September has always carried the energy of new beginnings. The school year kicks off, routines reset, and many of us feel the creative itch to try something fresh. What better time to stretch your writing muscles than by diving into a genre you’ve never written before?
Whether you’re a fantasy writer dabbling in romance, a memoirist experimenting with horror, or a poet testing out sci-fi flash fiction, the act of stepping outside your comfort zone is one of the best ways to grow as a writer.
Why Try a New Genre?
- It sparks creativity. Shifting into an unfamiliar genre forces you to rethink pacing, tone, and voice.
- It builds flexibility. Writing in different forms makes you a stronger storyteller overall.
- It reconnects you with joy. Sometimes, the freshness of a new genre shakes you free from burnout.
- It sharpens your skills. What you learn from horror atmosphere, romantic tension, or mystery clues can be carried back into your main genre.
How to Start Small
- Try a short story, poem, or essay instead of a novel-length project.
- Use genre mash-ups to ease in (e.g., “romantic fantasy” if you already write fantasy).
- Read a short sample from the genre you’re testing to get inspired by its rhythms.
- Set a timer and allow yourself to play—no pressure to “get it right.”
September Challenge: Prompts by Genre
Pick a genre you’ve never tried and challenge yourself with one of these short prompts:
🌌 Science Fiction
- A traveler wakes up on a space station where time runs differently than on Earth.
- Humanity’s last library floats between stars, and you’re its keeper.
👻 Horror
- You find a door in your house that wasn’t there yesterday.
- The mirror shows your reflection smiling, even when you aren’t.
💘 Romance
- Two rivals are forced to share the last room at an inn during a storm.
- A letter arrives years late, carrying words that could change everything.
🕵️ Mystery/Thriller
- Every photograph in your phone shows a stranger standing behind you.
- A locked box arrives on your doorstep with your name carved inside the lid.
🧙 Fantasy
- The forest whispers a name you’ve never heard—yet it feels like your own.
- You wake to find a crown at your bedside and everyone bowing to you.
🎭 Historical Fiction
- A young servant overhears a secret that could alter the course of history.
- A coded diary from the past finds its way into your hands.
✒️ Poetry
- Write a poem where each line begins with “September is…”
- Use the five senses to capture the exact moment a season shifts.
- Try a haiku about something unexpected—like a spaceship, a ghost, or a forgotten diary.
📚 Nonfiction
- Write a personal essay about a time you stepped outside your comfort zone.
- Journal about a September memory that still lingers with you today.
- Try writing an article-style reflection on how creativity changes with the seasons.
Challenge Yourself This Month
Choose one genre you’ve never tried, pick a prompt, and write a page (or more!). Share your piece with a writing friend, in your journal, or on your blog.
By the end of September, you’ll not only have a new piece of writing but also a fresh perspective on storytelling. Who knows—you might just discover a genre that feels like home.
✨ Your Turn: Which genre feels the most intimidating? Which one excites you the most?
Happy Writing ^_^
Sara's Writing Sanctuary 