Genres; which are the most difficult?

Paradis · Jun 23, 2010

Forum has been a dust bowl over the last week to say the least...

So, let me pitch this one at you guys, which genres do you feel are the most difficult to write? Obviously personal styles and interests will have a major say in some of your answers, but nonetheless let's hear it.
also, is there any genres the industry recognizes to be tougher on average?

I would think Comedy would be up there. Director's and production can only do so much if the script is subpar, unlike maybe other cases where great film makers can make ok scripts vibrant on the big screen.

icerose · Jun 23, 2010

Toughest to write for me is definitely comedy. Toughest to sell would probably be super high budgets such as historicals and westerns as well as musicals.

But yeah, I can't write comedy to save my life which has unfortunately forced me to pass on dozens of jobs offered to me.

WMcQuaig · Jun 23, 2010

I have to agree, I think comedy is the hardest for me to write. Of the couple of times I've tried, it always comes out sounding stupid.

As for which one would the industry say is the hardest...I think it would be anything that is based in a genre that is not "Hot" at the moment. I think those would be the hardest to sell. Not impossible, just harder. I know that sounds like a "blah" answer but I would guess that seeing how there are so many different writers and such that "one particular genre" being difficult to the industry doesn't mean to terribly much. Mostly because they can always find someone who can write it. If it's good or not is a different story.

Paradis · Jun 23, 2010

WMcQuaig said:
Mostly because they can always find someone who can write it. If it's good or not is a different story.

no, that makes alot of sense actually. And so does your thoughts on trying to sell what's not hot right now.

Comedy hey? Ya it seems like a genre for sure that either comes naturally, or doesn't. Personally, thats all i've written to date. I find it to be the easiest. But then again, I do see the world through a kaleidoscope

KBlooms · Jun 23, 2010

I would say toughest to sell would be Historical as there needs to be a huge budget and public interest, which is a shame as I absolutely LOVE history. Toughest to write would be...romance for me.

Sassy3421 · Jun 23, 2010

I'm not sure if it's the most difficult genre, but I know with mystery you have to be careful to tie up all the clues that you've sprinkled through the book. (It's what I write...and I know some subtle things have been missed until the 2nd or 3rd edits.)

padnar · Jun 23, 2010

many have commented that low budget comedy sells but as everbody comments it is quite difficult to write
padma

Lady Ice · Jun 26, 2010

A comedy is quite difficult to write. Comic films many not be as hard but a film that is entirely a comedy is pretty hard because humour is so subjective.

dageezer · Jun 26, 2010

I say porn.

How many ways can you write ooooh.....ahhhhh.....oooohhh....baby baby????? I've never understood why they made porn movies longer then ten minutes anyway.

Seriously though....

Comedy is tough. But thrillers, dramas are tougher for me because I'm a wiseass. My mindset isn't serious enough to write something like that. When I do try....I always end up putting in a few zingers and it ruins what ever dramatic element I was trying for.

mario_c · Jun 26, 2010

The genre you don't like to write is the toughest.

Nobody mentioned horror? I've written a horror script and going 'there', into the sensitive spots of the mind and guts that make people unravel emotionally and psychologically, is an enormous undertaking. People think it's about special effects and doing it with the written word is an amazing act of bravery.

Comedy is tough - you're either funny or you're not. But a story is a story. Your voice is the only defining aspect.

sharonda.harris84 · Jul 5, 2010

I agree with mario_c. Horror would be hardest for me. I write comedy all the time and it gets easier with practice.

Also, historical dramas seem hard because of all the research. I probably do too much research and not enough writing as it is.

Genres; which are the most difficult?

Paradis

icerose

Lost in School Work

WMcQuaig

insert something original or whitty

Paradis

KBlooms

Sassy3421

Plotting murder..most of the time

padnar

Lady Ice

Makes useful distinctions

dageezer

I've done nothing wrong....

mario_c

Your thoughts are not real...

sharonda.harris84