Genre, how did you know it was for you?

So, genre isn't important until you come to the marketing/selling point? And I write without concerning myself with genre too. I just finished a book (haven't polished yet) and I was confused as to which genre it would fit into because when I was done, I thought romance, hands down. Then I was told that it sounded more like fantasy. So, before I settle on exactly which one, I am going into a re-write with it, but got caught on another story scratching on my skull to get out. However, that one I know is a chic lit. So, I guess I would like to also ask if its normal or natural to be able to publish in differnet genres?

Literary, I suppose. I call it that, because it's just a pretentious way of saying "I have no frickin' clue what genre this is," and that pretty much describes my writing.

I'm another one who grew up around science fiction. I love the stuff, and I just started writing it one day 13 years ago. I still love the stuff today, so that's what I write.

Though, I sometimes try to mix other genres into my science fiction stories. That's what I love about the genre. You can mix in other genres and still make a good story.

My current WIP is borderline between sf and horror, maybe it's both. Is that a genre? I like reading fantasy, though.

I got pulled into this on account of science fiction. What I write isn't the popular perception of SF, but I guess it fits all the same. I don't have any taste for any other kind of genre-fiction, and I'd really prefer to write free of any boundaries like that because of what that popular perception of SF implies.

I guess you could say that I'm drawn to SF because it's the genre that contains a lot of the stuff I like to write about.

I've always been fascinated by people's stories. Every day stories, and unusual stories. I adore character-driven narratives. Thence I love writing about people whose very own characters lead them to trouble, to interactions with other characters which in their turn lead them to trouble, and so on. I never believed in fate, and the chain reactions, the cause and effect routine of human relationships shows how we are responsible for our lives, the lives of others.

As far as genre is concerned? I guess it's mainstream women's. Given that the three stories I've got lined up to work on next are again on women's issues, I think I can confidently state that's my genre.

*shrugs* I write whatever ideas I'm lucky enough to get. It's not my fault they all end up being science fiction and fantasy.

I write what I most love reading, which is primarily mystery and western for adults, and adventure tales for MG.

I believe it's important to know the genre you intend to write before you start writing. Writing first and trying to make it fit somewhere after it's finished means a bunch of novels that have no market.

Each genre has its own particular tropes, its own demand for storyline and character. Writing without thinking about these usually leads to a finished novel that isn't quite this, isn't quite that, and finding an agent or editor who can handle it is infinitely tougher.

Genre is a fact of life, if you want to sell a novel, and this is, I believe, a good thing.

I still don't know what my genre is. Mainstream? I have no clue what 'mainstream' actually means.

My books are:

* About the real world
* Set in current time
* Two of tree are about teenagers
* They tend to be about social issues

Some say it's YA, other say it's mainstream, I had one say I wrote literary - but I don't think I'm very literary.

*shrug*

I'll just write the books I want to write, and leave it to the publishers to sort out what shelf my books goes on.

No other genre could keep up with my crazy, brutal mind!

*pokes zombie thread with a stick, decides it's still safely occupied eating Maxinquaye's brains*

I write fantasy because it's what my first idea was. Writing those first novels I developed specific skills in areas like description and plotting which don't translate well into other genres. I've come to understand fantasy well, and suppose I'm comfortable here. Besides, there's no idea that can't be improved by adding some magic and monsters.

I do read fantasy, but I've probably read more sci-fi and horror. I don't like to write as dark as horror needs to be and I think I just prefer creating magic systems over trying to create systems of advanced science that make sense. I also feel like there's more 'unexplored territory' in fantasy than in sci-fi. I've been able to create fantasy worlds completely unlike anything currently out there (and I've checked, repeatedly, there's really nothing like it). I've never had a stroke of inspiration to do that in a SF context, maybe because science is more constraining than magic, or maybe because a few of my favorite SF authors are so creative I'm too intimidated to try.

I feel that having a more diverse reading background is a very good thing, however. I incorporate greater technology and a respect for science into my fantasy books from my SF reading background. I learned to write about fear and graphic horrifying scenes from horror masters, and to write about romance and relationships from the greats in the romance genre.

For example, the idea of 'sensory details' (mainly meaning details given through touch, scent, and taste) is a huge deal in romance novels and in the romance writing community. It's a technique rarely used well in the fantasy genre and I've never heard it discussed among fantasy writers. But because I've read a lot of romance novels and hung out with some romance writers, I understand how to add sensory details to enhance my fantasy books.

I guess that's my long-winded way of saying that, whatever you choose to write, you should read widely and try to talk with a lot of writers from other genres.

I grew up crazy over horror films. I'd watch Friday 13th marathons with utter glee while my friends covered their eyes. I loved Friday 13th series,Wolf,Beauty And The Beast,and V. I watched The Company Of Wolves a hundred times. Legend remains one of my all time favorite fantasy films. Blackula and Dracula were my heroes. I was one creepy kid back in the day!

When I would go book shopping with my mom,I'd head straight for the horror,sci-fi,and fantasy sections. I didn't care anything about romance. I didn't want to read about girl meets boy and they fall in love. My mother tried to steer me to"gentle" books but they bored me to tears. I wanted to read about evil vampires and demons. I was a blood,guts,and crazed aliens kind of girl. Then I discovered Stephen King and was beside myself. I read his books,Anne Rice,Clive Barker,and Dean Koontz. Octavia Butler blew my mind.

When I started writing,horror was all I focused on. I love it. I added sci-fi,YA,paranormal romance, and all kinds of fantasy. I'm dabbling in two historical novels. But sci-fi,horror,and fantasy are my top three genres and a direct result of a childhood spent watching/reading anything related to them. Horror is number one because I am nutty and I come up with very odd things. With horror,you can go to the limits! I will always write it and love it.

I read a little bit over everything, but was unsure what to write when I first became serious. I tried Sci-Fi because that was my favorite genre in high school when I started writing stories. But I could get past the "science" part, and they were pretty cheesy. I moved onto reading a lot of fantasy stories, but my characters kept falling in love. (At the time, there really was no paranormal romance). So I switched to romance. Then strange things would start to happen to them, preternatural creatures would emerge, someone used magic, they would see ghosts, etc.....you get the picture.

I was quite lost. I tried not to focus too much on genre and labels, and just wrote what my characters told me to write.

A few years ago I can across a paranormal romance, and the rest is history. I still try to write in other genres sometimes, but I usually stick to what I know and love (the most).

My first series sort of wrote itself. The characters drove down the path and I kept saying I don't write sci fi. But they kept driving and then it was I don't write Adult Scifi. The characters are what chose the path. To stay true to them the book became Adult Scifi.

My other series of books were the same way. I am currently writing in childrens, YA and Adult Scifi.

I write fiction because it's the genre I enjoy most, and it's where all of my ideas seem to center around.