As writers who are their own unique person with their own unique talents and interests, it can sometimes be hard to find which genre we work best in. Most writers later in their careers find a way to master All The Elements and become the avatar of writing, but some beginners find that having a niche can help develop a style and be a good start in a writing career. That being said, here are some tips to find what works best for you:
Fantasy
Fantasy, in essence, is literature which includes some elements of magic in its writing. It’s a genre almost every writer knows, and it’s a great start because there’s so much free reign on what you want to do.
People who work best with fantasy:
- Worldbuilders. What makes fantasy so unique is that not only are there many ways you can tackle it, like high fantasy, low fantasy, and paranormal, but someone with a talent for creating cultures, geographies and languages will excel in this genre
- Anthropologists. All that being said, fantasy is also especially good for the study of people under circumstances unknown to this world. It takes a unique set of skills in order to personify a made-up tribe or group of people.
- People Using Imagery. Fantasy is also known for its elegant language and imaginative descriptions of forests, potions, magic, and battles. Writers who enjoy putting in a lot of imagery in between the action of their stories will prefer the writing styles associated with fantasy.
Resources for Fantasy Writers:
Science Fiction
Science Fiction, also called “sci-fi” for short, is writing or any other media about what the world would be like if it was technologically advanced past modern recognition. It is classically associated with space, but can also be seen in modern cities, also branching into a growingly popular genre called “cyberpunk”
People who work best with science fiction:
- Logical Thinkers. The writing style associated with science fiction usually has a logical order of events, or a very structured way of making sure one thing happens as a result of another thing, maybe one that the reader even forgot about. A science fiction is always one step ahead of the reader.
- STEM students. It helps to understand the rules of your fictional universe if you already know the rules of your real one. I’m not saying become a theoretical physicist, but it’ll be easier to imagine your made up futuristic technology if you have at least some grip on the technology of today.
- Plot Manipulators. Something that tends to give science-fiction its cutting edge is how it forces the reader to heavily engage in it so as not to loose track of what’s happening. Scifi writers like to keep their readers on their toes, which is why someone who likes mapped-out changes in their stories would like science fiction.
Resources for Science Fiction Writers:
Beginner Tips for Writing Science Fiction
Realistic Fiction
Realistic Fiction pretty much says it all in the name. It pretty much takes life how we see if and talks events or situations which didn’t happen, but could. In my opinion, I would say that this is probably one of the easiest genres to start out with, especially since it doesn’t require the same amount of world building as the first two genres I talked about.
People who work best with realistic fiction:
- People Watchers. For those of you who aren’t familiar, “people watching” is the fine art of simply sitting where you can see people walking by – maybe a coffee shop, the park, even your bedroom window – and observing what people do. People watching helps realistic fiction writers understand the mannerisms of the people around them and lets them imagine backstories of the people they see.
- People with Memorable School Experiences. This doesn’t particularly mean people who had a bad time at school, but people who remember their school years, or people living them right now, will have an easy time understanding the characteristics and personalities of people around them. Schools are a unique place to be because they both encourage individualism while also maintaining cliques for people to group into.
- Introverts/People with a Strong Sense of Self. The ones who understand themselves are also the ones who can better understand others. If you spend a lot of time pondering over your own thoughts, then realistic fiction might be for you. It’s a great way to express your feelings in a straightforward manner while also better understanding yourself through your characters.
Resources for Realistic Fiction writers:
Historical Fiction
Historical fiction is like realistic fiction, except it usually takes place in past events, or in an alternate past, in which history was changed slightly which altered the course of time.
People who work best with historical fiction:
- Researchers. For those of you who like to research, this is definitely the topic for you. Writing a historical fiction novel means paying extra close attention to the time period, especially the politics of the era you’re writing about. This research in particular takes a lot of time, though so be warned.
- History buffs. This one should come as self explanatory, but it’s best to write about something you’re interested in. For example, don’t write a historical fiction novel based off the Roman Empire if you don’t find that time period interesting. Trust me, it won’t be worth writing to you anymore.
- Perfectionists. Historical fiction derives a lot of its appeal from its exactness in historical accuracy and facts. If you’re someone who likes things to be just the way they were meant to be, then this might be a genre for you. Meticulously crafting your story around a real event is difficult, but by no means impossible.
Resources for Historical Fiction writers:
How to Write Historical Fiction
The Impossible Task of Writing Historical Fiction
I hope these tips have helped you, and good luck!
Tag: writing referemce
A short post on the most underrepresented eye color in fiction and the most common eye color in the world.
Shades of Brown
- Gold
- Amber
- Russet
- Tawny
- Fawn
- Copper
- Chestnut
- Rust
- Sepia
- Umber
- Copper
- Caramel
- Ebony
- Inky black
Things that are Shades of Brown
- Whiskey/beer (gold)
- Wood (range from light brown to black)
- Chocolate (mid to dark brown)
- Coffee (pale gold to black)
- Henna (reddish brown)
- Bronze (light brown)
- Afternoon sunlight (gold)
- Obsidian (black)
- Animals (and their eyes)
- Earth (wet earth = dark brown, red clay = reddish brown, wet sand = light brown)
- Ink (black)
- Topaz gemstone (orange to dark brown)
- Leather (mid to dark brown)
Brown Associations
- Autumn or winter: Brown, an earth tone, is closely associated with dead plants, which are brown and not very romantic. You can link this to the smell of woodsmoke, bark, or new snow; the taste of frost or hot chocolate; the sight of bare branches and southward-flying birds; the touch of warm sweaters or rake handles; the sound of crunching leaves or fire crackling.
- Earth: Again, brown is an earth tone. You can link this to petrichor, the smell of flowers, animals, or water; the taste of crisp cold air or freshwater; the sight of fresh soil, stones, bark, or a low-slung, comfortable cabin; the touch of rain, leather, dirt, or fur; the sound of birds calling, rain falling, plants rustling
- Alcohol: Most liquor is gold or brown. You can link this to the smell of alcohol and a well-packed bar; the taste of ice, glass, garnish, and alcohol; the sight of a polished bar, a half-empty glass/mug, and the shotgun resting below the bar; the touch of a mild buzz, an arm through yours, or the mild jostling as you find a barstool; and the sound of barroom buzz, a pool table, jazz music, and pouring drinks.
- Animals: Many animals – predator and prey – have brown or golden eyes. You can link this to the smell of (wet) fur; the taste of cold wind, blood, or plants; the sight of moving branches, unblinking eyes, feathers shining in the sun, and fur ruffling in the breeze; the touch of the ground beneath your bare feet, branches whipping along beside you, and the weather; and the sounds of panting/breathing, or soft footfalls or wing beats.
- Material: Brown is a tactile color, bringing with it the touch of copper or velvet or hemp or satin in addition to the hue. You can link this to the smell of metal, wet fabric, or hemp; the taste of blood (sometimes described as coppery) or champagne at a luxurious event; the sight of a richly decorated bed, a burnished weapon or set of buttons, or a lovely gown; the touch of cold metal, soft velvet, or course fur; and the sounds of rubbing fur, rustling fabric, and chiming metal.
- Blackness: This is for all the very dark-eyed people out there who appear not to have irises at all. You can link this to the smell of a cold night or of rock; the taste of regret, lies, or red wine; the sight of raven’s wings, obsidian, flickering shadows, mourners at a funeral, coals, and endless pits; the sensation of being about to fall into a hole, the secret thrill of illicit behavior, nothingness, warmth, or compelling mystery; and the sounds of murmured conversations, rustling feathers, and drowsiness.
- Old Things: When I think of brown, I think of all of the above, yes, but I also think of old houses and antiques. Maybe because old houses tend to use wood paneling and because paper yellows as it ages? You can link this to the smell of old books, white-out, India ink, mildew, wood polish, and paper; the taste of musty paper, dust, and history; the sight of fireplaces, antique globes, solemn old portraits, overflowing bookshelves, and overstuffed, tatty armchairs; the feeling of a comfortable chair, paper between your fingers, warmth, and familiarity; and the sounds of a crackling fire, an old house settling after a storm, turning pages, and a scratching pen.
- Warmth: The brown found in brown eyes is a warm, comforting color. You can link this to the smell of warm earth and a full house; the taste of hot summer days; the sight of dust motes swirling in the air, golden sunlight arcing across the ground at morning or dusk, and wood in the fireplace; the feeling of mild warmth from sunlight filtering through treetops; and the sounds of birds singing or quiet conversation.
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