Write to genre or a writer's desire? Why can't they be companions that work side-by-side? One should not negate the other. Genre's have "rules" and I believe a writer should understand their craft. Know the genre, if anything, to break it up and mix it with other genres. Writing to genre is really a screenwriting concept, because in that writing world, it is a must. And that's because screenplays are meant to be sold and TV/movies are made to be sold/watched, and you sell them by knowing who will watch them and that starts with genre. Genre takes you to a specific channel on a TV, and a specific isle in a bookstore. Genre is your friend, not something to lock a writer's creativity. So, I'd say you need to know your main genre and then have fun, and take that genre where you want. Easy.
What confuses me is when people argue over what features or traits make up a certain genre. There didn't seem to be a clear definition, unless it was one of the general ones.
Write to genre or a writer's desire? Why can't they be companions that work side-by-side? One should not negate the other. Genre's have "rules" and I believe a writer should understand their craft. Know the genre, if anything, to break it up and mix it with other genres. Writing to genre is really a screenwriting concept, because in that writing world, it is a must. And that's because screenplays are meant to be sold and TV/movies are made to be sold/watched, and you sell them by knowing who will watch them and that starts with genre. Genre takes you to a specific channel on a TV, and a specific isle in a bookstore. Genre is your friend, not something to lock a writer's creativity. So, I'd say you need to know your main genre and then have fun, and take that genre where you want. Easy.
Only if you KNOW what your genre is, right?
What confuses me is when people argue over what features or traits make up a certain genre. There didn't seem to be a clear definition, unless it was one of the general ones.
I've yet to meet the Genre Police, so pick one and move on. Even Amazon allows you to pick more than one. 😉
Okay. There.
Right there.
THAT is a solid point I forgot about.
....
...then again, Amazon doesn't follow its own rules, so...meh.
I agree with you, though, Ann.
100%
Ive chosen what I like, and ill change when I need to adjust. In the meantime, I write stories.
That's it.