Bisky's Twitterling's Scribbles! discussion

I write mostly Urban Fantasy but I mostly read horror.

(Though, I'm editing my latest and realising it's alot nastier than intended. As my friend said, "That simile is wonderfully disgusting, Bisky." And the humour in the placid scenes is making me realise how psychotic I really am. So Horror/UF xD)

But do you read the genre you write? Or do you just read anything you can get your hands on?



I had to edit this to change the word simile from smilie. Lord help me those query letter rejections better be automatic. I really don't want them to point out spelling MY OWN TITLE WRONG. Gawd...

I need a drink.

LOL

Ok...let me get my breath back...Silly girl... my chocolate cream liquor is still waiting for you by the way. PLENTY of it! :P

I read about everything fiction. I like to discover new style, new genre. Because of that my Ipad is full of books I am dying to read but I haven't found the time. For example, I love vampires. I only read something like 2 maybe 3 of that genre last year. It's the same with Sci-fi. I find myself reading all kinds of stuff and very few of my two favorites.

So when it comes to writing, I have two rules.

Rule number one and the most important one: I stick to something I know I can write and will make sense. A genre I can pull off and be proud. I know my limitations.

Rule number two: I write something I'm dying to read, something that if I'd see on a shelf, I'd be buying it. That said, it may not be something someone else would like, but I'm satisfying myself. If I am going to spend so much time writing and editing, I might as well write something I love, no?

Actually for me I read it all. Sci fi, fantasy mystery, whatever catches my interest. Then of course after I've read it my mind start thinking. Hmm, can I write one? Let's go for it. Of late, I've taken to writing more science fiction and fantasy though I do have some romances, a Young Adult kind of thing mystery a few ideas on graphic novels. But they're all in the unfinished stage.

I really like Fantasy, which is what I'm writing, but it isn't the only thing I read. I think it's important to broaden your horizons and read different types of writing.

I like to read almost anything that has a good story. I'm not into a lot of romance though. My writing is the same. I tend to stick with thrillers, mystery, and scifi with writing and reading. I do occaisionally sprinkle in horror as well. I feel like I can write is just about any genre, but I am always going to add elements of thrillers to anything I write.

@Brian, ditto on the romance. It's the one thing I just cannot get into. I am also a scardy-cat, so I don't like horror.

I'm pretty much interested in all spec fiction, and my projects reflect that. I haven't written a full high fantasy story, but I like to read it. I write/read sci-fi, urban fantasy, horror, etc. I love psychological horror, but there's so much bleed over between psychological/body horror that I tend to stay away from it. Internal organs horrify me, but I don't mind people's hands or legs or ears or whatever getting chopped of.

I think I was traumatized in a past life.

Anyway, the short answer is yes, I read in the genre(s) that I write. Because that's what I love!

I write in the dystopian genre and I love to read that as much as possible. Especially all things indie. I love to see what other people are up to. It also helps me to watch carefully for recurring themes I will want to avoid.

But in the end, I'll read almost anything between two covers.


lake

I'm mostly writing historical fiction, but I love to read dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction in addition to that. Someday I would like to write something like that.

I've always read a variety of genres, but don't be impressed. It was for the mere pleasure of the story, nothing more. It wasn't until a few years ago, the epiphany hit: want to have this frightening scene read as such, study a master. I pulled down my Koontz books, turned to pages where the terror began...and studied.
3 word sentence.
Return.
3 word sentence.
Return.
Ahhhh. Short. Choppy. Just like a real scary moment. When terrified, we aren't thinking in sentences. We're thinking in spurts. Talking in spurts. Breathing in spurts.
Even some romantic moments are jittery. Fragmented sentence--I'm NOT talking erotica. I'm TALKING about a man or woman telling their significant other feelings they themselves have only come to understand/realize.

And, then, much is writing from the heart. Closing your eyes. Placing yourself in the moment/scene.
My military books--W.E.B. Griffin supply description of topography without being Tolkien-wordy. Study the masters.
Um...word of caution: too many times, these cretins have swept me away in their storytelling, and I've forgotten that I was supposed to be STUDYING, not READING :D

As for reading fantasy romance--it's why I WRITE fantasy romance. I could NEVER find quite what I was looking for...so, I wrote it myself.

I read everything, but then again I have a pretty good go at writing everything too. I'm on a big fantasy kick at the moment, but starting to itch for something a bit different, so I suspect I'll be moving on to an Umberto Eco book that's been kicking around the flat for a few months.

@Karey I tend to keep the action going full throttle non-stop. I have been criticized for not writing enough long sentences. I know exactly what you mean when you describe Koontz. I think maybe I should give my characters a chance to breathe. Nah!

I tend to read things that fall in the science fiction genre, however I do like some fantasy readings sprinkled in here and there, as well as steampunk and dystopian stories. I'm currently working on projects that allow me to write all four of those, and I rarely read anything outside of them unless it's for a book swap.

Science fiction definitely has my heart, though. ;)

This is such a great question and I love reading the answers. I've been wondering if I'm the only one who writes in a different genre than what I read in. I read fiction. I write creative non-fiction. But right now I'm not writing much as I have a terrible (and first ever) case of writers block. I just can't feel jazzed about anything new to write but I digress.

Yes: f&sf, literary fiction, travel, and soon I'll write my first mystery story.

I write the same genres I read, and I read everything. Some folks advise you to stick with only one genre when writing, but I can't seem to do that, so I just write everything as well, and hope my audience can follow me around.

I usually have two books going at the same time, since I listen to audiobooks on my commute. I try to listen to a book in the same genre as I'm writing - right now, that's chick lit. The one I read with my eyes is usually a book club choice, different all the time. Or craft books.

I like it when horror authors write fluffy children's books. I think it's great to be able to jump genres.

I write mystery/thrillers, which I also love to read (both classics like Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's as well as modern-day thrillers).

However, my all-time favorite author is Charles Dickens, and I love the writing of (and around) the Victorian era, so that literature informs my voice as a writer.

Therefore, when I have a final product, I too have a book at I would want to read. (In fact, I have read my own stories just for fun; I hope that doesn't exceed the geek threshold.)

I read everything, and when I say everything I include romance, horror, and nonfiction.

I'm currently writing a bunch of erotic romances that combine other genres like Fantasy and Science Fiction. But I also have a horror/UF manuscript resting in my closet (been working on that one for years).

I love reading nearly everything, both Fiction and non Fiction. My latest book is a work of Transgressive Fiction. I have read a lot of Transgressive Fiction over the last year or two, including Bret Easton Ellis, Palahniuk, Irvine Welsh and Nabokov (Lolita).

I read a variety of genres, my favorites being thrillers, mysteries, and fantasy (epic and urban). I read very little romance in spite of the fact that it is what I write.

I was actually a little shocked when I realized that I am a romance writer at heart. Once the initial shock wore off I decided to embrace it and write the stories that I would like to read. Hopefully others will like to read them as well! :-)

I read mostly within the urban fantasy genre which is what I write as well but also love to read YA books and a few thrillers here and there. I also like paranormal romance on occasion and a few in the True Crime genre.

I've read a real mix this week :3 It's been great.

I do read YA as I think it is important to read the genre that you are writing. Also I enjoy reading YA anyway. Never quite grown up! I read a wide range of genres,fantasy, romance, detective, dystopian, thrillers, historical. I'll give most things a go as long as the novel is well written and engages my interest.