Reading Outside Your Genre

[CWScott]

I write far future military sci-fi which is something I've always enjoyed reading, but in the last few years have been reading mostly present day sci-fi thrillers. Occasionally I'll read fantasy. Just finished an urban fantasy (which I've never read before but did enjoy), and started a YA dystopian, which is something I'll read on occasion if I can find something unique. Growing up I read mostly sci-fi and horror.

Want to try some steampunk and have a list of books I am going to buy.

I know a lot of people say you need to read a lot to get better at writing, but if I don't shut down the writer part of my brain I can't enjoy a book.

 

[Danny McG]

I manage perhaps six books a year, as I am a slow reader. I marvel at people who read books in one or two sittings and wonder if there's something wrong with me. After all I love reading.

Lately this has been exacerbated by reading research focused non fiction but I also have the strange habit of reading the same books again and again (as I also do with certain TV shows).

Although I lean towards supernatural horror (I abhor gornography, vampires and werewolves), I enjoy all sorts of fiction. The only fantasy I've read is His Dark Materials and The Weirdstone of Brisingamen so I couldn't do a percentage thing.

I could admit to multiple reads as follows:

The Elementals - 9 times
It - 4 times
The Dyason Trilogy - 3 times
The Dark Tower series - twice
Duma Key - 4 times

so I suppose horror is top heavy. But then I also love African literature - it has an indescribable ethereal quality - and classics from EM Forster (Howard's End in particular appeals because of the theme of the modern world impinging on the natural) and pretty much every Samuel Beckett play.

Whenever I read the truism of authors should be widely read, I feel I come up (very) short.

pH

I do that also. If I've just finished a 800 page plus space opera I've often went right back to page one and began all over again. Never quite as good but still enjoyable

 

[Kathy Trueman]

I, too, have no accurate percentages to share. However, I write in two genres - fantasy, and Regency romance - but I read in many genres. My favorites, besides the two I write in, are mystery, romance, history, historical fiction, survival stories, biography, true crime, thriller/suspense, and horror. And pretty much anything else that comes into my hands and is well written.

 

[pambaddeley]

I write mainly fantasy but also contemporary supernatural, and the odd bit of SF. For years, I didn't read a lot of SF - have been through phases of reading a lot of fantasy or another time, horror. In more recent years, crime novels, history books, and children's/YA, though due to trying to get rid of backlogged paperbacks have gone back into reading SF/fantasy again.

 

[Brian G Turner]

I, too, have no accurate percentages to share. However, I write in two genres - fantasy, and Regency romance - but I read in many genres. My favorites, besides the two I write in, are mystery, romance, history, historical fiction, survival stories, biography, true crime, thriller/suspense, and horror. And pretty much anything else that comes into my hands and is well written.

Just wanted to say welcome to the chrons forums @Kathy Trueman.

 

[Stephen Palmer]

Non-fiction: 95%
Fiction: 5%