Part-time Whore Jane Kindred is here for one final week
before Allison returns.
And this week, I’m going to be the killjoy. I believe
in genres. Which is not to say that I think they can’t be crossed, mixed,
mashed, twisted, and turned on their heads—but I still respect them as
classifications with innate value. Among other things, they’re for readers to
know what they’re getting. Most romance readers don’t want to read 1,000-page
sword and sorcery fantasies. And the reverse is also usually true. As a reader,
you learn to trust a certain voice, to look for more by an author whose voice
you’ve come to love, and if that voice suddenly changes, it can feel like a
betrayal.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I think blending genres or writing
in related genres or subgenres is great. Where I have issues is when writers
try to write all over the map. I’m sure there are some who can do it well, but
I see a lot of unestablished writers who don’t seem to be developing a strong
voice in one genre or another. Sometimes it looks like throwing everything at
the wall to see what will stick. It also feels a lot like writing only for the
money. It’s one thing to write for
money, hence this blog’s name, but writing only
for money just leaves me cold. Writing is something I will always do for love
first, with the hope that one day, the money will come along as a bonus.
Years ago, when I was taking photography in college, I
remember one particular assignment midway through the semester where I was
shocked to find I’d gotten a D. I’d started the semester with As and Bs, but my
grades with each assignment had been dropping just a bit lower, until this one
kicked me in the gut. I thought I was doing something interesting, making sure
all of my photos were different, exploring different techniques, being
adventurous. My instructor asked me what was interesting about my photos and I
had to admit as I stared at them on the table in front of him, I didn’t have an
answer. I think I said something like, “well, they’re diverse.” He replied that
I needed to learn how to do one thing well before I tried doing everything. He
also explained that it was the hallmark of a mature artist to develop a
recognizable style. At 20, that concept hadn’t even occurred to me until he
said it to me that day and I began to look around at all the artists I loved
and realize why I loved them.
That lesson stuck, for good or ill. I’m still trying to get
good at what I do. For the most part, I write epic fantasy with a somewhat
urban/paranormal flavor. While I’ve also written erotica, I prefer when the
fantasy and the erotica are in the same package. That’s what works for me as a
writer. When I write erotica without fantasy, I can do it technically well, but
my heart isn’t in it. I’ve also tried writing romance (with and without erotic
elements) without the fantasy or paranormal, and it just falls flat. Maybe it’s
just that I’m not as multi-talented as other writers, but I feel strongly that
I need to love what I write. If other writers who hop genres truly love what
they’re writing, then maybe it works. But for me, I find it difficult to divide
my love and attention. Maybe I’m actually a monogamist after all.
