#IWSG Do You Choose the #Writing Form Or Does It Chooses You?

For this month, the question is: Quote: “Although I have written a short story collection, the form found me and not the other way around. Don’t write short stories, novels or poems. Just write your truth and your stories will mold into the shapes they need to be.”
Have you ever written a piece that became a form, or even a genre, you hadn’t planned on writing in? Or do you choose a form/genre in advance?

Over the years, I have tried to pick certain genre/forms in which to write.

Short fiction and novel length stories.

Poetry and essays.

The form I keep reverting back to is the same form I began my writing life with…

Short fiction.

Whether it’s six words long, or 8,000 words, short fiction seems to feel more “natural” to write.

I’ve tried countless times to write novels, but most of them end up unfinished which I usually never go back to (with very few exceptions).

However, Poetry is another form I tend to write a lot but I use this form mainly to explore emotional and traumatic experiences that are too difficult to address in the other forms. Poetry is therapy for my soul where as writing fiction is a creative outlet which puts me in a zone that takes me away from the real world for a little while.

As for genres, I enjoy delving in several such as Romance, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Young Adult; but, the ones that I keep going back to (instinctively and without thought) are the kinds that include supernatural and paranormal elements. Many of my stories are dark and many are hopeful.

For several months now I’ve written poetry; but lately, I’m feeling the tug to return to short fiction. So, I am currently writing one which originally is for an anthology but at this point, I think the story will be too long for what is required. Either way, once it’s finished, I will find a “Home” for it.

How about you? Is there a specific form that you keep returning to?

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