Writing Across Genre 10-24-17
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This document provides an overview of writing across genres. It discusses the importance of genre for readers' expectations and marketing purposes. While genre conventions exist, the document advocates for creative freedom and writing what inspires you. It provides tips for mixing genres effectively and developing characters that transcend any single genre. Common patterns are discussed for genres like fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and romance. The key messages are to know genre conventions but not be restricted by them, and to focus on telling a compelling story above all else.
Writing Across Genre 10-24-17
- 1. Writing Across Genre Presentation is uploaded at https://www.slideshare.net/coolgus
- 2. • A category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter. What Is Genre
- 3. • “I’ve written a mystery but it’s not a mystery.” • Readers have expectations of genre • Where the book will be racked in a store • Where the book will be slotted for search engine discoverability on-line Why Is Genre Important?
- 4. • Mixing elements of genres • Almost every novel does it • You have to consider it in terms of story and business What Is Writing Across Genre?
- 5. • The essence of story-telling is the same regardless of genre or mixing genre • Your IDEA is key • There are some differences in story depending on genre, but they are guidelines • Remember, if you do it like everyone else, you’re like everyone else Creatively
- 7. The Foundation: One Sentence Idea •Can you state the original idea for your book in 25 words or less? •Have you written it down? •Does it bring an emotional reaction? •Good writing and strong characters are key.
- 8. Have You Filled Out Your Conflict Box? Do You Have Conflict Lock? Protagonist Conflict Protagonist Goal Antagonist Goal Antagonist Conflict
- 9. Plot: By Aristotle •An interesting character facing a problem. •Story is solving the problem. •Tragedy: In solving the problem, it gets worse, which leads to the dark moment, which leads to the turning point. •Character must plausibly solve the problem.
- 10. Narrative Structure Initiating Event Escalating Conflict In Crisis Climax Resolution TIME: THE FLOW OF THE STORY S U S P E N S E
- 11. • If mixing, which genre supports the main theme? • You can have a romance in any genre; that doesn’t make it a romance • You have suspense in every book, that doesn’t make it suspense • You have thrills, etc. Why Is Genre Important?
- 12. • A story is a story • You write what you want to write Why Is Genre Not Important?
- 13. • Can be a positive or a negative • Positive= expertise, inside knowledge • Positive= readers trust the author • Negative= too close to the subject matter • Negative= too realistic, can be boring Your Background
- 14. • It’s not just your resume • It’s your persona; are you writing the book you should be writing? • Why are you writing this book? • Are you positive or negative about your subject matter? Your Background
- 15. • First breakdown is: •Fiction •Nonfiction • BISAC codes (Book Industry Subject And Catalog) • On line platforms also use these Business: Types of Genre
- 24. Amazon: 5 Keywords, 2 Categories
- 25. 2014 to 2015 Sales in thousand as reported** In 2015: Religion: 3% Science Fiction: 4% Fantasy: 5% Classics: 7% Graphic Novels: 7% Mystery/Detective: 9% Suspense/Thriller: 15% Romance: 20% General Fiction: 25% That’s 95% of fiction
- 27. • Is there a difference between eBook and print genres? Writing Across Genre
- 28. • There are two types of readers •The ‘casual’ reader who read a handful of books each year (the airport reader) •The voracious reader who reads at least a book a week • Two types of authors •The ‘airport’ author •The rest Reader Expectation
- 29. • It’s like X but it’s not X • Ever read a book or watch a movie that switched genres? • Beneath genre there is tone, which needs to be consistent Reader Expectation
- 30. • Regardless of genre, the key to a good book is good characters Writing Across Genre
- 33. Difference between fantasy and science fiction Asimov: SF is grounded in science and possible; Fantasy has no reality and isn’t World building has to make sense in both science fiction and fantasy, or you need to be good enough to get suspension of disbelief Science Fiction writers tend to have so many good ideas, they put them all in the story Patterns In SF/F Writing
- 34. • The Quest for the Ring of Power • The unexpected hero (must have a reason) • Magic must make sense Patterns In Fantasy Writing
- 35. • Thrillers usually open with what is at stake (antagonist action), then go to protagonist • The all-powerful hero/heroine • Difference between suspense and thriller •Care about characters or threat? Patterns In Thriller Writing
- 37. • Is the suspense over “Who-Done-It” or we know who-done-it; how does protagonist catch the antagonist? • Readers want to solve a puzzle— so is DaVinci Code a mystery or thriller? Patterns In Mystery/Detective Writing
- 39. • Hero and heroine should meet by end of first chapter • HEA • Externalize or symbolize the antagonist not You’ve Got Mail. Do Woman of the Year • Series are hard— use setting, team, motif, secondary characters coming forward to become protagonist and antagonist Patterns In Romance Writing
- 40. • Is the romance the main storyline or supporting the main storyline with an external antagonist • Romantic Suspense • Compressing time in ‘falling in love’ (Officer and Gentleman) • Sub-genres of Romance are key •Some romance writers ‘graduate’ to other genres Patterns In Romance Writing
- 42. • Cliches are cliches for a reason • Motivation and goal are two different things • Give the character an anomaly that intrigues • Redemption is the strongest character arc Patterns In Genre Writing Characters
- 43. • Will you please fans of both genres or lose them? • Are you inventing a new “genre”? Techno-myth • Are you rising above genre? • Do you have a specific reason to mix genres? Mixing Genre
- 44. • Every idea has been done. How are you going to do it differently? • You can write in the genre but reverse the expectations • You can reverse point of view (Grendel) • You can write an already told story differently (Thousand Acres) • You can reverse genders (Alien) Mixing Genre
- 45. • What is pulling the train? • You only have one main story line because you only get one climactic scene • Remember, though, the resolution provides the emotion Mixing Genre
- 46. • Write the book, then figure out the genre • Write what you read and want to read • Don’t mix genres just for the sake of it • Don’t write for an audience (?) • Write your passion Writing Across Genre
- 47. • Should you generalize or specialize? Is Niche Better?
- 48. The paradoxical rules of rule breaking: • 1. Know the rule. • 2. Have a good reason for breaking the rule. • 3. Accept the consequences of breaking the rule. Rule Breaking
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- 51. Original Idea Conflict the Fuel of Your Story and the Conflict Box Plot I: Research and Narrative Questions Plot II: Outlining Plot III: Narrative Structure Character Point of View Write It Forward: From Writer to Bestselling Author Writers Conference Guide (Free eBook) Three P’s: Platform, Product, Promotion Writers’ Block and Rewriting How to Write the Query/Synopsis Planning for NaNoWriMo Success Bob Mayer’s Workshops, Seminars & Presentations Your Creative Process: How You Write The Present and Future of Publishing for Writers Writers Workshop and Retreat ON WRITING SLIDESHARES
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- 54. “Talent is less important in film- making than patience. If you really want your films to say something that you hope is unique, then patience and stamina, thick skin and a kind of stupidity, a mule-like stupidity, is what you really need.” ~Terry Gilliam