I feel like I owe the genre of romantic comedy an explanation as I am not currently writing stories from it and I have no intention of returning just yet.
Admitting you cannot commit to a genre because you have urges to write stories from other genres can be tough, especially when those around you believe you should be staying true to your genre roots.
I didn’t make a conscious decision to write stories from other genres. I wasn’t looking for stories from other genres. Some characters turned up inside my head one day and persuaded me to follow them.
We’re not married to our genres so why do we sometimes feel obliged to only write stories from them?
I know quite a few good writers and authors who have stuck to their genre and remained devoted. I admire them for this.
However, I want to go explore other things which may or may not work out. I also feel like I currently have the freedom to do this as I am not committed to a book deal, agent or a self publishing journey.
If I am honest the last few romantic comedies I’ve written have not filled me up inside and have left me with an empty feeling.
Eighteen months ago I wrote something different after getting some creative urges. The beta reader consensus was I should have stuck to romantic comedy. I struggled with this and reluctantly crept back into the arms of romantic comedy.
Now those urges to write something different have returned and they are not going away.
It’s not like I haven’t made any progress with the romantic comedy genre, I had two full manuscript requests, a lot of rejections and an interesting time on Wattpad.
I will probably return to romantic comedy and when I do I will commit to it 100% but for now I need to explore other things.
I have talked before on previous blog posts about currently feeling like a teenager when it comes to writing. It is all about rebellion at the moment for me and trying new things. I hope the genre of romantic comedy understands that I need to get something out of my system.
So, how do you survive admitting you are not ready to commit to one genre?
- Remind yourself, like I am doing regularly, that this writing lark is a journey and the road you are travelling on will contain bumps, holes, downhill thrills, upward climbs and detours.
- Your journey has an undefined destination. You might end up writing something completely different in a couple of years time and you might never return to what you originally knew. Our writing destinations change all the time.
- Sometimes you have to stop and listen to your creative urges. They are trying to tell you something. It might not be important and could very well lead to a dead end but at least you followed them. What I have learned is that the nagging voices only return if you choose to ignore them.
- Write for you, not for others. Write what you want to write. This writing lark is hard enough without bringing other people’s wishes into the mix.
Are you staying loyal to your genre or are you playing the genre field?
Keep writing all x
this is indeed a great post, meaningful and informative…
You just keep going where your inspiration leads Lucy… Who knows what gems you’ll uncover!
YEA!!!! GO LUCY!!!!!XXXX
Hey thanks 😍
Oh I’m a complete tart. Every genre is more exciting than the last. The thing is when I go off script it makes the genre I’ve cuckholded seem deliciously wicked so I want to go back there again. I’m not so much prodigal as promiscuous!
This has made me smile, didn’t realise you liked to play the genre field 😂
I feel this a lot. Luckily, most of my ideas for full novels fit within the same genre, but I’m really excited to find the time to write out the two ideas I have for children’s books. Very different genre, but just as exciting! This is a great post xxx
Thank you for reading 😍
Fabulous post … good for you! I’m writing my first manuscript and loving doing so, but can’t fully decide which genre it will ultimately fall into. I’ve had some great advice that I simply need to write the story in my head and let others decide, and at that point I felt freer from construction and simply let the words flow… and some were quite dark even though four chapters earlier I could picture a Bridget Jones type theme!
I also think your post brings home a valid point about beta readers and how we should aim different styles of writing to different beta readers, so your trusted romantic comedy readers may simply not like other genres, so were possibly never going to encourage you to deviate … keep writing whatever flows 🌸
Great comment, especially your last para. Thank you 😍
I keep the gate open and let the cows go in any field they want. For all the romance genre stuff I blog the first thing I published turned out to be dark – a scary story – another take on relationships I guess!
Reblogged this on DSM Publications and commented:
Check out this post on how to survive admitting you cannot commit to a genre because you want to explore other things from the Blonde Write More blog.
I’m learning such a lot before I even start…if I ever do. I keep playing in my head about stories, characters etc I even write a few ideas down, but as for a genre….hmmmm not sure, my ideas are so random. Love your posts!
Reblogged this on Writer's Treasure Chest and commented:
Lucy Mitchell of Blonde Write More provides us with an interesting post about not committing to a genre. Thank you Lucy.
Is it time to create our own genre-niches? I personally love the spaceromanticsuspense and westerncookerymystery
I think it’s best to just be open to whatever drives you at the time – after all it’s a creative process. 🙂
If you get around to reading Ravens Gathering, you’ll see I’m not a fan of slotting into genres anyway. And I agree that you should write for you and not everyone else. Because you can’t please everyone, so you might as well please yourself
It’s on my TBR pile 👍🏻
Started as a thriller writer, went to YA, then autobiography, and now poetry and short articles. You’re correct, writing is a journey. Best of luck with yours.
Love this! I’m currently writing a YA Novel and my next one will be a New Adult Novel while the one I write after will be Fantasy! I have so many ideas and outlines and the hardest part is probably to just the stick to the novel you’re currently working on 🙂
Thanks for reading my post