People have the need to label and pigeonhole each other, and in the writing world that holds especially true. Even here at Blogit, we’re cast into our specific genres. That’s not a bad thing; it helps keep everyone organized so it’s easier to identify what we want to read. It’s how we find books in the bookstores and in the libraries and on Amazon.com.
But it puts a lot of pressure on the writer, what should we focus on and which slot to place ourselves. What’s the best genre to write in.
If you’re like me, you don’t like pigeonholes. You like the freedom to write whatever the hell you please as the mood strikes. That attitude doesn’t suit publishers and marketers, however, so sometimes we’re forced to make a decision.
When someone asked me the other day in which genre I write, I wasn’t sure what to tell them. My typical answer is a broad one. (Well, my typical answers for just about anything tend to be broad, but that’s another issue, entirely!)
I used to write literary short stories. I cut my teeth on literary reading, and literary mimicking, and after a good fifteen years or so, I had to admit I’m not good at literary. Maybe I haven’t lived enough. Maybe I’m not emotionally mature enough. Maybe I simply lack the talent to create something interesting and meaningful out of the dull and lackluster.
But about two years ago, a change within my writing took place. I became less concerned about making myself fit that literary mold, and started letting loose a little. Romantic elements crept into my work.
I was accused of sounding too Harelquinesque by members of my critique group. I thought that ironic, since I’d read precious few Harlequins in my time, and the last one was while studying for my Chaucer final in college twelve years ago. (You’d need some light reading, too, after finishing that class!)
I started writing a horror story at the same time I started getting comments that my other stories were sounding like romance novels. I didn’t knee-jerk and say, “Hmm, I think I’m going to write a horror story, today.” No, the idea came as a single image garnered by a line in a song I’d heard on the radio. I believe the song was about war, but my mind took it elsewhere. I sat down and, over a period of six months, pieced together my longest short story ever, which evolved all on its own without help from me. I simply channeled it.
I was offended by the Harlequin comments, but the more I thought about it, the less concerned I was that my stories contained romantic elements. If I were to be honest with myself I would have to admit that I like romance.
This was difficult to achieve, because I’d grown up rather snobby about what I read. Part of it was influence from other snobs. Part of it was coming into adulthood as a graduated English major. Part of it was simply that I had interests in other genres and couldn’t be bother with such fluff. When I considered what I had been reading when I’d scorned Romance novels the most vehemently, however, I was humbled. Who was I to condemn Romance as a genre, when I read such schrott as Fantasy, Horror and some SciFi thrown in for good measure???
So, after finally opening up to the possibilities, I decided I would read romance novels, and try to write one, too. And I’m glad I did. I’m having a ball reading all I can get my hands on, and learning about the craft.
But that still doesn’t mean I’ve managed to find a niche.
Because of its particular structure, I’m also using the romance genre to help me learn the craft of writing a novel. Even though I am currently settled in Romance, and have an idea for a second book within this genre, I also have ideas of several other books.
Those stories may or may not fit into the Romance genre, depending on how the wind blows when I start writing each one. Most of them, however, are historicals. And all contain romantic elements.
I don’t recommend pigeonholing yourself in any one genre, unless you have a great gift for one single thing and possess no interest exploring other coops. But the next time someone asks you, “What’s your genre,” be honest. Tell them what you’re working on now, and leave it at that. Hold true to what’s in your heart. Write whatever you feel like writing…
Without exception, without apology.
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