The Pressure to Pivot: How I Found My True Genre

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood; edited with Prequel app.

I wrote my first book at twelve and almost became a published author. But my mom wasn't fond of me becoming one so soon, so I was forced to pivot to Wattpad instead. Yippee. However, the experience of almost being published was encouraging. So, I kept writing.

Back then, I blended crime/mystery and romance. The mystery was born from my love for the 1930s Nancy Drew books; The Secret of the Old Clock was my first "thick" book at age nine. (For better context: my mom and dad were academia at heart, despite their diverging paths in medicine and the military). I loved getting caught up in the thrill of whodunits. As for romance? I was a middle school girl with a crush of my own. It felt natural.

But as I grew, an unsuspecting "noise" followed me.

The Trap of the "Marketable"

Most of my developing years were spent dabbling. The influence of 2010s Britney Spears and my deep love for mystery led me to attempt a "femme fatale" espionage novel. (I swear it was PG, since I wasn't completely aware of what a femme fatale actually was). In high school, I redirected to YA Fiction and Fairy Fantasy because, like any girl at that age, I developed my own collection of similar reads. Sarah Dessen and Lauren Kate were my firsts; while most girls in the 2010s were reading Twilight and The Hunger Games, I consciously went the opposite direction.

By my undergrad years, I found myself flirting with New Adult, short stories, and Instagram poetry. My senses had matured, but my sound and style were still searching. The pressures of algorithms and what was "hot" had started sinking their teeth into my writing. The market wants "Saucy Romantasy" or trope-heavy gimmicks; Instagram is cruel to small accounts, and Substack can feel like a trap of Pinterest-inspired notes.

After testing the waters of self-publishing in late 2024, I put down the pen and walked away for several months. I was sick of writing.

The Turning Point

I was fully burnt out and decided to go radio silent. I attempted to get rid of my work by selling it—thankfully, that door never opened. I deleted my Instagram and took down my first Substack. I meant it when I said I was sick of writing.

But something else started happening to me. More like Someone.

In that silence, God's warmth, voice, and love finally had all my attention—even if that time was merely tear-soaked prayers and quietly working my 9-to-5. I was forced to look at the core of myself, including my poems. In them, I realized my true voice. My favorite pieces were haunting, gritty, and sophisticated, yet yearned for something holy.

My genre already existed: Southern Gothic and Mystery. I could only write about the fragile human heart and the shadows of our nature. Only this time, Light would pour in and shake up my worldbuilding.

Redemption & Drive

After all that searching, I got back to writing. These days, I’m happily working on a new series. It is taking a while, but every word typed and detail implanted will be worth it.

This can be the same for you. If you feel the pressure to change your voice to match the world’s, you’re forfeiting who you’re meant to be as a writer. Trust me, it’s not worth it.

Ask yourself:

• What has your heart internalized? What has it rejected?

• What are you willing to share, and what are you willing to keep just for your eyes and God’s?

• If you were given just one week to write your very last story, what would you tell? And to whom? Would you care if the market "understood" it?

When you step away from what is popular, you find yourself much quicker. As a Christian, your number one audience is the Lord. When you make Him the core of your art, you become the artist you were meant to be. You don't need a masterclass; you just need your heart aligned with your Creator. The rest makes sense... eventually.

Thank you for reading. I shared a questionnaire below for anyone who is still exploring or simply getting their feet wet. Until next post, my dear reader...

Reflection Questions for Finding Your Genre

• The "Last Story" Test: If this was the final story you would ever write, what message would you be compelled to leave behind?

• The "Honest Shelf" Question: Are you writing the stories you actually love to read, or the stories you think you’re supposed to write?

• The Emotional Core: What experience (grief, justice, redemption) do you constantly return to in your private thoughts?

• The "Audience of One": If likes and sales didn't exist, would you still be proud of this story? Does it reflect your conversation with God?

• The "Shadow" Element: What complex parts of human nature are you unafraid to explore?

• The Energy Drain vs. Gain: Which part of writing feels like "performing," and which part feels like you are finally breathing?