I think there are a number of authors who started off in Romance, then moved to something else. Just off the top of my head: HelenKay Dimon who started writing Mystery/Thriller books as Darby Kane and Sherry Thomas who moved from Historical Romance to Historical Mysteries. I'm not a big fan of dark horror books, but maybe you should try writing the kinds of things you are reading. And, if you add some romantic elements, so much the better. I love T. Kingfisher, who writes a number of interesting books, including some horror. I don't really like horror that much, but I have read some of her darker books just because I enjoy her writing so much. Maybe if you stepped out there, your readers would follow you too?
Yes, you're right about those authors who've made a shift. Tiffany Reisz (erotic romance author) just released a magical realism/general fiction book earlier this year under a different pen name. So it's nice to know I'm not the only one who's gotten that itch. And I don't know where this exploration will lead, but I think it's worth trying. Sometimes genre mashups are really great. Technically, the True Blood books are horror but also have a lot of romance. And I've seen T. Kingfisher's books but haven't tried one. I may need to check those out, thanks!
T. Kingfisher is amazing! She writes fun YA (I highly recommend A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking), horror, and paranormal books. For romance, read Paladin's Grace, the start of her Saint of Steel series. This series is wonderful.
I'm a member of a romance writers group and am always a bit embarrassed that at each monthly meeting, I don't have any progress to report or any major works started. I've been reading mostly non-fiction, but because of my spiritual journey, I've also been led to read novels that have some aspect of the paranormal and/or magic involved. However, I've also been faithfully reading romance, especially regency, which is not directly what I have written. Unfortunately, I haven't been inspired to write a particular story. It's been over a year since I published my last book. I miss the creative process of writing, but just can't make myself start something that isn't igniting my passion. If you find a solution, please let me know.
*hugs* Sorry to hear that, Janice. It's tough when the ideas and words aren't coming. My release this past January will be my only one this year and I have nothing written for whatever is next, so I understand. I don't know if I have solutions, but I'd say, first figure out if it's burnout. If it's that, then that can be addressed. (I recommend Becca Syme's Dear Writer, Are You in Burnout? book.) If you're not in burnout, maybe you're going through what I think I'm going through now--the need for something different. If you're drawn to reading paranormal and magic, that can definitely be incorporated into romance. Or maybe you have a straight up fantasy book in you. It might help to open up the options for yourself. (What I'm doing is feeding my need to learn with new craft books and doing some deep diving into the horror genre. I don't know if anything will come of it, but that's where I feel the "creative heat" coming from for me right now, so I'm going with it.) Good luck!
Only you can answer, but there are a lot of authors writing in multiple genres or switching permanently. You have to figure out what's in your heart. Maybe that will spark your writing and fill your well. The door to romance will always be an open.
One of the authors I used to do some support work for went from romance to YA Historical Fantasy and found her calling.
I read romance when I am writing romance. Thriller, mystery and suspense are honestly my preferred genre and I treat them like dessert. I heard a writer once they they read procedural bc they need to be reminded that there are steps to a fiction work. This, then this, then this then this, to your conclusion. And if you get too windy and waver, the reader gets bored and lost. It helps remind me to keep things tight where needed and stay on the path.
I also find that I prefer indie romance to trad pubbed. I feel like it's so bland and formulaic because they're trying to appeal to such a large audience. There's nothing daring or different or bending about them. When Indies have the freedom to publish a work the way we wrote it, we get to be different and not blend in. I pubbed in December for the first time in 2 yrs and just released a new book. I might be able to say that burnout is in my rear view mirror. Taking time and veering off the beaten path is deeply needed sometimes. Just because it's not romance doesn't mean it's not helping.
Yes, I'm completely intimidated to write like an intricately plotted suspense or mystery. I'm too character-driven and a pantser. I always care more about the characters than figuring out the whodunnit of it all. But there are zones of some darker genres (and places where genres cross-pollinate) that are character-driven and that's what I'm exploring. And you're right, with indie pub, there's a lot more flexibility to mess around with things and mashup genres and such. I like both indie and trad pub for different reasons. Both have their pros and cons.
I think there are a number of authors who started off in Romance, then moved to something else. Just off the top of my head: HelenKay Dimon who started writing Mystery/Thriller books as Darby Kane and Sherry Thomas who moved from Historical Romance to Historical Mysteries. I'm not a big fan of dark horror books, but maybe you should try writing the kinds of things you are reading. And, if you add some romantic elements, so much the better. I love T. Kingfisher, who writes a number of interesting books, including some horror. I don't really like horror that much, but I have read some of her darker books just because I enjoy her writing so much. Maybe if you stepped out there, your readers would follow you too?
Yes, you're right about those authors who've made a shift. Tiffany Reisz (erotic romance author) just released a magical realism/general fiction book earlier this year under a different pen name. So it's nice to know I'm not the only one who's gotten that itch. And I don't know where this exploration will lead, but I think it's worth trying. Sometimes genre mashups are really great. Technically, the True Blood books are horror but also have a lot of romance. And I've seen T. Kingfisher's books but haven't tried one. I may need to check those out, thanks!
T. Kingfisher is amazing! She writes fun YA (I highly recommend A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking), horror, and paranormal books. For romance, read Paladin's Grace, the start of her Saint of Steel series. This series is wonderful.
I'm a member of a romance writers group and am always a bit embarrassed that at each monthly meeting, I don't have any progress to report or any major works started. I've been reading mostly non-fiction, but because of my spiritual journey, I've also been led to read novels that have some aspect of the paranormal and/or magic involved. However, I've also been faithfully reading romance, especially regency, which is not directly what I have written. Unfortunately, I haven't been inspired to write a particular story. It's been over a year since I published my last book. I miss the creative process of writing, but just can't make myself start something that isn't igniting my passion. If you find a solution, please let me know.
*hugs* Sorry to hear that, Janice. It's tough when the ideas and words aren't coming. My release this past January will be my only one this year and I have nothing written for whatever is next, so I understand. I don't know if I have solutions, but I'd say, first figure out if it's burnout. If it's that, then that can be addressed. (I recommend Becca Syme's Dear Writer, Are You in Burnout? book.) If you're not in burnout, maybe you're going through what I think I'm going through now--the need for something different. If you're drawn to reading paranormal and magic, that can definitely be incorporated into romance. Or maybe you have a straight up fantasy book in you. It might help to open up the options for yourself. (What I'm doing is feeding my need to learn with new craft books and doing some deep diving into the horror genre. I don't know if anything will come of it, but that's where I feel the "creative heat" coming from for me right now, so I'm going with it.) Good luck!
Only you can answer, but there are a lot of authors writing in multiple genres or switching permanently. You have to figure out what's in your heart. Maybe that will spark your writing and fill your well. The door to romance will always be an open.
One of the authors I used to do some support work for went from romance to YA Historical Fantasy and found her calling.
Thanks, Denise! And yes, I think it's time for some experimenting just to see if anything sparks. :)
I read romance when I am writing romance. Thriller, mystery and suspense are honestly my preferred genre and I treat them like dessert. I heard a writer once they they read procedural bc they need to be reminded that there are steps to a fiction work. This, then this, then this then this, to your conclusion. And if you get too windy and waver, the reader gets bored and lost. It helps remind me to keep things tight where needed and stay on the path.
I also find that I prefer indie romance to trad pubbed. I feel like it's so bland and formulaic because they're trying to appeal to such a large audience. There's nothing daring or different or bending about them. When Indies have the freedom to publish a work the way we wrote it, we get to be different and not blend in. I pubbed in December for the first time in 2 yrs and just released a new book. I might be able to say that burnout is in my rear view mirror. Taking time and veering off the beaten path is deeply needed sometimes. Just because it's not romance doesn't mean it's not helping.
I've also been wanting to spread out. maybe some romantic suspense. I don't think I can *write* thrillers but I'd like to meld my two interests.
Yes, I'm completely intimidated to write like an intricately plotted suspense or mystery. I'm too character-driven and a pantser. I always care more about the characters than figuring out the whodunnit of it all. But there are zones of some darker genres (and places where genres cross-pollinate) that are character-driven and that's what I'm exploring. And you're right, with indie pub, there's a lot more flexibility to mess around with things and mashup genres and such. I like both indie and trad pub for different reasons. Both have their pros and cons.