Different Genres

[Writer61]

Until recently, I had only written stories that could be classified as erotica. After the publication of my first historical series (with a fifth part nearing completion) and my first sci-fi series lined up behind it, it occurred to me that I should try writing stories in other genres, too. Thus, I have started work on a thriller and have an idea for a crime/mystery series. Fantasy and horror are next on the list.

Has anybody else set themself a challenge like this? How did it go?

To be clear, I am not talking about the different categories on Lit.

 

[Rob_Royale]

I have plans to do such. I have a weird west idea that isn't erotica and I've talked it over with my publisher. She's all for it but admits it's very hard to be successful in both erotic and non-erotic on Amazon and the like. So, I'm not sure when I will give it a try.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

As long as you are considering different genres because you are inspired to write a story that aligns with them, rather than feeling obligated in some fashion to make your story fit into a specific category, I encourage you do go for it. I think that simply writing for any specific category is limiting for an author.

So far, I have written stories that have been placed in categories here from Taboo/Incest to How To, and several in between. I every case, I wrote the story because I wanted to tell the particular tale, and then worried about the category only when it came time to publish it here.

 

[Writer61]

She's all for it but admits it's very hard to be successful in both erotic and non-erotic on Amazon and the like.

Presumably, a pseudonym would be appropriate.

 

[Writer61]

I every case, I wrote the story because I wanted to tell the particular tale,

I probably would not have set myself the challenge if I did not already have ideas for the thriller and mystery series.

 

[UnexpectedLuggage]

Until recently, I had only written stories that could be classified as erotica. After the publication of my first historical series (with a fifth part nearing completion) and my first sci-fi series lined up behind it, it occurred to me that I should try writing stories in other genres, too. Thus, I have started work on a thriller and have an idea for a crime/mystery series. Fantasy and horror are next on the list.

Has anybody else set themself a challenge like this? How did it go?

To be clear, I am not talking about the different categories on Lit.

That was basically erotica, for me.

I had written sci-fi, fantasy, even a superhero story. I had written film scripts for dramatic comedies, too.

Then I got to talking to some people, writing up little choose your own adventure type erotica on the fly with them, and one of them suggested I try writing a full erotica story. So I did, quickly jotting down a fantasy I had long had, and now I'm working on my sixth submission for the site.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

I probably would not have set myself the challenge if I did not already have ideas for the thriller and mystery series.

Then I definitely encourage you to tell your tale. Good luck

 

[Rob_Royale]

Presumably, a pseudonym would be appropriate.

Of course, but that's not the problem. The problem is time. As a fella with a 40-hour job, a hobby farm, a home and a wife, I have a limited pool of time in which to write. So, I can either continue writing smut as I've started to build a following on Amazon, SW and TE, or write standard fiction in the hopes of becoming a mainstream author. In publishing it really is a one or the other situation. That there is my problemo, pardner. Ya get me?

 

[IWroteThis]

Until recently, I had only written stories that could be classified as erotica. After the publication of my first historical series (with a fifth part nearing completion) and my first sci-fi series lined up behind it, it occurred to me that I should try writing stories in other genres, too. Thus, I have started work on a thriller and have an idea for a crime/mystery series. Fantasy and horror are next on the list.

Has anybody else set themself a challenge like this? How did it go?

To be clear, I am not talking about the different categories on Lit.

I wouldn't call it a challenge, but I've been dabbling in multiple genres since high school. Erotica didn't join the queue until college. I know it can be hard to build a following with such a scattered assortment of stories, whether you use one pen name or many, but I write the stories that come to me rather than trying to force something to fit a target genre.

I have a lot more stories in the Literotica folder than any other, but I'm not sure how they would compare on actual word counts. I don't really write short stories outside of the adult realm, although I'm not really sure why not.

 

[Writer61]

I wouldn't call it a challenge, but I've been dabbling in multiple genres since high school.

It might not be a challenge for you ...

I know it can be hard to build a following with such a scattered assortment of stories, whether you use one pen name or many, but I write the stories that come to me rather than trying to force something to fit a target genre.

Thanks, I don't want to force anything.

 

[ClintonBrooks]

After recently sharing the fact that I write erotica with my wife, she shared she enjoys romantasy.

So I am now working on a romantasy story for her. I've done some research so far, and it appears to be quite a leap from what I am currently writing. I have my concept and main characters and plotted what I want to see from the story. But there are other...I won't call them requirements...but "things" I need to be sure I incorporate beyond my current limited experience. I had naively thought I could do this in months...now I'm thinking it will take a year.

 

[KittyOfSteele]

Until recently, I had only written stories that could be classified as erotica. After the publication of my first historical series (with a fifth part nearing completion) and my first sci-fi series lined up behind it, it occurred to me that I should try writing stories in other genres, too. Thus, I have started work on a thriller and have an idea for a crime/mystery series. Fantasy and horror are next on the list.

Has anybody else set themself a challenge like this? How did it go?

To be clear, I am not talking about the different categories on Lit.

Well, I'm not a one-trick pony myself. I didn't start with erotica, I started with Cyberpunk, Urban Fantasy, even some Romances, and Post-apocalyptic stories before evolving to Crime/Police Procedurals and Surrealism. I didn't think I'd do High Fantasy, but after D&D, I noticed I'm capable of it. Horror* I only did it once, but like Humor*, it's one of those things where I have a few self-doubts.

In fact what I never thought I'd be writing was actually Erotica itself.

The challenge for me was how to make those erotica because everything else I wrote was just slice of life smut, although I did have some breakthroughs like The Sleep Paralysis Experience. It wasn't until my nanonovel, No Heroes In Love where I actually managed to put Neon-noir, Urban Fantasy, Surrealism, and my brand of Dark Romance with Erotica in a satisfyingly enough gangbang for people to look over it.

Took a while, but I got there. I've been eyeing my old stuff and checked out where to Litify them, but in some cases they can be strokers, and in other cases they're not strokers, but boy does sex makes the story better, especially a sci-fi thing I started a while ago that had a ton of transhumanism in it.

Everyone should have an affair with other genres from time to time. Robert E. Howard might be known for Conan, but he also wrote Horror, Crime, Westerns, even Boxing stories. Terry Pratchett didn't just write High Fantasy either.

* ADDENDUM: Actually this is the whole reason why I decided to try to write a novel for the Halloween contest; to see if I can do it. I'm always up for writing challenges, and this one has been making me drool for months already. Reason I picked those two is because I want to see if I can balance Horror with Dark Humor.

E: I don't know how many times I fixed this post.

 

[ColtonWrites]

I try. I have set stories in sci-fi future settings, in historical or military settings. I have tried to write stuff that was crime thriller/police procedural type. I have also attempted some anthro-au "slice of life" stories.

They always collapse down into a romance though.

 

[ClintonBrooks]

I try. I have set stories in sci-fi future settings, in historical or military settings. I have tried to write stuff that was crime thriller/police procedural type. I have also attempted some anthro-au "slice of life" stories.

They always collapse down into a romance though.

The heart wants what the heart wants.