Genre isn't Everything

Sometimes, as I'm considering what my next story will be, I realize that I've boxed myself in by over-considering which genre I'll write. I've often thought of myself as a science fiction guy first, and a fantasy (or mystery, or thriller, or whatever else) writer second. But do those distinctions really matter?

So many of the great stories I've read have blurred those lines in wonderful, exciting, unexpected ways. Story has to come first, genre second. A well told story can come in so many different forms. As I look to authors for inspiration (and my next read), I see so many stories that fit many genres. They are often more wonderful for it.

As I think about stories I've recently written, especially the novel draft I recently finished, I (like many other authors, I'm sure) often find that my outline can't include everything. Stories will surprise me. What starts in my head as a science fiction story might become a murder mystery or a spy thriller or a romance.

The more I write, the more I realize that what matters is staying true to the story itself. The genre it fits into can lead to some exciting new twists on tropes and surprises for the reader. But I love to write, to share stories and entertain. Because of that, I won't let genre overly define me or my work. The story is the most important thing.