was worried I wouldn't be able to get much done, but I did more than double what I'd normally do in a day!

Yesterday I was home again, and the amount of work I was able to get done went doooown. So now I've learned. A change of scenery is what I need. And this is where I am today:

Tea on 23, a coffee shop built in an old Pietermaritzburg home.

Where do you normally write?

Where do you go when you need a change of scenery?