Help!

Joexoxo4 · Post by **Joexoxo4** » 07 Jul 2014, 00:12

Hello

I have been writing short stories for a while and now I am trying to write a book. As fellow book-lovers I know ya'll can help me out with this...what kind of books really get your attention. Romance? Horror, etc? I am kinda stuck and seeing what genes people are going for...I will be able to sort through my ideas better.

Kelli_F · Post by **Kelli_F** » 07 Jul 2014, 10:49

My personal favorite genre is romantic fiction. I like it to include intimate bits without going full fledge erotica. Hope that helps.

Joexoxo4 · Post by **Joexoxo4** » 07 Jul 2014, 16:17

It does thank you

H0LD0Nthere · Post by **H0LD0Nthere** » 07 Jul 2014, 16:50

Well, maybe you have already decided on romantic fiction, but I will weigh in.

First, what are the themes of your short stories? Whatever you are into, and have been practicing, makes the most sense for a book.

I love historical fiction but I wouldn't recommend trying to write it unless you have a lot of time to do research or you're already a historian. Every time I read a history book, I get all fired up to write a story set in that period.

I also love fantasy, especially "quest" type books, but again, to write one of those, you need to have a very rich and detailed world worked out in your mind. I've tried making up the world as I go along ... doesn't work so well.

I also enjoy reading dystopias ... these are novels set in the near or distant future when something has gone terribly wrong with society. They usually feature characters struggling to survive or to do good in the crazy world in which they live. The Divergent series is a sort of dystopia. The dystopia can be set in a situation where there is complete tyranny, or in a survivalist/wilderness situation, or post-Apocalypse (zombie or otherwise)

.

I recommend writing a dystopia if you are quite angry or worried about something in our current society, and you can imagine what the world would be like if this worrying thing were to become ubiquitous and take over everyday life.

Joexoxo4 · Post by **Joexoxo4** » 07 Jul 2014, 19:32

HOLDONthere...thank you also...my short stories have mostly been Horror driven and dystopia too. I have tired to write Romantic Fiction but get stuck have way through. Using your advice on writing what I am into...I am trying to work on a Dsytopia/horror driven book now using a Diary entry style. I really want to step way from other horror books...Would a diary entry style attract readers or maybe stick with a first person/third person view.

Vimtuous · Post by **Vimtuous** » 13 Jul 2014, 15:39

I think that whatever you write for there will probably be people that will like to read it. Usually I pick a story to read or write something because I like the idea behind it. There is a ton of overlap between genres as well, i.e. many action and adventure have some kind of romance and mystery happening in them.

So while I've never personally been a fan of diary entry style, there are a huge number of books that are written in that style and that attract readers. As long as your story is interesting and well written people will like it

SidnayC · Post by **SidnayC** » 13 Jul 2014, 15:47

Although I think a little bit of romance always needs to be in every book... I don't really mind the genre as long as the writing style, the plot and the characters are well developed and the author finds some quirky and original way to stand out.

Vimtuous · Post by **Vimtuous** » 13 Jul 2014, 15:52

I'd also go as far as to say that there is a difference between including romance in a novel and writing specifically to the romance genre too. I'm not a fan of Romance novels(the ones with rugged men and half clad women on the cover usually) but I enjoy when there is romance in a novel.
If you do want to write for a genre you aren't familiar with, it's also a good idea to read some novels from that genre to learn about some of the things that your readers are going to expect to see. Most genres have some key characteristics that help them fit together. Writing what you know is important, and this is when research comes in handy!

SidnayC · Post by **SidnayC** » 13 Jul 2014, 16:03

Yes I completely agree. I think research is the any story and readers can spot a poorly researched book or one that has little research at all. You don't tend to need it for romance novels because sometimes you can just write from experience but you can go the extra mile and find intriguing philosophical and psychological facts that may be able to really bring your character to life.

Vimtuous · Post by **Vimtuous** » 13 Jul 2014, 16:26

Researching facts is good but I was more referring to elements of genre. Like you might expect to see an alien in scifi or a gorey murder in horror. But if aliens start showing up in your crime thriller or a horrifying murder happens in a sweet romance your readers are going to be blindsided. Genres typically have a set of events and happenings that make up the genre.
You can write from experience for a romance novel for sure but unless you have a really crazy romantic life to draw off of, reading other romance novels and seeing how the genre works is good to research(I'd give some examples but I don't read romance so i'm drawing blanks).

LMR · Post by **LMR** » 13 Jul 2014, 19:52

most fantasy world books i like. ones with fights between peoples who have differing philosophy/views points appeal. I like a good stong female lead, but i'm also ok with male leads so long as all the women don't just fawn over men, do what there told etc. a few book myself and hubby have both liked have had these in common. I like there to be a bit of a love interest, but doesn't have to be. depends on what i'm reading. the fantasy ones i like aren't usually to sci-fi, or elves/goblins etc, but more old time swords etc. but a good story will keep me interested

ETA hubby and i like different books, he's more into war/army type stuff, or stuff with the world going to hell because of the powers in charge, eg governments, high profiles etc, engineering what people think/have to do to get food etc. the series hubby and i both really enjoyed was a trial of blood and steel by Joel Shepherd, first book is Sasha

SidnayC · Post by **SidnayC** » 13 Jul 2014, 20:42

Vimtuous wrote:Researching facts is good but I was more referring to elements of genre. Like you might expect to see an alien in scifi or a gorey murder in horror. But if aliens start showing up in your crime thriller or a horrifying murder happens in a sweet romance your readers are going to be blindsided. Genres typically have a set of events and happenings that make up the genre.
You can write from experience for a romance novel for sure but unless you have a really crazy romantic life to draw off of, reading other romance novels and seeing how the genre works is good to research(I'd give some examples but I don't read romance so i'm drawing blanks).

I think a better word I should have used is 'theories' rather than facts. I understand what you're saying but I still believe that what sets a masterpiece apart from just a regular book is when those books don't just follow what everyone else seems to be writing for that genre and instead does a hell of a lot more research into the chosen topic. So for example if I was writing about a serial killer - I wouldn't just look at serial killers in popular books... I would actually begin to look up psychological theories about why people kill and research real cases about it to better get into a serial killer's mind so that it will add substance to my character.

Sometimes a romance doesn't have to have angst and all the craziness that follows to be good, a beautifully written love story sometimes doesn't need all the flashiness... It can be simple, elegant and understated. However like I said before with romance you can use your own experiences or research. But with regards to research, reading books is good but I would still like a book that went the extra-mile and threw in all kinds of historical and sociological theories about romance - to really stimulate the readers mind and add more depth to the romance I'm writing about. George R.R Martin the author of A Game Of Thrones does this and is now being set apart from the rest of his peers in terms of his writing ability. He gets inspiration from books but also philosophical, religious and mythical teachings. His one of my biggest heroes in the literary world

H0LD0Nthere · Post by **H0LD0Nthere** » 14 Jul 2014, 22:20

Hey, I'll read your dystopia as long as you don't load it with too much horror!

raindropwriter · Post by **raindropwriter** » 16 Jul 2014, 12:21

I love romcom stories and they always sell

ALynnPowers · Post by **ALynnPowers** » 22 Aug 2014, 10:28

I love books that can combine multiple genres. For example, paranormal romance would probably be pretty popular. Or something with a good "twist" in it. Honestly, I'm all about the YA paranormal/supernatural/fantasy stories these days. And when you can put it in a modern setting that people can relate to, that's always good.

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