WriYe Blogging Circle: Genre Preference

What does genre mean to you? Do you have a "home" genre? Or are you a genre hopper and are comfortable in just about any one?

Bonus:

Do you read the same genre you write? Yes or no? If yes, why? And if no, why not?  

Genre is how to categorize books (or media). My "home" genre would have to be both Fantasy and Science Fiction but I tend to go from genre to genre.

I like coming up with worlds and creating races. I like making governments and societies but mine always end up a little messed up and dark. Oops. My District Pluto series is a good example of that. There are times when I try other genres because I don't want to build a world from scratch or I just want to write something different. I do like a good change of pace, and sometimes it's needed. It usually happens between books in a series. So, say I'm writing a fantasy series and I just finished the first book. I won't start on the next book right away. I tend to write something else in a completely different genre.

Reading for me in pretty much the same. I tend to lean toward Fantasy and Science Fiction but I do read in other genres as well - for a change of pace. I find that General Fiction is faster paced and I won't get so sucked into another world like I do with Fantasy and Science Fiction. That doesn't mean I don't get sucked in. I just don't try to piece the world together to get a bigger picture.

[I'm a little behind on the blogging circle so I'm working on catching up.]

My Genre of Choice

Genre
What’s your main genre? Why do you write in that genre? Do you have a tip to share for someone wanting to break into that genre? What genre would you like to break into?

Bonus: What is your favorite book written in your genre? (Written by you or another great writer!)

The main genre I write is Fantasy. I like going into different worlds that I've made and having my characters encounter some really strange things. I also like the freedom I can have with writing in this genre but there are also "rules" that one must follow. Things need to make some kind of sense. You can't just have something work without really knowing how it works. It kind of makes it complicated but I really like this part of it. Sometimes figuring out the mechanics to certain things can change the plot of your novel to something even better or it helps you get a better understand of what is supposed to happen.

My only tip is to know your world and don't allow it to bend to make it easier for your characters. Just because you have the power to do so, doesn't mean that you should. Always give your characters obstacles to face, even smaller ones, because it helps with character development.

I've read a lot of books in this genre but my absolute favorite is almost anything written by Tamora Pierce (almost - some of her books are good but just don't catch my attention). I never have issues going back and rereading her work. Also, Harry Potter is a good book that I can always go back and reread. To be honest, that is how I judge a book. If I have the ability to go back and reread it without pointing out flaws from both the writing and the characters, then it's a good book.