Does genre dictate writing style?

I started getting more serious about fiction writing when I completed my first NaNoWriMo. Knowing what was involved, I wrote a brief outline but allowed myself free reign with the story. It was contemporary crime fiction so nothing elaborate was involved in terms of research. It was the first novel for me to be published by a small press. Because of the nature of the writing, I developed primarily as a pantser.

Several more NanOWriMos, another book published by the same press, same writing style. It was always a brief outline, some character bios, and a general notion as to how the story would go but not necessarily where it would wind up. And I was okay with that.

Flash forward to 2016. In my efforts to find something “new” to work on I developed all the stories my wife’s uncle told me about Arkansas City, KS, colloquially known as Ark City. Tales of underground tunnels and the epithet of “Little Chicago” fascinated me. There was a certain deal of research to be done in terms of images, places, logistics. I had an outline of the story. I had character bios, all as before. Even in this case, the wrap up of the story simply came to me one day. So, for the most part I was still a pantser.

However, after Ark City Confidential was published, I determined to develop it into a series. Now, the time period is moving forward. There are references to real life historical figures. NOW there is MORE research. There is still a minor element of surprise for me as a writer but less of the “writing by the seat of my pants” attitude.

So, after Secrets of the Righteous, I moved on toward World War II. I had determined there had been POW camps in Kansas. I visited the remnants of one, an entire day trip devoted to research. I knew where the story was going, much like the escaped prisoner and his secret mission of sabotage. It was a methodical movement in terms of story.

We await a release date for that book. Book Four is being written; Book Five has been outlined. And then…

A new series, post war, taking place in Wichita. I have already spent two full days in the research wing of the

Advanced Learning Library in Wichita. All this for a new series not even planned until 2022. The precision of writing has taken over the pantser mentality. The need for historical accuracy has dictated a definitive approach. I’m sure the direction of the story may alter at some point. After all, we do still account for the organic nature of creativity.

But certainly, I have found, for me, the switch to this genre has altered the style of my writing. How do you work within your genre?