This week, Alida and Robert welcome best-selling author J Thorn to the Round Table to discuss post apocalyptic and dystopian fiction as part of our genre series.

VIDEO

AUDIO

SHOW NOTES

How do you define Horror, Post-Apocalyptic and Dystopian fiction? What are the differences in genre conventions? How does it prey on the fears of our society? What are the differences between a good and a great book in these genres? And how and where should you innovate?

Visit J Thorn at jthorn.net or check out his fiction at moltenuniversemedia.com or his author services at theauthorcopilot.com.

What we talked about:

Why did J shift from Horror to Dystopian and Post-Apocalyptic fiction? (1:56)

What are the differences in genre conventions between Horror, Dystopian, and Post-Apocalyptic fiction? (6:10)

What is the difference between Dystopian and Post-Apocalyptic? (9:25)

Why are readers drawn to Post-Apocalyptic versus Horror? (11:15)

Does Post-Apocalyptic fiction reflect current fears in society? (14:00)

Does the threat have to come from within? (16:58)

What is the difference between a good and a great book in Post-Apocalyptic fiction? Where do you innovate? (19:05)

How should you craft your “event”? And does it have to be on the page? (21:25)

What are the Dystopian themes? (23:08)

When should you innovate? And when should you stick close to the genre conventions? (24:35)

Inject what you know in order to create genre innovation! (27:55)

Where is the genre heading? (31:35)

LINKS

Things we mentioned:

On Writing by Steven King
The Stand by Steven King
Godzilla
War of the Worlds
Monsters in America by W Scott Poole
Story Grid by Shawn Coyne
Save the Cat! By Blake Snyder
The Post-Apocalyptic Reader’s Guide by J Thorn (with the essay about the difference between Post-Apocalyptic and Dystopian fiction)

Have thoughts, questions, other examples? Join the conversation at the Story Works Writers Facebook group.