Genre's and other chocolate candies.

Since I'm new to this lovely thing called writing, I'm not sure about the lure of different genres. I have read almost every possible category and I get excited when I see a new one pop up. When I started writing a few months ago I didn't pay genres any attention. I was just tickled I was writing.

I started off writing YA. Not on purpose, that's just how my characters developed. However, a few chapters in I noticed a shift towards an older more mature overtone. I've decided to just let it flow and see where it takes me. I don't intend to write YA exclusively but when I look over my other ideas for future wips they all seem to be YA or could be with small adjustments.

I must admit I am a little confused as to why we have genres. I mean they're all books, right? Like those delicious chocolate candies. They're all the same but different shapes and flavors. So, do we seperate these lovely bound works of art just for the libraries to know where to put them? Or do we do it for the consumer so they can hurry to "their" section in the store or online. Or is it for the writer so we have some sort of boundry to stay in? Maybe it's our underlying human need to catergorize everything into an organized system of understanding. I don't know but I do know that just like those candies, I love them all!!

Do you find yourself staying true to one genre in both your writing and reading? Or do you like to spread your attention around?