Creative writing genres - which is mine?

Trying to decide on which genre you want to write can seem like dancing in a minefield.

Romance?
Crime?
Fantasy?
Horror?
Historical fiction?
Even a cosy mystery?

The list is endless. And it can feel overwhelming at first. It can be a difficult decision to work out which one is best suited to your concept, and your skills. Or which genre do you believe you can portray most convincingly and turn into amazing fiction?

But, the most important thing is not to rush into your decision. It’s crucial to take the time to figure out where your fiction fits into the genre spectrum, so you can utilise successful conventions associated with that specific genre.

What Do We Mean By Genre?

When trying to define what genre is, the first word that comes to mind for me is the category. The different varieties of fiction. Which type does that story fall? Each genre has its characteristics which make them recognisable to us.

How do you know what genre to write?

Knowledge and Research

Strong knowledge and understanding of your genre are fundamental. This understanding is particularly true when branching out from what you usually write.

Say you’re thinking of trying something different. Do you feel like challenging yourself?

Researching conventions successfully in that field allows planning what you need to include. Take, for instance, romance. A typical convention, or characteristic for this genre would be a love triangle. One text which utilises this is The Great Gatsby, with Daisy and Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby.

Putting a personal stamp on genre conventions helps your work be distinctive. To make it stand out, let your creative juices flow.

Another area of research is authors renowned for their work in a particular genre. Read and get to know their books - often called close reading. Start to take note of how they express their genre. Is there a technique you could emulate? How are you able to recognise the genre? How is it made clear to you as the reader? Look at the covers too, what tells you this book is a particular genre? This sort of research allows you to be clear from the outset where your book or story would fit into the market.

2. Reading and Inspiration

When it comes to reading, have you fallen in love with a specific genre? Do you find one genre particularly captivating or addictive? If the answer is yes, then it might be worth trying your hand at writing in this genre. When someone writes about what they love, this often shines through in writing.

If you read a lot of a particular genre, the likelihood is, that you are familiar with its conventions and formats. It gives you an advantage before you start writing. Equipping yourself with specific knowledge of the compelling features of that genre.

Books or articles you have read before may also help inspire you. Which particular author do you enjoy? Whose writing do you admire? Try making a list of how they tackle the genre. Consider the techniques they use. Do they do anything unique? Do they break with traditional conventions, or utilise them effectively?

Seeing how other people write can give us the confidence to try it ourselves. It motivates us to try something new.

3. Familiarity and Experiment

Consider your writing. What kind of subject is normal for your writing? Do you tend to write in the same genre? Do you find yourself leaning towards a particular genre without realising it?

If the answer is yes, this could be a sign that this genre is for you. It might be the one you are most confident with, where you feel strongest. Your inner writer is the best judge. It will know if this is the case, particularly when something feels natural. Call it a kind of gut instinct.

This approach, yet, may lead you down the opposite route.

Say you’ve written a few pieces in one genre, and now want to explore something else. It can be exciting, as you may discover a new favourite genre. It has the potential to showcase how versatile you are in your ability to explore various genres.

Experimentation plays an enormous role in the life of a writer. Never be afraid to try something new and play around with ideas. It helps us discover what kind of writer we want to be. Don’t stick to what you always do; try something new. It might feel strange at first, but it’s how we learn and develop, and this leads us to the next bit of advice.

4. Exercises and Prompts

Try writing a piece that is the complete opposite of what your typical writing. It could be a fun experiment. It can challenge you to think outside the box and take you out of your comfort zone for a moment. This in itself, can often produce unexpected and surprising results.

Something as simple as a quick writing exercise is perfect for this task. It gives you focus for a few minutes. It hones your mind in that particular area. See what you can unlock from this, it might even turn into a story.

The internet is a valuable source of information for writers. It is full of all kinds of weird and wonderful writing prompts. Exercises covering every genre you can think of are available at your fingertips. Play around with them; see what you create. They might give you a feel for which genres you prefer. We can help with some free prompts too!

You might find yourself wanting to delve into an idea further, wanting to explore that genre more. Follow that feeling. See where it takes you. That’s one of the most extraordinary qualities of creative writing; you are unlimited in what you can do. You have complete freedom.

So How Do You Know What Genre To Write?

It may take a while to discover which genre is right for you. Try to view this as an opportunity, rather than a hurdle. Experiment with different genres and employing the process of trial and error. It will help eliminate those that you aren’t keen on. As a result, a much clearer picture of those which you enjoy writing will begin to emerge.

Most important of all, enjoy the process. Enjoy getting to know yourself as a writer and learning to trust in your own decisions. Soon, you will feel much more confident in deciding what’s right for you.

We would love to hear from you! What is your favourite genre to write?