What would you ACTUALLY LIKE to write?

[ScintillaMyntan]

Are you actually writing the stuff you would truly like to write? Maybe you're prevented by your skill level, psychological constraints, other people's standards, or something else?

I keep thinking that what I'd really like to write is some kind of adventurey speculative fiction, but would I really? Most of my writing is internally-focused stories where someone has a psychological problem explored through mundane everyday life and sometimes some light fantasy elements. Is that actually what I like the most or just what I'm comfortable with? I know I'm influenced by the stigma against 'escapism,' like I feel pressure to be 'literary' and write thoughtful, quiet pieces about character and modern life. These internally-focused stories are also a matter of writing what I know. I'm very inexperienced with life, and my own personal conflicts are internal rather than external. These stories let me stick to characters like me with a comfortable, rather solitary life but hefty mental issues.

Maybe I should try to branch out from that? I do know that more 'fun' or imaginative, adventurey stories don't really deserve their stigma as being 'mere entertainment' — what does that even mean, anyway, when good art and good entertainment do the same things? I wonder if I'd miss seeing mental struggles being the focus of the plot when they're such a big issue in my daily life. Or I wonder if I'd even be any good at such stories.

As far as skills go, I wish I could write a novel and not just short stories, but I don't have the attention span or the long-range plotting skills. I would also write more poetry if I were better at it.

[pelwrath]

I’ve thought about this for a while. I’ve written my take on vampires, fantasy, alternate history, science-fiction, poetry, even tried my pen at horror. Varying degrees of success.
Is that what the question is asking? IMHO yes but that not all. What genres would you like to write in, are there any that scare you away from writing. As Scintilla  mentioned, the length of the story, flash, short, novel or something in between.
Yet, I see another aspect to this question, for me I wish I could write with more confidence. I like everything I’ve written since I started, the one aspect that needs improvement is my self confidence.
Part of the reason is that as a writer I’m (we) am too hard on myself. Do I compare myself to other, better writers? Of course, we all do and we also look at such writers as a goal to reach and a mentor to learn from, in what (and how?) they write.

[Alatariel]

I understand this question. I cannot write literary. I've tried and I just can't focus on story that are realistic and only deal with reality or interpersonal issues. I need some degree of fantastical elements, whether thats the paranormal, magic, adventure, or a different world entirely. 

Lately, I've been reading what I call brain candy. Romance with happy endings, even though some of the books have lots of drama or intense emotions, they're still fun because they're easy to get into, require little energy, are stand-alones, and quick to finish. Sometimes I want to write books like that, things that bring joy to people and are read on vacations or just for fun. I respect literary fiction, things that delve into deeper topics like loneliness or depression or loss. But do I want to read that on a rainy Sunday afternoon? Nope! I want to read about enemies in contrived situations and turned to lovers, thankyouverymuch. 

I do write what I want...which is fantastical books with real emotional components. My characters deal with loss, anxiety, loneliness, and discovering who they are...in a setting that is filled with magic and the strange. That's what I want to read about when not consumed with brain candy, so that's what I write about most of the time. 

[bilance]

I like to write slice of life stories the most where my characters go about doing normal things. Having them tackle the inconveniences that is life interest me the most. But i try not to write those in my adventure stories since it takes away the heat of the action really quick or if not something must happen during these peaceful moments to keep the tension.

[slbutler]

This is something I have been really considering for some time. I had dabbled in so many different genres, from different POVs, and different literary styles that it almost feels strange to settle on one. But the challenge for me is settling on one primary style and running with that. If I were asked to settle I think it would be in the Dystopian/SciFi realm somewhere. That seems to be where I am most comfortable.

[garden]

I want to write short, science fiction stories. I hope that I can improve enough that it comes easier to me. I'm creative, just not good at tying the ideas together!

[Valhalla Erikson]

My primary genre are fantasy but I'd love to try and tackle the space opera genre. Mostly that of the old school space operas like Star Wars because I felt that recent variations of the genre have gotten cynical and way to grounded in reality as opposed to the pulp science fiction adventures the genre once had.

[lawless]

I do write what I like to write.

If I were a bestselling author, I would probably spend a lot of thought on what my audience would like. In fact, I once wrote a non-fiction book on something completely uninteresting, because a goverment agency was willing to pay me a lot of money for doing it. But when I write fiction, I do it (so far) for my own pleasure, so I can afford not to be bothered by anybody else's (real or imagined) expectations.

It has never occurred to me to try and be "literary" rather than write "mere entertainment".

[HDSimplicityy]

I am writing what I like to write. My book especially. I'll exercise my mental muscles in a new genre/medium time to time.
I can tell you that I have a strong imagination for anything I apply myself to. Mainly a visual imagination. With that, emotion, scale, plot, whatever all comes out. If I can imagine it and find the fun, find the story to tell, a solid one or a great big adventure epic, I will write it.

I don't enjoy some genres, like horror or stupid comedy as opposed to comedy in serious situations. So unless I don't like a genre, I will be able to find a story to write. Maybe I have yet to learn my limitations six years into being a writer. Yes... I am agreeing with my own thought lol.

[ivanlegnovich]

I am trying to write sci-fi about the harm of modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence and new biotechnologies. I think it worldwide actual topic nowadays