Nathan Bransford - The Forums

I'm curious how many people write the same genre that they read for pleasure.

I definitely don't. I read fantasy - adult and YA - funny mysteries and chick lit. I write other genres, like PBs and self-help.

But I absolutely love the genres I read......

Anyone else like this? Or do you tend to write and read the same genre?

Almost exclusively.

I keep tabs on the latest Koontz, and the odd thriller hear and there, but mainly it's Fantasy and Sci-fi all the way (just a shame you can't find good Science Fantasy for love nor money it seems)

I definitely write the same genre I read. I'm a huge fan of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, Kim Harrison, Kelly Armstrong and Laurell K. Hamilton--to name a few. I write Urban Fantasy. I've tried other genres, (eg. mainstream, high fantasy, SF, romance), but I don't enjoy those genres as much and it shows in my writing. I'm a big comic book geek too, and UF is the closest genre to comic books I've found, save the media tie-ins--which I also read.

Tay

Great question!

I actually don't read very much science fiction these days, and yet I wrote a science fiction novel. Go figure. I read it much more when I was younger though. Mostly I just like reading a little bit of every genre.

Yeah, very good question. I definitely jump around. If I understand it to be good writing, I'll read it both to enjoy it and in hopes that I'll learn something or that it will affect my writing in a positive way. At the moment I'm working on a Science Fiction Thriller but am reading Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Not even on the same planet...so far. :)

I read all over the place and write almost exclusively fantasy (contemporary, YA, epic, romantic - kind of all over the place there too). Never got into Westerns and SciFi is hit or miss.

Yes and no. I write literary fiction, which I also read a lot of.
But I LOVE a great paranormal fantasy novel here and there.
And I love comic fantasy of whatever you'd call Christopher Moore or Terry Pratchett or Jasper Fforde. I would love to be able to write in either one of those genres but I don't think I can - I don't think I'm that funny or imaginative.

- Rena

I read across a variety of genres, including a lot of literary fiction, but write urban fantasy YA (and the occasional PB).

Mostly. I write fantasy and science fiction. I often read those too (though I do read other stuff). The main difference is I read a lot more children's fiction than I write (which may well change one day, as I'd like to write children's books too).

Good question!

I would have to say yes as well. I read primarily fantasy and scifi. Those are the genres I know and love, so the book I am working on editing for submission right now is fantasy. Though I have a scifi one in the planning stages as well.

Great question! I read across all genres, but especially science fiction, fantasy, and lots of literary fiction. So far, I've written science fiction and fantasy, some of it with literary style prose.

I read pretty much anything and everything so the answer is yes but only by default.

Great question.

What I read is not what I write, mostly. But, what I read inspires what I write. Read: Greek Philosophy, biblical studies, dictionaries, "on writing" books, and some light casual reading just to relax. Write: fantasy adventure, paranormal, children's, and some sci fi.

I'm one of those writers that read and write in the same genres (science fiction 1st, crime/suspense/mystery 2nd, women's fiction 3rd). Always have been a science fiction fan and have read most of the great authors. I also read literary works, when they appeal to me.

I also have an interest in paranormal but not in the teen or YA categories - mostly in short stories, rather than novels.

If I had to pick one - I'd say science fiction suspense is my favorite.

While I am mindful of Nathan's warnings about genre hopping, I am still exploring my writing voice and genres. I figure I can settle down when/if I successfully land an agent. I read widely in any case, but also make a point of picking up a half dozen or so recently published books in any genre I am considering writing in and studying those. At the moment I am slowly (1-2 chapters per week) analyzing the structure of an urban fantasy novel on my blog from a writer's point of view. I am considering picking up the pace on that deconstruction after the holidays, however.

So back to the question, yes I write in the genres I read or, more accurately, make a point of reading in genres I think I would like to write in.