Jan 11, 2021
Is there a genre you would never try to write? Why?
Let’s start with the genre that I can’t conquer.
Romance.
Oh, I’ve tried. I have three or four romances stored away on my computer, where they will stay. Frankly, they aren’t very good. Well, one has potential, but it’s written from the man’s point of view. Is that still considered a romance? I honestly don’t know. Perhaps someone reading this blog can tell me. Throw in the added complication that the story trends towards action-adventure and you have a book in search of an identity. Add the problem of the time frame—the 1980s—and there are too many issues to make reworking it feasible.
But I believe in romance, and romance will continue to be a part of my stories. It just won’t be the primary plot.
There is a genre I can’t see myself writing. Science Fiction.
Don’t get me wrong. I love to read science fiction. Writing it? I don’t feel up to the task. The whole world-building thing seems like a project that’s out of my league. I can hear some of you say, “But P.J., didn’t you build a world for your wolves and another one for Harmony?”
Yes and no. I think of it adding layers to the world we live in, not creating a whole new one. And it’s really only one world. If you pay attention, the Free Wolves adventures bleed into the Harmony Duprie mysteries. Subtle references, they are there more for my amusement than for anything else. But I’m always hopeful a sharp-eyed reader will spot the line and it will make them smile. Has anyone noticed the name of Eli’s company?*
When it comes to science fiction, I feel the readers expect and deserve more than that. They should read of a fully-fleshed out world that is different than our own. The situations that the inhabitants face may bear similarities to our own, but there should be elements that make it not a carbon copy of how we live today. And I don’t feel I’m up to the task.
However, I’ve also learned never to say never. If some perfectly wonderful plot threw itself in my face, I’d be a fool to ignore it.
And I am a writer in search of her next plot. As I wrap up the last Harmony Duprie mystery, I haven’t figured out what to tackle next. So many idea, but none are claiming time in my head. I’ve always thought Counselor Carlson from the Free Wolves had a story to tell, but so does Vanessa from The Ranger’s Dogtags. We’ll see.
In the meantime, let’s see what genres our other authors avoid. Yoy can too, by following the links below.
And, as always, until the next time, stay safe.
*For those of you who haven’t read any of my books, my wolves are shifters. And Eli, Harmony’s love interest from the mystery series, owns a company called Shifter Technologies
Jan 11, 2021
Is there a genre you would never try to write? Why?
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