Paranormal vs. Contemporary Romance genres

Hello, my friends.  So today’s topic of conversation is the difference between genres, specifically paranormal and contemporary romance.  These two genres are pretty broad as there are so many sub-categories to them now.  For instance, monster romance could be placed under the main, broad category of paranormal.

So, when starting to write romance, which genre do you go into?

Well, the first question I would ask you is what interests you more?  That’s always the genre that you should choose to write.  What piques your interest?  What books are you drawn to and what do you normally read?

Stick with what interests you most as you want to write what you like.  Writing in a genre that does not interest you will be tedious, boring and believe me, your readers will be able to sense that there is something missing with your books, so please don’t do this to yourself.  Even if you have an interest in it but think it might be too far-fetched to work with right now.  You might be right.  It might not be a good genre to start with so start with something you love, first.  Then you can look at other genres, later, that appeal to you.

So, why paranormal?  Well, there is an element of creativity and fantasy that goes along with the paranormal genre.  Add that spark- that element of romance- and you have what can not be accomplished on Earth.  This is what piques the interest of readers everywhere.  Fantasy, world-building, other expanses beyond our little planet.  You can explore all that within the paranormal realm plus you can create types of beings that are non-existent or expound on mythological creatures.  If this interests you, this may be your genre.

It’s not to say that contemporary is boring but this genre is very different.  You have to work with realism, especially if the setting is in modern day and not historical or futuristic.  But, as with all relationships, there are issues and problems to be explored.  People are not always who they say or portray themselves to be.  Now, these are areas you can explore as you build your characters.  Just like in paranormal beings, human beings hold secrets- some they will never reveal and some they may reveal to only certain individuals within their close circle of friends.  This is what makes contemporary romance so interesting.  Getting into the lives of the characters you create and seeing what makes them tick.

Whichever genre you go with, go with your gut and what makes you feel good.  Pick up your pen and start. And good luck, my friends.  Till next time.