What am I writing?

I've been reading a good bit of Sword & Sorcery lately, mainly Moorcock and Offutt, and it's got me to thinking about my own writing.

Do I write Sword & Sorcery?

Not exactly. Though I haven't written many short stories in years, a good number of my short stories could be considered S&S, but the current trilogy I'm working on isn't strictly S&S.

To go further, I suppose one needs a definition of Sword & Sorcery, and definitions of the other subgenres of fantasy. For a detailed look at the different types of fantasy literature, go here (yes, I realize wikipedia isn't perfect, but in this instance it's at least a good place to start).

It seems to me there are as many different definitions of S&S as there are S&S writers, and possibly readers. There's no tried and true definition of this particular subgenre of fantasy. However, from my limited understanding, there are a few things most S&S stories have in common.

S&S stories usually have a protagonist, as well as other characters, who are more interested in their own wants and needs than in saving the world, or in helping others. High fantasy, as a common example, seems to be just the opposite.

So, back to the beginning of this post, what do I write?

I have characters who are bent upon their own agendas, but I also have some characters who are out to save the world, or to at least make it a better place. I even have characters who push agendas of saving the world, but they do so in a darker, selfish fashion.

I guess I write a mixture of fantasy, or some sub-subgenre of S&S.

I don't know. I don't really think about genre while writing and editing, but it's something I'm pondering after the fact.

At least I know I'm writing fantasy, and that's good enough for me for now.