This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Carlee, and Robert go deep with the question of what makes a genre a genre? Discover the nuances of crafting stories and targeting the right readership. We dissect the concept of genre as both a craft and marketing tool. It’s far more useful to us writers than just a marketing category. Writing to market is often confused with marketing. And what about those of us who strive to be “pure artists,” putting categories at the end of the process? Whether you aim to meet or subvert reader expectations, there’s more to your genre than meets the eye.
“Genre determines what the story is trying to do.”
“If you get lost in a story and you’re not quite sure where you’re taking it, it’s often because you’re not clear on genre.”
This is an episode from our library, formerly published as #184.
VIDEO
AUDIO
SHOW NOTES
What is genre? How is it helpful for us as writers? Can it become a problem to your writing? Should you figure it out before or after your first draft? And what is the difference between a genre and a marketing category?
What we talked about:
Other than a marketing category, what is genre? (1:28)
How does genre shape your work as a writer? (3:42)
Do people drill down into genre too much? (5:30)
Should you know your genre first? Or write your story and then find your genre? (8:30)
Don’t confuse trend with genre! (13:10)
How do readers expectations relate to genre? (16:35)
Do we keep reader expectations in mind as we write? (23:09)
How can you clarify your genre in revision? (26:20)
You need the sub and sub-sub genre’s! (32:00)
Figure out what is driving your story! (33:10)
LINKS
Things we mentioned:
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
Bring It On
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Have thoughts, questions, other examples? Join the conversation at the Story Works Writers Facebook group.
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About Your Hosts
Alida Winternheimer is an award-winning author with an MFA in writing from Hamline University. She pursues her fervor for all things story as a writing coach, developmental editor, and teacher. Two of her short stories were nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She is the author of The Story Works Guide to Writing Fiction Series. Alida lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her Golden Retriever, Seva the Wonder Dog. She camps, bikes, and kayaks in her free time. Unless it’s winter, in which case she drinks chai by the fire. You can find more at www.alidawinternheimer.com.
Kathryn Arnold writes fantasy and anything else that sparks her creativity from her home in Kingston, Washington. She currently earns her living as an insurance underwriting assistant, where she also creates marketing and web copy. When not writing, she plays (and teaches) piano and keyboard in a band (or two), and is working on starting a ministry team with her husband. You can find Kathryn at www.skyfirewords.com.
Robert Scanlon was born in Australia, but whisked off to England when only a baby. After many years complaining about the weather, he did the sensible thing and moved back to Australia. Despite a career in the music industry, followed by decades teaching public speaking, Robert is an introvert who adores reading. Robert grew up on a diet of sci-fi masters, eventually discovering he had read the library’s entire science fiction section. Now he has to write his own. Robert is the author of Constellation, book one of the Blood Empire space opera series. Find out more at www.RobertScanlon.com