Why, you ask?
Because when I watch TV, I watch a lot of true crime TV. I mean, a lot.
And we're not talking fictionalized stuff like Castle, and CSI and Bones (even though I watch all of those too)
We're talking 48 hours Mystery. I could pretty much watch 48 Hours Mystery like 8 hours a day. No Joke.
I'll also sometimes round this out with medical shows, like Dr. G, Medical Examiner, and Trauma, Life in the E.R.
So whenever I'm on a True Crime binge, I wonder why I don't write it. Clearly I enjoy it, so why doesn't it ever occur to me to give it a try?
I think it may because that, even though I enjoy it, I'm not very good at making it up on my own. I think if I did, the killer would be obvious (though, to be fair, most of the crime dramas on TV are ridiculously predictable. I still love them, though).
What about you? Is there a genre you love but never write?
Historical romance. Can't write 'em, but I love to read 'em.
ReplyDeleteI would love to write cozy mystery, or just mystery, but I don't think I'm clever enough with clues.
ReplyDeleteSteampunk. I love reading it, but the mix of real Victorian facts with steampunk inventions just terrifies the writer in me.
ReplyDeleteCozy mysteries for me too! I love them, especially if they have any sort of tie to food. But I could never write one. :)
ReplyDeleteI'd imagine you have several of the same elements of those shows in your novels, even if you didn't specifically write a crime thriller. Complex layered plots, tension, unraveling motivations...
ReplyDeleteI love the easy-breezy women's fiction (aka Chic Lit, but I'm not sure that's the preferred term anymore). However, I can't write it for the life of me. My MC would be so whiney and lovelorn it would be embarrassing. So, I stick to fantasy where I feel more comfortable about building stronger characters.
ReplyDeleteYeah, mystery is definitely a genre I like but I don't think I could ever write.
ReplyDeleteSpecifically, I'd love to write an old school, film noir-style mystery like the old Hammett or Chandler (or Ellroy) books, but I don't think I could even come up with a lame mystery for it, let alone a good one.
Someday, though, once the characters pass into public domain (or I can afford to buy the rights), I'm going to write my "Three Investigators as adults" novel, and put all my energy into coming up with at least one good mystery to befuddle Jupiter Jones for a time.
Yeah I love crime and speculative fiction but I've never tried it. I think for pretty much the same reason as you. I'm a HUGE Bones fan by the way :o)
ReplyDeleteI love to read fantasy, but I don't know if I'll ever try it. Maybe.
ReplyDeleteMy heart is both reading and writing good fiction, with a supernatural and sometimes horror-ish twist.
- Eric
Maria - yeah i could totally see that
ReplyDeleteAnne - yeah that would be my problem too. My clues would be so obvious they'd end up being facts
Janel - i dabble in the steampunkery, but not the victorian side of it, becaus eman that would require a lot of research
Summer - mmmmm food! I'm always impressed by cozy mysteries
Clutz - i hope so! Because that would be awesome!
TL - oh man, i'd probably have the same trouble! And i can't write humor at all
Teebore - why don't you write it now? And then, once they're public domain or you can afford it, you'll already have to book ready to go! NaNo 2011 perhaps?
Jessica - Yay Bones! I think you could probably work your way into speculative, since there's a nice bridge in the gap with magical realism
Eric - if you write horror or supernatural, you could probably easily make the jump to fantasy. At least, i don't see much of a difference between my horror and fantasy
why don't you write it now?
ReplyDeleteBecause that would require me to come up with the good mystery, and that's beyond my abilities at this point. ;)
I think true crime or professional PI stuff is hard because you have to do so much RESEARCH and that level of research brings out my clinical voice. I'd sound like Raymond Chandler only less misogynist, which ISN'T a good tone for me. I like the amateur sleuth end because the sleuth doesn't have to know everything to solve it.
ReplyDeleteAnd see, I'd totaly write fantasy if I had the imagination for it, but honestly, I just don't. I am better and combining real stuff in wonky ways or else conspiracy stuff.
Mysteries and high fantasy...I LOVE to read them, but no way could I pull them off. Mystery requires way tight plotting (and you know that's not how I roll) and the high fantasy ...well, it's way past my level of world building.
ReplyDeleteSo combine them! I bet you could do it. And I like reading fantasy but not sure I could write it.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't written a mystery until my current urban fantasy (where the core plot is a mystery). But as I've now bagged that one, I think picture books are the biggest remaining area. I love reading them, but I've never written one.
ReplyDeleteFor me it's scifi. I love it, but I'm not up for writing it. But never say never, right?
ReplyDeleteI too like crime fiction and don't write it.
ReplyDeleteI must say I have had the rough plot for a fantasy/si-fi book running through my head the past few days.
I don't have time!
Booooones. Man I love that show :)
ReplyDeleteI also have a fascination with this stuff, but don't think I have the mind for writing a story about it. I don't know that I'd be a very good suspense writer, I'd probably give away the game way too soon. lol
I'm the same - I love watching crime dramas on TV, but fantasy is where my imagination lets me do the most damage, hehe. I also love watching sci-fi, but when it comes to writing all my brain wants is dragons and wizards :P
ReplyDeleteOhhh how I love Castle. I haven't started Bones yet, but I plan to soon.
ReplyDeleteI know the vampire thing is getting overdone, but gosh I'd like to freshen it up a bit and write my own vamp story. Maybe one day. But right now, I feel both like I wouldn't be good at it, and that it's, well, overdone already.
Same as you, but I'm leary of the research involved.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to do a historical though, and I suspect that the research might be easier though.
Mysteries. I think I should try one, though, maybe a short story, because I really love them. I'm going to check out Castle. Also, I clicked over here from The Block because you had the great advice on the comment blocker. It's like the opposite of what you think you should do. Thanks for the tip. It worked for me, too. I'm going to share it on my blog tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteAlso, wanted to say, it took a Minnesotan to figure it out. I'm in the northern part of the state. Glad to meet'ya.
ReplyDeleteI love historical books, any genre. They're my absolute fab.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Sarah. And for the hint...but I haven't been signed in permanently. Never do that for security reasons.
I love a good mystery, but I'm terrified I'll screw it up.
ReplyDeleteI had the exact same problem, actually. My solution was to write what was essentially a fantasy story with only the affectation of mystery. It works well enough for me, but it maybe wouldn't so well if you really want to put together a more classic sort of whodunit.
ReplyDeleteTeebore - i dunno if it's beyond your abilities...
ReplyDeleteHart - yeah, probably too much research for me
Lola - i would probably confuse myself if i had to write some sort of epic high fantasy
Alex - ooh combining them would be interesting...
Polenth - fantasy/mystery sounds awesome!
Holly - exactly!
Al - then put it on the backburner for when you do have time! Cuz i'd love to read it
Trisha - Yay Bones!! The season finale was awe-some!
Jamie - you know, i don't know if i've ever written a fantasy with a wizard. I THINK i've had a dragon somewhere...
Kristin - the good thing about vampires, is their popularity always comes back
Misha - i think i'd rather do crime research than historical research. But that's just me
Mary - Yay for MN!!! Also i'm glad it worked for you - certainly made things a lot easier for me
Kittie - aww that stinks. i know a few others who it also didn't work for
kari - yeah me too.
Morris - see, now i think that's a really good idea!
Romances! I love to read romance and erotica, but I can't see myself ever writing one.
ReplyDelete