Writing Across the Genre
Spectrum
By Kelli A. Wilkins
Hi
everyone!
When
people ask me what I do, I tell them I’m a writer. Usually their next question
is: “What do you write?” My answer? “Everything.”
I write
fiction in various genres and levels of intensity. I can give romance readers a
tender love story or a spicy erotic novella. Fans of speculative fiction can be
terrorized by my horror stories or whisked away into an alternate reality in my
sci-fi tales. I’ve also written several non-fiction books. Looking to take care
of a cat or a hermit crab? I’ve got those covered. And if you’re ready to write
your own fiction, well, I wrote the book on how to get started.
I’m often
asked a lot of questions about how (and why) I write across the genre spectrum.
Here are four FAQ:
How did you get
started writing in so many different genres?
I never set out to be such a multi-faceted writer; it was
something that happened gradually. I started out writing short horror fiction,
and always dreamed of “someday” having my work included in an anthology. (I’m
happy to say my horror stories have appeared in several anthologies, both
online and in print.)
Then one day I came across a “10-minute love story” in a
magazine and thought, “I could write one of those.” So I did. The story was
accepted and I became a regular romance author for the publication. A year or
so later they asked me if I could write sci-fi. I said, “Sure!” and I did.
From that point on, I realized I didn’t have to “just”
write horror, or romance, or sci fi… I could branch out into any genre or type
of writing I wanted. I figured, why limit yourself? If I have an idea for a
story (regardless of genre), why not write it? Eventually I started writing romance
novels and horror novellas.
Within the romance
genre, you write contemporary, gay, paranormal, fantasy, and historical stories.
Why do you vary so much in one genre?
I get inspired from a multitude of ideas, so I basically
go wherever the story takes me. My fantasy romance, A Most Unusual Princess came about because I wanted to write
about a headstrong princess looking for a husband. The idea of a gay wrestler
forced to come out sparked A Secret Match, and a mysterious
stranger collapsing into the arms of an 1877 storekeeper became my historical
romance novel, Love, Lies & Redemption.
The plot and characters dictate the genre, setting, and
heat level in my books. So I may write a hot contemporary romance one month,
and then two months later I’m writing a mild historical. I don’t mind switching
up genres because it gives me leeway to create unique characters and plots each
time I write. I never know where the next story will take me.
Within the historical category my books range from mild
to super-spicy and take place in different time periods (Old West, Colonial,
Pioneer, Celtic). I don’t stick to writing “all” Westerns or “all” Colonials. Once
I have the time period for the story, I do research for details and/or ideas
for clothing, occupations, etc. I like to weave authentic details into the
books and blend them in as naturally as possible. When I’m writing fantasy
romance, I try to make the details believable, even if I’m making them up.
How do you balance
writing romance and horror? Which one do you like best?
My horror stories are more psychologically spooky rather
than gory, and usually after I finish writing a few romances I switch up and
write a horror tale or two. I use different “writing muscles” when I tell a
horror story, and I can develop different plots, characters, and have an
overall darker tone in my horror fiction than I can in a romance.
I like both genres, so it was only a matter of time
before I blended the two… into paranormal romance. When I write paranormal
romances I have to make sure I don’t cross over too far into the horror world.
You don’t want to create a paranormal hero/heroine that’s too frightening
and/or violent in the story. Romance lovers don’t want to read about a
full-fledged monster. The character has to be likeable and loveable with all
the traits of a romance hero/heroine – even if he or she is a vampire who needs
to feed. (This was the basis for my paranormal, Confessions of a Vampire’s
Lover.)
Lately I’ve been scaling back on my romances and focusing
on speculative fiction. These short stories aren’t exactly classic “horror”
tales designed to scare readers, but they do include paranormal elements. For
example, my new release More than I Bargained For is an offbeat
mini-mystery about a woman who can talk to the dead.
One of my favorite horror stories is Nightmare in
the North. It’s a novella about a man stranded with strangers in a
blizzard. It was a lot of fun to write and after reading it, my husband called
it “disturbing.” I love writing horror stories (or mainstream stories with
speculative elements) and plan on releasing a few more of them this year. I’ve
got lots of ideas, and I’m working on two new stories now.
You wrote the
non-fiction book, You Can Write—Really! A
Beginner’s Guide to Writing Fiction. What made you decide to write a book
about writing?
Every time I do an
interview, I’m often asked the same batch of questions: Where do you get your
ideas? How do I get published? How do you write a book? What advice do you have
for writers who are starting out? Do you have any writing tips?
I’ve answered these
questions many times in interviews and addressed them in blogs, but I always
wanted to say more. One day, I started thinking about everything I’ve learned
over the years, and inspiration hit me: Why not write a book on how to write?
The result? You Can Write—Really! A Beginner’s Guide to
Writing Fiction.
This
fun and practical book walks you through the story-creating process
step-by-step: from getting a great idea to meeting your characters, developing
a plot, and on to writing, revising, and submitting your work. It covers the
basics of storytelling—regardless of what genre you write.
Each easy-to-read chapter
is based on my years of hands-on experience as a writer, advice I’ve received,
and the technical “know-how” I’ve gained in writing classes and professional
writing workshops. Basically, it’s
practical advice on how to get started, almost like a Writing 101 workshop. Any
writer can use the tips and writing exercises for an extra boost of motivation
or just for fun.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Writers shouldn’t be afraid to try new things. Yes, it
might be “easier” or “better” to find a genre or a niche and stay there for
your entire writing career. You could build a solid brand, get a large fan
base, and become a household name in that genre. That may work for most
writers, but for me, it would become tiresome after a while (like having the
same thing for dinner every night). I like to explore something new and
different each time I write.
For me, writing across the genre spectrum is what I do.
Some days, I venture down a dark and mysterious pathway into a haunted cemetery…
Other days, I’ll lose myself in the romantic adventures of a feisty historical heroine…
But no matter what I write, I enjoy creating the characters, plots, and
settings that bring the story to life for readers—and I hope they enjoy the journey
as much as I do.
Here’s the summary and links to my latest release, More
Than I Bargained For:
More Than
I Bargained For: A Paranormal Mini-Mystery
Katie doesn’t like going to estate
sales. Why? Because she sees dead people.
When Katie reluctantly attends an estate
sale with her friend Diane, she gets more than she bargained for. The deceased
former owner of the house, Grace, realizes that Katie can communicate with her,
and she has a lot to say.
As Katie pretends to shop, Grace tells
her the story of how she was murdered—and reveals that her killer is still in
the house.
It’s up to Katie to uncover the murder
weapon and get it to the police… before time runs out.
Order your copy here:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CG4J8B2
All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/me9jzl
Visit the page on my site: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/more-than-i-bargained-for
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelli A. Wilkins
is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20+
romance novels, 7 non-fiction books, and 5 horror ebooks. Her romances span
many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror
stories.
Her
non-fiction tale, “The Dog That Wouldn’t Bark” recently appeared in the Chicken
Soup for the Soul: My Hilarious, Heroic, Human Dog anthology.
She
also released two horror shorts, More Than I Bargained For and Silent
Sentinel in 2021.
In
January 2021, Kelli published Journaling Every Week: 52 Topics to Get You Writing. This fun and innovative guide to
journaling is filled with hundreds of thought-provoking prompts designed to get
you writing about your feelings and emotions.
Kelli posts on her
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and Twitter: www.Twitter.com/KWilkinsauthor.
Visit her
website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list and to find all her social
media links.
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