I want to make a small admission: in my late teens and throughout my twenties, I barely read. If I did read anything, it typically revolved around non-fiction (Military History in particular) and the newspaper. It’s a familiar storyline with a lot of young Australian males who gravitate towards other mediums for their educational fix, opting to pick-up the paperbacks much later in life. Exploring different literary genres became a priority for me only as I grew older.
This is a sad point, really, and it’s a sad way to begin a blog, because people around the world are missing so many amazing stories.
For example: In writing my debut novel ‘Afghani’ I had to learn what the Afghan Cameleers went through, in the early exploration of 19th century Australia. As a descendant, learning about this history was world altering for me. However, there’s limited references in the literary realm.
Therefore, I had to create a story of my own, and what that tells me is there is still significant gaps in the world of genre.
However, reading goes beyond fiction versus non-fiction. This is especially so when there is so much variety among the genres to explore. Likewise, each new genre offers us a fresh perspective. Thus, inviting readers to experience different writing styles while offering the opportunity to view the world in a different light.
This post will aim to help readers understand why we get stuck reading the same genre (even the authors) rarely stepping outside those boundaries. Together, we will learn how dipping our toes into a variety of other genres can open our minds. Along the way, we will discover strategies for venturing outside our comfort zones and mystery fans, and romance lovers alike will find new territories to explore in the gigantic world of literature.
Breaking Free from Reading Ruts: Expanding Your Reading Horizons
My time developing as writer has taught me several things about my own reading habits. It especially taught about how to expand my horizons. This reached a critical juncture when I was researching my debut novel. Because, even though it is Historical Fiction, the story is not all about history, but love and connection, coming of age and even travel.
This meant I needed to broaden my reading to become more rounded as a writer.
Unraveling the Mind of Readers: The Psychology Behind Book Choices
Books tell us more about ourselves than we realise because art is a gateway to the mind. And, I’d even add that books are a gateway to the soul. There are even studies showing how reading paints a clear picture of our desires, emotions and even self-esteem. This is why certain books can often strike a chord and shape what we read into the future.
Conquering Genre Anxiety: Embracing the Benefits of Genre Diversity for Richer Reading Experiences
There is nothing worse than wasting precious time on things we don’t like—books especially. There is often an intimate moment between us and what an author has shared on the page. Nobody looks to betray that space, nor do we want to worry ourselves with having to understand a different genre’s rules etc.
We also might fear what other readers, or even our friends and family might think. These fears, often tied to our immediate reading communities directly affect our social systems. This is no small fries’ stuff, and in these situations, we want nothing more than to stay in our safety zones.
Breaking Free: The Surprising Price of Literary Comfort Zones on Reading Growth
Of course, staying in these comfort zones comes at a cost and the habit can lead to burnout etc. This, in-turn limits our personal growth, and limits our understanding of other people’s points of view.
Reading the same style of books over again also means we’re missing out on a broader range of literary discussions. My own work on ‘Afghani’ showed me that diving into different genres could open new and vibrant ways to tell my story. Whereas allowing myself to still be stuck reading the same old books would have limited me creatively.
Revolutionise Your Reading: The Life-Changing Impact of Genre Exploration
My research also led me to discover something remarkable about exploring different literary genres , and that is it helped me develop as a person. Throughout the process, I noticed my own emotional intelligence growing and I gained something in terms of empathy towards other people. On top of that, it altered my points of view and enabled me to process more complex feelings.
Unlocking Analytical Minds: How Diverse Literary Genres Boost Critical Thinking Skills
Reading from several different genres also has the added benefit influencing our ability to think critically. I found this to be especially true true when reading some of the classics like Dostoyevsky’s ‘Demons’ where the prose is nothing short of deeply analytical and highly prophetic when discussing the Russian Revolution.
Dostoyevsky’s prose is also quite dense. His world building enigmatic and his critique of society (at that time) is deeply psychological. You can’t help but being pulled in by that and not feel challenged to see the world differently after reading any of his books.
Myth-Busting Literary Genres: Unveiling the Truth Behind Common Reading Misconceptions
I’ll be honest here, I am guilty of having my own misconceptions and judgements when it comes to certain genres. I am only human after-all. But this has only meant that I have dismissed entire genres without giving them a chance.
Claiming that Romance is merely an escapist fantasy, or that Literary fiction is superior to genre fiction—as a few common examples— is a limiting belief and one that I aim to avoid, reading into the future.
Unearthing Literary Gems: Discovering Quality Reads Across All Genres
The fact is, quality writing is still quality writing, regardless of the genre and can still maintain great depth craftsmanship, whatever the subject. There is a multitude of underrated gems everywhere you look, so keep your eyes and your mind open.
Bridging Literary Worlds: How Cross-Genre Books Unlock New Reading Adventures
There has been this amazing emergence of cross-genre books that have broken down many barriers in recent times. ‘Cloud Atlas’ is a perfect example in showing how hybrid fiction can open fresh and exciting gateways for readers. Books like this help reluctant readers explore different literary genres and alter our perspectives especially as mainstream fiction begins to incorporate elements from multiple genres.
Craft Your Unique Literary Odyssey: Navigating the World of Genres
If writing my own books has taught me anything, it is that we need to understand our own habits before we can expand, learn and even capitalise from them. Here’s what I have learned about creating my own genre experiences.
Decoding Your Reading DNA: Uncover and Optimise Your Literary Habits
At any point in time, I could simultaneously be reading up to four books. There will be at least two at the bedside. One in the lounge room, and even one in the bathroom (yes, people read there too). However, I tend to find myself scanning pages as I go. It is common, and it is quite efficient while also pointing to a definitive comfort zone because it means that I get through more books faster. But at the same time, I’m not engrossing myself in the read.
Crafting Your Literary Adventure: Personal Development Through Books
Of course we must be practical here, and I don’t recommend going out and reading ‘War and Peace’, or something that’s going to leave you never wanting to read another book again.
Start with some reasonable expectations and an understanding of why this goal could be important to you.
Break it down into measurable chunks. I typically aim for ‘X’ amount of pages read each night, per book I’m reading. And, unless the prose is dense, I rarely have trouble reaching the milestone. Sometimes I even go beyond the ten pages if the reading is captivating. And, if you read like me, then I suggest slipping in a genre that you normally would not read. Then, if it’s an abject failure, you can always move onto another book in your ‘to read’ pile without ruining your day.
Additionally, you could also begin a reading journal, or just some simple notes you take along the way. The added benefit of this is that you end up absorbing more of what you have read which, in turn, will make exploring different literary genres more enjoyable.
The last point here is to still be flexible. This is a hobby and a pastime after all and there should not be any instances where we begin judging ourselves. Just take time out each month to review your personal development and goals.
Conclusion
Genre boundaries only exist within our minds, but at the end of the day, it’s all reading, and any reading is good for the soul, but exploring different genres does help us develop a deeper understanding of the world and enriches the storytelling experience.
In my own experiences, as a reader and a writer, exploring different genres has changed me in a positive way. It’s also shown me a plethora of new ways in which I can tell my own stories. Of course it can be overwhelming at first, so start off small. Keep track of your progress and remember that there is no right or wrong way to explore fresh territory. But taking those vital first steps help us all to develop new viewpoints.
Whether you are a writer, or just love to read, exploring different literary genres is just another way of connecting with the world.
Happy reading.
