Hi. This site looks lovely, will have to explore and read more to catch up. I love reading, but writing more. Sometimes it gets annoying for others, I suspect. I actually started my adult life as an accountant, but got a lit minor in school, and always loved it. Started writing (for real, not just jotting down notes and ideas) during covid times. I don't like genres, and have been turned off by how 'locked in' the writing communities are about genres. I know it helps with marketing, and identities and blah blah. With that said, I have great respect (and love) for most creative writers, even the sloppy ones like myself. There's something special about spending time on writing with no purpose other than to create and reflect. By the way, I'm an amateur internet user. A millennial, but always overwhelmed by internet stuff, like forums. My name is jamiebonsai bc jamie murray is my pseudonym and Raspberry Bonsai is a first novel I wrote. Raspberry plants are prickly and would be difficult to bonsai, also it's fun to say. That's it for now Thanks for the opportunity
Genres are there for a reason. Just like payables and recievables in accounting. They have developed over a long period of time for a reason. Part of that reason is reader expectations. Someone that likes action or war stories is not going to be happy if they find the book they just got is actually a romance. I understand some people like to defy cinventions or break rules. But the people that do so successfully, are ones that understand the rules at a very deep level. It is that understanding that lets them know which rules can be broken, while still being successful. I would suggest researching things like "story grid" and "save the cat" among others to develop your understanding of genre and reader expectations. That is asuming you want to pursue publishing as a goal. If you want to write for your own enjoyment, and that of friends, then do as you like.
While that’s true there is a lot of cross genre work out there for example I mostly write crime and thriller but many of my books also have a romance element
Welcome! A while back, I did a [deleted link] wherein I do a bit of a genre discussion. I try to do what you're suggesting and get past the labels. Let me know what you think. Don't forget, every time you like it or leave a comment, an angel gets their wings.
w. bogart ,you are absolutely right. saying 'genre' isnt much different then saying 'story'. maybe im struggling with a romantic notion of reading for readings sake and society's (eesh, for lack of better term) seeming identity impulse. i remember a few years back helping my grandmother w her nook, she loved crime and spy and action series, alex cross, jack ryan, type stuff. had so many books we eventually got her the electronic versions. "Can you get me #17? oh i dont think i read #54". and she would read all day bc thats all she could do, haha. One time my sister got her a novel of completely different ilk (with mindset that she likes reading, so get her something to read), i think fox and snow or whatever, and she couldnt even finish it, tho she tried. because of her influence i was tempted to read some of her books, and loved it. but i was reading with an open mind, whereas before i think i was turned off by the 'commercialized' aspect of it, seemed phony. it seems a lot of ppl are turned off by the opposite, if they dont know what the writing is they wont read it (or if something is weird they dont know how to respond). to be clear, i think these are good issues to have, if issues at all. Mark_H ,I read your substack. Really good, thank you for that. has the sci fi and fantasy become so cross pollinated and evolved that the writing seems like real life and real life is now scifan? like, just jot down what you experience in day to day, youll probly find something truly scifan. i esp love your conclusion, and too am waiting, i dont think we will have to wait much longer. probly have a lot to catch up on
Thank you for the kind words. The subscription on the SS is free. I just released a review of Yellowface. Read that novel, yet? [link deleted stop plugging your substack, read the Forum Rules about advertising]
