Favorite genre to read and write

MsGneiss · Jun 22, 2009

Do they match? Do you write the same kinds of books as you read?

For me, that's not the case at all. I'm a huge fan of science fiction, mystery, and detective fiction. That constitutes a huge chunk of what I read. However, what I write would most closely be categorized as contemporary literary, and I doubt I'd ever attempt to write any kind of genre fiction... maybe just a joke. But, it's what I enjoy reading the most.

Caramia · Jun 22, 2009

I read the classics (Black Beauty, Animal Farm, Wuthering Heights!) from 7-12, teen drama fiction from 12-15 (And Sweet Valley High & Agatha Christie) and was pretty settled into fantasy after then. I occasionally still read any of those but fantasy is my most enjoyable reading.

I started out writing fiction, now focused on fantasy.

sunandshadow · Jun 22, 2009

sleepsheep said:
I doubt I'd ever attempt to write any kind of genre fiction... maybe just a joke.

Why wouldn't you? *curious* If you read it a lot you probably know enough about it to write it well.

I've discarded a few story ideas specifically because I wouldn't read them, and I wouldn't write something I wouldn't read, because I'd keep wondering why anyone else would want to read it. Mostly I write science fiction and fantasy erotic romance, and that'a mostly what I read, although my reading tastes are wider, including historical romances which I don't have much interest in writing.

DeleyanLee · Jun 22, 2009

The vast majority of what I read is non-fiction, however what I write is some form of Fantasy or Romance. When I read fiction, however, the majority of what I read is Fantasy and Romance, so I guess it equals out.

Ryan David Jahn · Jun 22, 2009

Well, I read everything from science fiction to detective fiction to literary fiction, and my mood fluctuates often enough that I can't say I like one the best. I like authors more than genres.

And I write what would broadly be categorized as thrillers.

But my answer is, I guess, kinda. I certainly try to write books that, if they were written by someone else, I would pick up and enjoy.

Alan Yee · Jun 22, 2009

For non-required reading (i.e. outside of school), I typically read science fiction, fantasy, and horror. I typically write fantasy and horror, with occasional ventures into science fiction.

Blackest_Nite · Jun 22, 2009

I read mostly fantasy and realistic fiction, but I'll read anything that is recommended to me. Currently reading lots of books to help with my writing. I write what genres I read. So it varies.

CaroGirl · Jun 22, 2009

What I read and what I write are pretty closely matched. I enjoy contemporary, mainstream and literary novels, and that's exactly what I aspire to write. Sometimes I read mystery/crime or humour. And, while I would try my hand at mystery, I'd never try humour. Too difficult IMO.

cletus · Jun 22, 2009

I mostly read suspense and thriller novels, which is also what I write.

AdamH · Jun 22, 2009

I love quirky stories...doesn't matter the genre. Ones where the characters are a little off the norm.
I've gone through my phases of sci-fi (star trek-lore, The Time Traveler's Wife), horror (Stephen King, Koontz), classics (Great Expectations), fantasy (Harry Potter). But what captures me 9 times out of 10 is character. If the main character doesn't grab me from the get-go, I don't read it.

For example, I'm reading a great book called White Tiger by Aravind Adiga.

As for my writing style, I love taking extraordinary people who think they're ordinary and put them in situations they don't understand (but ultimately figure out). A lot of my stories are strongly character based.

So...in my roundabout way to answer: yes, I do write the same kind of things I read.

virtue_summer · Jun 22, 2009

I don't think I have them. I have favorite books and I have favorite writers, but I don't have a favorite genre. I learned long ago that genre means nothing to me. I adored Nora Roberts in high school but couldn't stand ninety percent of the rest of the romance novels I read. I love Stephen King but haven't found another horror author I care that much for. And I wouldn't care if my favorite writers changed up their subject matter tomorrow. If Tracy Chevalier decided to start writing science fiction, I'd read it. If Ray Bradbury decided to put out a historical novel, I'd rush right down to the bookstore and grab it. I've come to trust authors, not genres.

Unfortunately, my reading attitude seeps into my writing. I know it's not wise to write in various genres before you've established a career, and yet probably because my reading ignores genre I find myself ignoring genre in writing as well, my stories taking turns that launch them out of one playground and into another I didn't plan for. I had written three YA novels so I thought I would happily settle there. Then I found my next novels needing to be told from the POV of adults. My current novel was supposed to be a supernatural thriller like the last one I wrote. Instead it turns out it's psychological and even the thriller element is a subplot to the real issues. I envy writers with clear favorites. It must make this whole thing a lot easier.

Feidb · Jun 22, 2009

Absolutely. I write what I read, generally. However, I've been stretching into fantasy and sci-fi. I used to read a lot of sci-fi in the 70's, but haven't messed with it much until recently. As for fantasy, I used to read a lot of Andre Norton. More recently, I tried Robert Jordan but could only get through the first four volumes before I couldn't take any more.

As for adventure/thrillers and icky bug, those are my favorites to read and to write.

skywriter16 · Jun 22, 2009

I read all kinds of detective fiction novels and mystery novels, i also enjoy psychology thrillers. I write paranormal mystery fiction, so its close to the same that i read, I also write some psychology thrillers.

Fokker Aeroplanbau · Jun 22, 2009

I love to read and love to write about current events.

Lisa Cox · Jun 22, 2009

I mostly read fantasy, gritty dramas, classics, memoirs and "chicklit". I write fantasy.

Mad Queen · Jun 22, 2009

virtue_summer said:
I don't think I have them. I have favorite books and I have favorite writers, but I don't have a favorite genre. [...] Unfortunately, my reading attitude seeps into my writing. I know it's not wise to write in various genres before you've established a career, and yet probably because my reading ignores genre I find myself ignoring genre in writing as well...

You've just described me as well. I don't even know what genre the stories I'm writing belong to.

MsGneiss · Jun 22, 2009

sunandshadow said:
Why wouldn't you? *curious* If you read it a lot you probably know enough about it to write it well.

You'd think, eh? I don't know, but I just don't feel like I'm up to writing science fiction, even though I enjoy reading it so much. Maybe it's a case of feeling that I won't be able to live up to the masters. But, I never felt that the kind of art I enjoy from others should dictate the kind of art that I can/want to produce myself. I just never felt that I could produce something fantastic - my writing is best when I stick to reality.

WarrenS · Jun 22, 2009

When I was younger, fantasy was my favorite genre to read. I don't think I owned anything but fantasy books for a really long time. Then I got into science fiction heavily. Turns out, this was also the same kind of thing I enjoyed writing.

As I've gotten older, non-fiction books about historical events began filling my bookshelves, but my writing tastes remained in the fantasy and science fiction camp. It's not that fantasy or science fiction are boring, but that I'm finding myself enjoying those non-fiction books far more. Of course this affects my writing. It's still full of fantastical elements, but there's a lot more real life events in there.

AuburnAssassin · Jun 22, 2009

Mine match very closely.

ChaosTitan · Jun 22, 2009

Yep. I write urban fantasy, and a massive amount of my TBR pile is urban fantasy or paranormal romance.

Matera the Mad · Jun 22, 2009

For me, it's pretty much what goes in is what comes out -- much changed by the digestive process, of course

Kenzie · Jun 22, 2009

I read pretty widely but I definitely have a preference for literary fiction, though probably more on the mainstream side of that - Margaret Atwood, Alex Garland, Chuck Palahniuk, George Orwell (if he can be classed as such given the time period), and some lesser-known local writers are amongst my favourites. I write in this genre as well, or at least I aspire to. My WIP may lean towards the side of speculative lit fic in a similar fashion to Atwood's Oryx and Crake or The Handmaid's Tale, though I haven't yet decided how far I will push that aspect - it may turn out less speculative and more realistic than I thought. I don't read much genre fiction apart from some of the fantasy or sci-fi 'classics' - LoTR, Brave New World, The Time Machine come to mind as examples - and I doubt I would ever write in these genres.

When I was younger, I devoured horror - the Point thrillers that everyone read at that time, John Saul, and my favourite Christopher Pike. My best friend swears that is why I am now prone to nightmares and refuse to watch horror films. I used to think I would horror as well but I never have. I don't have the stomach for it anymore, though I still read those authors out of nostalgia.

Kenzie · Jun 22, 2009

AdamH said:
For example, I'm reading a great book called White Tiger by Aravind Adiga.

Isn't that book amazing? One of the best I've read in a while!

Sean D. Schaffer · Jun 22, 2009

sleepsheep said:
Do they match? Do you write the same kinds of books as you read?

For me, that's not the case at all. I'm a huge fan of science fiction, mystery, and detective fiction. That constitutes a huge chunk of what I read. However, what I write would most closely be categorized as contemporary literary, and I doubt I'd ever attempt to write any kind of genre fiction... maybe just a joke. But, it's what I enjoy reading the most.

Sometimes I read Fantasy, which is the genre I write in, but lately I've been reading a lot of non-fiction and philosophy. In fact, non-fiction seems to be my "genre" of choice, if you will. I like to learn things in a technical sense, so books on everything from ships to trains to dragons, all in the non-fiction realm, are my very favorites.

Chasing the Horizon · Jun 22, 2009

I mainly read horror, sci-fi, romance, and fantasy, with the occasional piece of contemporary fiction if it comes highly enough recommended. So far the majority of what I've written has been romance/fantasy cross-genre, and one piece that's contemporary with elements of horror and romance. Oh, and I wrote a YA fantasy novel, but I almost exclusively read and write the fantasy sub-genre of YA and tend to forget it's not technically considered the same as adult fantasy.

I guess I more or less write what I read. There are some things, like erotica and historical romance, which I read but would never consider writing, though.

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