Pick a Genre, Any Genre… and Then Marry It Why Staying in Your Screenwriting Lane Might Actually Be a Power Move

By Thomas Fenton

Let’s get something out of the way: yes, versatility is great. You can write a rom-com on Monday, a gritty mob thriller on Wednesday, and a sci-fi epic by the weekend. Bravo.

You’re the human version of Final Draft .

But here’s the twist: if you really want to get noticed in Hollywood, you might want to pick a genre… and stick to it like your career depends on it. (Because it kind of does.)

1. Your Agent Will Thank You (Profusely)

Imagine your agent walking into a pitch meeting and being asked, “What kind of writer is she?”Now imagine them saying: “She writes horror, rom-coms, political thrillers, creature features, and buddy comedies… sometimes in the same script.”

Cue the confused blinking.

Now imagine them saying: “She writes elevated, mind-bending horror. Think Hereditary meets The Shining on edibles.”Boom. You’re instantly easier to pitch—and harder to forget.

2. Specializing Makes You a Ninja, Not a Novice

Writing in one genre is like doing pushups in the same haunted house every day. Eventually, you stop flinching at the creepy noises and start noticing the structural flaws in the foundation. You gain X-ray vision. You become dangerously good.

You’re not writing another ghost story—you’re reinventing how people scream on the page. That’s a skill, my friend. And the more you practice it, the more people will come to you for it.

3. You Build a Reputation Instead of a Confusion

Nobody hires “that one screenwriter who did that thing with the talking dog... or was it the alien love triangle?”They hire brands. And in Hollywood, your genre is your brand.

Want to be the “dark psychological horror” person? Great.

Want to be the “makes-you-cry-and-laugh-at-the-same-time rom-dramedy” person? Even better.But be a person. A specific one. Not a cinematic buffet.

4. Your Scripts Start Talking to Each Other

Stick to one genre long enough, and your scripts start to connect. They evolve. They form a portfolio with a vibe. When an exec reads one, then another, they see growth, voice, mastery. It's like watching your Pokémon evolve into something terrifying and profitable.

That’s when the real fun begins. Because now you’re not just a writer—you’re a go-to writer.

5. You Can Still Cheat Later

This isn’t a prison sentence. This is dating your genre long enough to fall in love—or at least cohabitate with benefits. Once you’ve made your name in horror or thriller or slapstick detective mysteries (please write more of those), you can branch out.

In fact, people will beg you to. “Hey, what would your voice sound like in a Western?”Translation: “Here’s a paycheck. Surprise us.”

Final Take:Don’t be the mystery meat in the writer’s room buffet. Be the spicy jalapeño cheddar. Be the go-to. The one whose scripts make people say, “Oh, hell yes—we know exactly who to call.”

Pick your genre. Own it. Hone it. Get scary good at it.Then take over the world (one very specific type of story at a time).