Finding your perfect genre and writing style can feel like searching for hidden treasure—exciting, mysterious, and sometimes overwhelming. Whether you’re just starting your writing journey or looking to refine your voice, understanding what works best for you can transform your storytelling. In this post, we’ll explore ways to discover your ideal genre, hone your unique writing style, and experiment with different points of view to help shape your narrative voice.
Step 1: Explore Different Genres
Before committing to a genre, give yourself the freedom to explore. You might already have a favorite genre to read, but writing in it can be a completely different experience. Here’s how to experiment:
- Read widely – Pick books from various genres, from fantasy to horror, romance to historical fiction.
- Write short pieces – Try writing a short scene or flash fiction in multiple genres.
- Analyze your preferences – Which genres excite you? Which ones feel natural?
Genre Exploration Challenge
Write a 500-word scene using the same basic premise but in three different genres. For example:
Premise: A character receives an anonymous letter with a shocking secret.
- Mystery/Thriller – The letter hints at a crime from the past.
- Fantasy – The letter contains a magical spell or prophecy.
- Romance – The letter is from a long-lost love.
After writing, reflect on which version felt the most exciting and natural to you.
Step 2: Find Your Writing Style
Your writing style is your unique voice—the way you string words together, develop characters, and evoke emotions. Some writers have a lyrical, poetic style, while others are straightforward and crisp.
Discovering Your Style:
- Experiment with tone and perspective – Try first-person, third-person, or even second-person.
- Play with sentence structure – Do you enjoy long, descriptive sentences or short, punchy prose?
- Imitate and adapt – Rewrite a paragraph from your favorite author in your own words and compare the differences.
Style Discovery Challenge
Rewrite a well-known fairy tale in two different styles:
- A poetic, lyrical style (rich with imagery and metaphors)
- A sharp, minimalist style (short sentences, to the point)
For example, rewrite Cinderella as a dark, moody piece or as a humorous satire. Notice which style feels more natural for you.
Step 3: Experiment with Different Points of View
The perspective you choose to tell your story from will change how readers connect with your characters and the world you create. Each point of view (POV) has its strengths and challenges:
First-Person (I, me, my)
- Pros: Deep emotional connection, intimate storytelling.
- Cons: Limited to what the narrator knows and experiences.
📌 Try This: Write a short scene where a character discovers a hidden door. Focus on their thoughts and emotions as they decide whether to open it.
Third-Person Limited (he, she, they)
- Pros: Lets readers experience the story through one character while maintaining a bit of narrative distance.
- Cons: You can’t jump into other characters’ heads without breaking POV.
📌 Try This: Rewrite the same hidden door scene from first-person into third-person limited. See how it changes the tone.
Third-Person Omniscient (he, she, they, but knows all characters’ thoughts)
- Pros: Can reveal multiple characters’ thoughts and experiences.
- Cons: Can feel impersonal or overwhelming if not done well.
📌 Try This: Expand your hidden door scene to include another character’s perspective. Reveal their contrasting thoughts about the situation.
Second-Person (you, your)
- Pros: Unique, immersive, makes the reader feel like part of the story.
- Cons: Can feel unnatural in longer works, rarely used outside of experimental fiction or interactive stories.
📌 Try This: Rewrite the hidden door scene in second-person. Instead of “I saw the door,” try “You see the door, its edges worn from years of neglect.”
Step 4: Combine Genre, Style, and POV
Once you’ve explored genre, style, and POV, it’s time to bring them together. A fast-paced thriller might work best in third-person limited, while an introspective coming-of-age story might thrive in first-person.
Final Challenge: Genre, Style & POV Fusion
- Write a 1,000-word short story in your chosen genre, using the writing style and POV that feels most natural.
- Get feedback! Share with friends, a writing group, or beta readers to see what resonates.
Final Thoughts
Finding your genre and style isn’t about forcing yourself into a mold—it’s about discovering what feels like home. Experiment, take risks, and have fun with the process. Your unique voice and passion will shine through when you write in a way that truly excites you.
Ready to Start?
Try one of the challenges above and let me know which genre, style, and POV you connected with most.
Happy Writing ^_^
Sara's Writing Sanctuary 
Wonderful ♥️
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Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has three narrators and an omniscient third-person narrator. I think I’m inclined to this ever since I discovered that I have an identical twin who as an embryo in an IVF procedure was donated to a lab for secret experiments to make an A.I.-human hybrid. Most of his human brain part was damaged in the experiment. He recently escaped to one of my residences, and I gave him a website to use. Now I’m totally confused about who’s talking and how to do transitions. I suppose I should write about how my parents were spies and double agents for China, but I think before beginning I should try to help my brother write better. I’m not sure what points of view he should use. Maybe I should wait for him to learn to write before I tell him some things that might make him angry. I don’t think he’ll do well in a formal school. I have some secret letters from some Chinese whistle-blowers but they have a narrow perspective.
I can’t see how to do prefaces and transitions. I’ve seen in some books a Chapter heading that just announces a new narrator. Does the previous Chapter have an announcement or harbinger of some kind?
I’m wondering if learning transitions might be more productive than practicing bits and pieces of POV exercises. I’m looking for more efficiency because I think my brother may go on a murder rampage before I can finish practicing my writing skills.
What do you think?
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Wow, that’s quite a story you have unfolding! It sounds like you’re dealing with multiple layers of narrative complexity—not just in your writing, but in your real-life experiences as well. Since you’re trying to balance multiple narrators and perspectives, transitions will definitely be key to keeping things clear for your readers.
Some books use chapter headings to signal a new narrator (like Frankenstein does), while others rely on subtle clues within the text—changes in tone, vocabulary, or perspective hints. If you’re worried about transitions, you might try experimenting with different techniques to see what feels most natural. A strong opening sentence in each section can help reorient the reader, even without an explicit announcement.
As for helping your brother write better, that’s an admirable goal, though it sounds like time may be a factor. Maybe you could guide him toward short, structured writing exercises that focus on clarity and perspective before diving into complex narratives. It might also help you refine your own understanding of POV.
If you’re debating whether to start with your parents’ story or your brother’s, maybe consider which one you feel the strongest about to tell—though I understand that real-life might complicate that decision. Either way, transitions and pacing will be important to keep both stories from feeling too fragmented. Do you have any favorite books that handle multiple perspectives well? That might help as a reference point.
Hope this help, Happy Writing ^_^
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Thanks for your help. Sorry that my musing was a little confusing. I was practicing doing, like in a play, first-person in-character off stage rehearsal practice. My imaginary twin brother is the monster. I don’t have a real twin brother or spy parents (my actual parents are long dead). But anyway, you have some good suggestions.
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Oh ok, it’s all good. I am glad i can help with your writing.
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