Interview with Author Judy Christie: Writing Across Genres

Sometimes writers have a hard time sticking to one genre. I’d thought I see what Judy Christie had to say about the topic.

DJS: You’ve written in a variety of genres, the YA series Wreath, the small-town series  Gone to Green, the Trumpet & Vine series, as well as nonfiction. Your new book, Before and After: The Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, was released last week on Oct 22. You co-authored this book with Lisa Wingate to tell the personal stories related to her bestseller, Before We Were Yours. You also are a journalist! What has been the greatest challenge about writing for different markets?

JC: Different genres mean recalibrating for different readers—and I have to make sure every genre aligns with who I am as a person and fits my writing brand. I try to keep readers in mind at all times, whether I’m writing a magazine profile or a novel. Hint: It’s easier to stick to one genre.

DJS: I know we aren’t supposed to play favorites with our book babies, but which project seemed more enjoyable or easier than others? What do you think made it so?

JC: Without a doubt, the new book, Before and After, is the most meaningful project I’ve undertaken; it was both hard to write and enjoyable. What a unique publishing experience—for a novel to inspire a true sequel. Being entrusted with these stories from such kind and loving people made the writing process extra intense. When I sat down to write, I felt like I was in the state of flow writers hear so much about. Plus, I had the pleasure of co-authoring it with the phenomenal Lisa Wingate, which was like playing with a friend while taking a master course in writing.

DJS: I’ve heard that a novelist should stay in one genre, but many of us are drawn to different stories and can’t help drifting into new territory. What has been the most difficult or challenging thing about writing for multiple genres and how do you think a writer can temper those disadvantages?

JC: I would definitely say: Don’t do as I do, do as I say. *smile* If possible, choose one genre and stick with it. Own it. Become the best at that genre so readers look forward to your next release and know what to expect from your work. An agent once told me that when an author changes genres, the reader feels like she went to her favorite Chinese restaurant and was served an Italian meal. I did not start out to write in different genres, but as I was building a writing career, I took opportunities that arose or wrote projects I was deeply interested in. The hardest thing is building a broad readership when you have a YA audience one time, a self-help audience another, Southern fiction the next. The way to temper that is to be true to who you are in everything you write so that your subjects and themes weave together in some way. 

DJS: What’s the best thing about writing in multiple genres and how can a writer make use of those advantages? 

JC: Exploring topics and themes from different perspectives and learning all along the way. Playing with words in totally different ways…. My first book, Hurry Less Worry Less, was about slowing down and enjoying life more, a topic that was so important to me that I had to write about it. But I wanted to write a novel about a big-city journalist who took over a tiny Southern paper. I had so much fun with the Green series. I’ve written a book column for a newspaper for about six years, and that has kept me plugged into publishing in a different way and also keeps deadline skills in good form. Nonfiction worker lets you meet so many good people doing good things. I choose projects that matter to me.

DJS: I’ve often noted a thread of encouragement in your writing. What encourages you to keep writing? 

JC: That is such a kind thing for you to say because that is my goal in whatever I write. I love telling stories, and that led me into journalism and has stayed with me all these years. Putting words together is a pleasure to me—whether in my journals, which I’ve kept since I was 11, or in a novel that I’m brainstorming. And it is my hope to encourage, entertain and maybe even enlighten.

Thank you, Judy!

Readers, if you’d like to read an interview I had with Judy about Before and After, visit my blog here.

Author Judy Christie has had 18 books published, including three Southern small-town novel series and is an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor. Sign up for her e-newsletter and a free guide to telling family stories at www.judychristie.com. Follow her on Facebook @judychristieauthor.

Donna Jo Stone writes YA contemporary novels about tough issues but always ends the stories with a note of hope. She blogs at donnajostone.com.