Reading in Your Genre, Part 2: How it Can Hinder Your Writing
by Jonathan Chatfield
In part 1 of this two-part miniseries, we discussed some benefits of reading the work of other authors in the genre you choose to write in. Making improvements to your process of character development, sharpening your ability to weave an enchanting narrative flow, and reinforcing confidence in your abilities as a writer were just a couple of the key points I hope you walked away with. As promised, we will discuss the other side of the coin today. Specifically, what are some of the dangers or pitfalls of staying within your favorite genre for your entertainment and creative outlet?
First, it is essential to remember that you really can have too much of a good thing. Conventions and tropes in genre fiction are — let’s be honest — the bread-and-butter of the craft. The concepts that help and guide you as you write your stories can also lead us too far down the path from convention and into the dangerous territory of cliché. If you are writing Noir, and every book on your shelf is also Noir, you risk sounding unoriginal at best and trite and contrived at worst.
All of us suffer from writer’s block from time to time. It’s an entirely normal part of being a writer. If we narrow our creative horizons, there is a genuine danger of stagnation and fatigue. If you only read…
