Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
And we’re revving up IWSG Day to make it more fun and interactive! Every month, we'll announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
February 7 question - What do you love about the genre you write in most often?
Great question!
I mostly write contemporary romance (although I think I'll always dabble in quite a few genres & categories!).
Some people have a tendency to look down upon the romance genre, but I'd guess many of those people haven't read many current romances!
For me, romance tends to be about hope.
The characters need to overcome an internal obstacle along with an external obstacle as they figure out how to trust both themselves and someone else. The story lines are complex and I enjoy building in suspense and humour. I also love knowing that there will be a happy ending with my story. The world has enough sad, I need my fiction to be about the happy!
How about you? What's your favourite genre to write in? What's the best part of that genre for you?
(As some of you might know, my MacBook appears to have died, my phone refuses to reply to emails, and basically technology hates me. While I am in technological limbo it may take me a while to return your comments. I will do my best to get back to you soon! In the meantime, I hope your technology is good to you!)
Sorry about your issues!
ReplyDeleteLove makes the world go around, so romance is needed.
It does indeed - makes the ride very worth while! :)
DeleteDon't forget romance is one of the (if not THE) most popular genres. And it also gets slipped into mysteries, fantasy, sci-fi, adventure, thrillers, horror, you name it.
ReplyDeleteHope your technology gets over itself :)
This is so true! A sprinkle of romance is in so many books! :)
DeleteRomance is a key element in everything I write. Except the non-fiction. That would be odd.
ReplyDeleteSome days technology hates me, too.
It would be a little odd in your nonfiction for sure! :P
DeleteI do love a good romance and generally include some in my writing though I tend to write in the fantasy/scifi genre. I do hope you get your computer issues fixed soon.
ReplyDeleteI love fantasy & SF as well - there are so many great stories out there!
DeleteHope your tech situation improves soon. It's maddening, I know. I like romances, too ♥
ReplyDeleteAnd you write them well! :)
DeleteI like reading romance and contemporary romance sounds amazing.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many excellent contemporary romance authors out there!
DeleteI'm sorry you've been having technical issues. I hope things get better.
ReplyDeleteRomance is a beautiful genre. For me, I love to dip into the sub-categories. :)
It is beautiful! There are so many great subgenres too :)
DeleteI've been following your tech woes on Twitter. Hope you can some life support for that computer. I also like your answer to the question.
ReplyDeleteLooks like my friend is having some success with the Mac #crossingfingers!
DeleteYikes! Not having access to electronics? Now that's definitely in the horror genre.
ReplyDeleteI don't read much in the way of romance, but I do enjoy romantic comedies. You can see the story structure in them so well.
It has been a horror filled week for sure!
DeleteI love rom coms - and you're so right about the structure! :)
We are birds of a feather re: romance and happy endings.
ReplyDeleteWe are indeed!
DeleteWEll, that's at least two IWSG bloggers having technology issues--hope yours gets resolved quickly and inexpensively!
ReplyDeleteI do not read romance as a rule, though I certainly do not mind romance or the romantic in what I read (or write), but I really like the way you frame it: that it's about hope. That may encourage me to look into one here or there!
Hope is such a core element of the stories and for the characters. There are so many excellent reads out there :)
DeleteI'll second that. I always want my happy ending. That's why I read! ;) Maybe not why I write...
ReplyDeleteHEAs FTW!
DeleteYou're right it is about hope. Looking around I see several people that don't remember what hope is. Don't believe they look down on romance so much as they've forgotten its a real thing.
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
It's pretty scary when someone doesn't have hope - it's one of the most important elements of life!
DeleteWell, I love stories that provide a sense of hope. Hope is a very good thing to have in life! :)
ReplyDeleteElsie
It is indeed!
DeleteHi Jemi. You got that right. Writing romance is jolly hard. I've pretty much given up on that and now enjoy fleshing out my characters in more of a women's fiction way. I wish you all the best on your writing journey...:-)
ReplyDeleteIt is hard!!!
DeleteWomen's fiction is another great genre :)
I love reading romance - it's predictability makes the journey of reading the story a safe place - in this crazy world of filled with fear and scary things, romance is a much needed thing.
ReplyDeleteYes! I love knowing that things will work out!
DeleteSome writers might not want to admit it, but I think a little romance appears in almost every story even if you don't write romance. Good luck with your tech problems.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true! A touch of romance can really make a story sparkle!
DeleteRomance is a great escape for readers, I think. And it's nice to have that happy ending to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteIt is! I like knowing that my MCs will be alive and looking forward to the future at the end of the story!
DeleteYes! The trust factor. I put a bit of a twist on this as one of the secondary characters the best friend of the protagonist had to put his trust in Chase Manhattan. This was fun to write as both would have died if this did not happen.
ReplyDeleteTrust can be a huge factor for the characters. So many people have learned to NOT trust, it's fun watching them learn that it's okay with the right person :)
DeleteHope is a great thing to have in our writing. We definitely need more of it. :)
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your technology woes. Hope they are fixed soon!
~Jess
We do - the world can be tough. I like my HEAs! :)
DeleteYou write mostly contemporary romance? Based on your Tick Tock story, I think you'd do a great job with suspense!
ReplyDeleteHope your techno troubles have been resolved!
SQUEE! Thank you - that means a lot! I do like to toss in suspenseful elements in my stories - they really do make me type more quickly! :)
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