The other day, my wife called me a "modern day renaissance man." I'm pretty sure it wasn't because of my penchant for aeronautics and painting and sculpting. It was because I had finished writing my first picture book. Doesn't sound very earth shattering - I know.
When I discovered my hidden passion for writing stories, the one promise I made to myself was that I would never sellout. I wouldn't allow myself to chase the almighty buck, because once you start down that narrow road, ultimately what was once fueled by passion and talent gives way to laziness and routine.
I go where the story takes me. I'm a follower, a tag-along on the journey of words, and I certainly do not discriminate against any reader demographic. Not because I'm special or some sort of writing prodigy, but because I don't want to get in the old habit and routine of writing one way for one audience.
Renaissance men are categorized as polymaths: "a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas." Well, I'm taking it one step further - I'm a polyauthor, and I have the explosion of the self-publishing industry to thank for that. Where most, if not all, traditionally published authors are pigeonholed into writing a certain type of novel over and over again, I've been given the freedom and opportunity to explore many different genres of writing for a much broader audience to enjoy.
Talk about fulfilling. So far I've writing some tween fiction, adult fiction, some non-fiction, and most recently two picture books. I believe spreading yourself and your talents out as far as you can is the only logical thing to do. Why stifle yourself? Why settle? Call me crazy, but putting more things on your plate, though sometimes tiresome and difficult, can only make you better, right?
I challenge you to find your inner polymath. There's a little in all of us. Are you willing to dig yours up?