What a GEM! Muchas Gracias Tim for clarifying this very foundational topic! I feel I completed a manuscript without properly understanding this, and what you explained makes a ton of sense! I am so glad to have found your videos :) Blessings!
I don't see a "Fantasy" genre video, so I'm on to Guide to Genre. I hope to learn that the stupid definitions of genre that publishers use is bunk and that I'm actually writing a in the War, Performance, Society, Status, Morality, Worldview genre =) Thanks for a great video!
I've got a story that crosses multiple genres, but the overall question and plot is character driven. I'm not keen on formula writing to a trope market but can see the sense of it in keeping the reader focused. I don’t know which elements to prioritise out of three key arcs in the story, a series of 3 books. What happened to "write the book you want to read".
I am in the same situation. I figure studying the conventions of these pigeon holes will help me contain the story enough to appeal to track-minded readers, but everytime I try to study genre and narrow down the story and characters I feel less like writing it.
@kristinabliss the people who support and understand your story and your progress will remind you to just write the book how you want it. The rest can be focused and guided later. I'd forgotten about this comment til I saw yours. 6 months on, I'm about to finish the last two chapters which are high action and stakes oriented scenes running concurrently. The people helping me to keep going are still telling me, write it finish it first. You can edit something that isn't there. They're telling me, get an agent and pitch it. I'm saying it's not good enough and why jump through those hoops when I can self publish and pitch it direct to a number of audiences via social media. I hate tropes and genre fiction but ultimately I started writing my own series as a reaction to some terrible genre trash. Who knows what will happen, the chances of it succeeding in the short term are slim but if I can get it in front of 200 sets of eyes I'd be happy to let them judge lol. Good luck ❤️
Is it ever a good idea (especially for newer writers) to intersperse different genres & their conventions into the same work? For example, suppose I’m writing a realist society historical fiction. However, I know there are a few sequences and subplots that need to lean into the romance, performance, and horror genres. For my part, my suspicion is that indicates a wider lack of focus with the work and that it might make more sense to limit myself to 1-2 genres.
I don't find these things particularly helpful, since by definition you need the meet the conventions to have a story. Which means if you have a coherent story, it will already meet them all by defaults. Like how do you write a crime mystery, without someone who is trying to solve the mystery? You almost have to try to avoid the conventions for them not to exist already.
What a GEM! Muchas Gracias Tim for clarifying this very foundational topic! I feel I completed a manuscript without properly understanding this, and what you explained makes a ton of sense! I am so glad to have found your videos :) Blessings!
No-nosense advice, delivered in a fast and consise manner with a great presentation voice. What's not to like.
Love watching steady growth in your subscriptions.
That’s an interesting assignment. Surely, I’ll give it a try
I don't see a "Fantasy" genre video, so I'm on to Guide to Genre. I hope to learn that the stupid definitions of genre that publishers use is bunk and that I'm actually writing a in the War, Performance, Society, Status, Morality, Worldview genre =)
Thanks for a great video!
storygrid.com/genres-of-writing/ - Tim
I've got a story that crosses multiple genres, but the overall question and plot is character driven. I'm not keen on formula writing to a trope market but can see the sense of it in keeping the reader focused. I don’t know which elements to prioritise out of three key arcs in the story, a series of 3 books. What happened to "write the book you want to read".
I am in the same situation. I figure studying the conventions of these pigeon holes will help me contain the story enough to appeal to track-minded readers, but everytime I try to study genre and narrow down the story and characters I feel less like writing it.
@kristinabliss the people who support and understand your story and your progress will remind you to just write the book how you want it. The rest can be focused and guided later. I'd forgotten about this comment til I saw yours. 6 months on, I'm about to finish the last two chapters which are high action and stakes oriented scenes running concurrently. The people helping me to keep going are still telling me, write it finish it first. You can edit something that isn't there. They're telling me, get an agent and pitch it. I'm saying it's not good enough and why jump through those hoops when I can self publish and pitch it direct to a number of audiences via social media. I hate tropes and genre fiction but ultimately I started writing my own series as a reaction to some terrible genre trash. Who knows what will happen, the chances of it succeeding in the short term are slim but if I can get it in front of 200 sets of eyes I'd be happy to let them judge lol. Good luck ❤️
Is it ever a good idea (especially for newer writers) to intersperse different genres & their conventions into the same work?
For example, suppose I’m writing a realist society historical fiction. However, I know there are a few sequences and subplots that need to lean into the romance, performance, and horror genres.
For my part, my suspicion is that indicates a wider lack of focus with the work and that it might make more sense to limit myself to 1-2 genres.
Thank you!
Thank you.
this is useful!
What about crossovers?
Do you have an example?
Is that a D&D shirt Tim?
It is! Good catch! Shoot an email to support@storygrid.com and reference this comment and I’m happy to send you any three of our books. - Tim
This guy is subtly jacked
I don't find these things particularly helpful, since by definition you need the meet the conventions to have a story. Which means if you have a coherent story, it will already meet them all by defaults. Like how do you write a crime mystery, without someone who is trying to solve the mystery? You almost have to try to avoid the conventions for them not to exist already.
Each genre certainly does not have “it’s own conventions”. Its…🤦🏼🤷♂️😊