By Jacqui Murray //
Every author knows about genres, how they stuff creative pieces into little boxes with a list of characteristics writers are encouraged to check off. Historical fiction includes lots of accurate detail about the era. Memoirs rely less on accuracy but must be interesting. Take the example of Erma Bombeck. Memories about raising kids may sound boring, but through Bombeck’s humorous lens, readers can’t get enough:
“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the ‘Titanic’ who waved off the dessert cart.” –Erma Bombeck
“The odds of going to the store for a loaf of bread and coming out with only a loaf of bread are three billion to one.” –Erma Bombeck
Romance spotlights love above even the plot. Comedy must make readers laugh. Dystopian fiction leaves them depressed. Cozies avoid sex, blood, and death on screen. Every writer must be familiar with what readers of their genre expect so when the book ends, they are satisfied and eager to read more. If you aren’t sure of the expectations of your genre, check out my genre list. I define over seventy of them with tips and a short list of the most popular books.
Does that approach sound too formulaic? Lots of authors agree. They think following these tedious rules buries their unique voice, arguably what makes them stand out from all other writers of that genre. That isn’t true. Genre rules organize the story so the writer’s voice can shine. A good example is clichés. When the first writer penned these clever arrangements of words, they enraptured their audience. Consider “the calm before the storm”. These five words once conveyed a powerful and emotional message that stayed in readers’ memories, but now, a bazillion repeats later, they are boring. That’s where voice comes in. Replace clichés with the author’s own unique words (“We are the storm”).
How do you follow genre rules without letting them bury your personal style?
Know the rules of your genre, then write with the passion and energy of your voice.
The world’s most memorable fiction comes from creative folks who knew the rules and judiciously broke them. Embrace structure even while you color outside the lines.
JACQUI MURRAY is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy, the prehistoric saga Man vs. Nature, and Rowe-Delamagente thrillers. She is the author/editor of over a hundred books on tech into education, adjunct professor of technology in education, blog webmaster, an Amazon Vine Voice, and a freelance tech ed journalist. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, Natural Selection, Fall 2022.
Genre rules give you a map – and then you are free to explore anywhere! I don’t think they are restrictive.
That’s probably the best way to say it, Alex–a map. Maps always allow deviations.
I totally agree, Jacqui, that genres give us an organized place to let our voices shine. Great post!
Lots of newbie writers think that writing their voice means no rules. Well, maybe. Maybe not!
Jacqui, the final paragraph of your essay is concise and perfect. In the end, writers have to find their voices and be themselves.
That’s a lot of work, innit. But in the end, your voice is one that stands out. Dare I say that is what you’ve done on your blog, and probably why so many of us love reading travelogue and color blogs we otherwise might have skipped!
Thanks, Jacqui.
Thanks so much for hosting me, DeAnna! I’m looking forward to the ideas from your community on this topic. Hugs to you!
I agree, Jacqui, that genre rules give the readers what they expect, and writers are still free to be creative within the structure of the genre.
What a fabulous little post that leads to the empowering conclusion of how knowing the rules is essential if we wish to push boundaries and break past them towards the new and unexplored. 🙂
I like how you said that, Jaya. A kindred push-the-boundaries gal!
It is great to see Jacqui Murray featured hear with this excellent advice on genre. I have read many of the 70 articles on genre she mentioned and they are most useful and informative.
I used to think I had to color inside the lines. I suppose I haven’t quite recovered from that liberating epiphany!
Great post, Jacqui! Good advice to know what is expected but to avoid the tired and cliche.
You can tell when you read a book don’t you think, the author who purposely broke the rules and the other who didn’t really know what s/he was doing?
Well said, Jacqui. And I liked Alex’s map reference.
I was very fortunate that the writers I studied under incollege stressed literary fiction conventions and their effects on the reader, rather than rules. I know that readers have different expectiations with straight genre fiction, although genre lines can be fluid at times. I think it comes down to reader expectations in the end. Are they getting what they believe they were promised by choosing that particular book to read?
*in college
Genre fiction overlaps so much now that the rules have to bend if authors and publishers want to keep up with readers’ tastes. Like you mentioned, the key is knowing how and when to break the rules, which only works well if the writer clearly understands genre rules in the first place. Personally, I think rule-bending makes fiction more creative and interesting. I love science fiction with some mystery and a little romance thrown in 🙂
An excellent post. I totally agree with Jacqui that we need to know the rules in order to effectively break them. 🙂
Good point, Jacqui. Writers can’t break rules if they don’t know them to begin with. Some genres blend well together, while others confuse readers. It’s best to stay within the boundaries as much as possible.
What are the rules?
What are the rules? Including the boundaries of these rules.