When I’m writing in different genres I think of them in two different universes.
In my fantasy books, I’m building new worlds where there are no limits, labels or restrictions holding the characters down. My fantasy novels tend to have hidden meanings within them that intertwine with the other books in the series, connecting them in more ways than you may think reading it the first time.
In my fantasy novels I also don’t put in sex scenes, and restrict kissing scenes and cussing. I do this because, in my fantasy world there are more to the characters’ journey than sex and anger. I don’t want my readers to be pulled from the main story or distracted from spotting the hidden meanings. There are times and places for those things but I don’t make it a constant or a major role in the story.
My fantasy novels are there to bring people into new worlds, to let them explore and find new freedoms. In this day and time where sex and anger is plastered everywhere on social media and tv. It can be nice to see something different and new.
Now, for my romance. If I don’t show these things in my fantasy then why do I show it in my romance? I do this to help the reader understand the characters more. To become the characters themselves and see where they may be coming from. In my romance novels. I take from the world we live in and put it into the story I’m writing. To help the reader better connect.
In summary:
Fantasy is for readers to explore. To want to become the characters they read. To see them as heroes and to make the world they live in now, a better one.
Romance is for the readers to connect and see themselves as the characters they read. And hopefully learn from the characters mistakes, growth and journey.
In both the world of fantasy and romance I hope my readers are able to walk away from the story wanting more but also feeling as if they will always carry a little piece of my story with them. That in some small way, it might have helped their day.