And the list goes on and on. Writing a book can come in all forms and genres. What you have to do is find the genre that fits you. Or maybe you're able to write multiple genres. I know a friend who writes historical, paranormal and young adult.
Each genre is unique in their own way and each genre requires different steps that get you to the end product - a completed manuscript.
If you write Historical, you have to do plenty of research. The way people acted, dressed and even bathed. You have to understand the hierarchy of social standings, from which maid did what to what the various titles people held mean. The thing is if you get one tiny bit wrong, a person who is a historical buff will pick you up on it so fast you won't know what hit you. Also there was a difference in the way they speak to how we speak nowadays. The trick is to blend it cleverly that it's not too formal and stilted that you lose a reader.
With paranormal you have to be creative with your world building and the creatures/beings that inhabit that world. I know it's something that I wouldn't be able to do, so I leave it for the people that can. The market is inundated with vampires, werewolves etc that the trick is to create something very new and different that stands you out from the rest.
Let's move to Young Adult. I'm like, you know, he was totally cool. There is a trick with YA too, you have to appeal to both the younger generation and the older generation, cause there's plenty of people who left the teenage years a while ago that enjoy reading these stories.
No matter what genre you choose it will fit you and your voice. Of course if you struggle then maybe you should look at an alternative. You aren't limited in your choice. Be bold!
Each genre is unique in their own way and each genre requires different steps that get you to the end product - a completed manuscript.
If you write Historical, you have to do plenty of research. The way people acted, dressed and even bathed. You have to understand the hierarchy of social standings, from which maid did what to what the various titles people held mean. The thing is if you get one tiny bit wrong, a person who is a historical buff will pick you up on it so fast you won't know what hit you. Also there was a difference in the way they speak to how we speak nowadays. The trick is to blend it cleverly that it's not too formal and stilted that you lose a reader.
With paranormal you have to be creative with your world building and the creatures/beings that inhabit that world. I know it's something that I wouldn't be able to do, so I leave it for the people that can. The market is inundated with vampires, werewolves etc that the trick is to create something very new and different that stands you out from the rest.
Let's move to Young Adult. I'm like, you know, he was totally cool. There is a trick with YA too, you have to appeal to both the younger generation and the older generation, cause there's plenty of people who left the teenage years a while ago that enjoy reading these stories.
No matter what genre you choose it will fit you and your voice. Of course if you struggle then maybe you should look at an alternative. You aren't limited in your choice. Be bold!
2 comments:
My main genre would be paranormal with a dash of fantasy thrown in. I love creating worlds, even here among the "normal" world.
I do have other genres, especially historical, but my true love would be paranormal.
Now, I just have to blend historical with paranormal!
Writing what you like to read is a good starting point and be prepared to branch out from there and respond to the market.
Like many consumer products sub-genres move in and out of popularity so as writers we need to be prepared to reinvent ourselves or to develop a multi-stranded career.
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