which genre is right for me?

satyesu · Jul 11, 2010

I'm having a conflict deciding what I want to write. I'm working on a memoir right now, but after that I have a number of framework ideas that I could apply to [historical/moderen [fantasy/plain old fiction]. I could really use some help from experience4d writers on what the advantage of each genre is, how popular each is (I'm still naive enough that I think I can be a force in the world, so the more people reading me, the better I'd feel), etc. As I see it I'm thinking about
*Historical fiction
*Historical fantasy
*Fantasy
*Modern fiction
*Modern fantasy
And for all intents an purposes I'm at about the same square for each. I mean, I did fantasy worldbuilding back in my D&D days, but that's really the only edge that has.
Thanks so much!

mscelina · Jul 11, 2010

You really don't have to post this in every genre forum. Seriously.

And this is an answer you have to find for yourself.

firedrake · Jul 11, 2010

mscelina said:
You really don't have to post this in every genre forum. Seriously.

And this is an answer you have to find for yourself.

this.

Seriously, if you have a story to tell, write it. There is little point in, say, writing a YA paranormal if you're just doing it to fit a trend. Trends come and go. What works best is when a tells a story they feel passionately about rather than think about where that story will land on the NYT bestseller lists.

Good luck.

Bookewyrme · Jul 11, 2010

I would say, what genre do you read the most? If you have to count and categorize books on your bookshelves (or e-book device, library checkout history, etc) to decide, do that. Then, write in that genre. And if you don't read enough to have a favorite genre(s), then you probably shouldn't be writing.
Also, what mscelina and firedrake said.

thephoenix · Jul 29, 2010

no one can answer that but yourself. if you have ever written a novel, you know that you have to LOVE it, LOVE the subject, and LOVE the characters and story. you are married to it.

and on a side note, who gives a flying F about genres, WRITE what you WANT to READ.

satyesu · Jul 30, 2010

I appreciate it. My point wasn't to be popular, though; I want to be able to best convey a message without preaching. Is that a wrong way to think about it?

Shadow_Ferret · Jul 30, 2010

You don't pick genre. Genre picks you. Just write the story that is clamoring the loudest in your head.

which genre is right for me?

satyesu

mscelina

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

firedrake

practical experience, FTW

Bookewyrme

Imagined half of it.

thephoenix

satyesu

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester