tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023519653976035588.post3864748389640742947..comments2024-01-30T02:37:26.307-08:00Comments on The Science of Story: Why is Genre Important to Success?Windy Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01382452185388293994noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023519653976035588.post-90329371571647961552013-11-30T12:37:51.587-08:002013-11-30T12:37:51.587-08:00I wish I could refute the premise of this article,...I wish I could refute the premise of this article, but I can’t. And it saddens me. Yes, genre has won. And the reading public is poorer for it.<br /><br />Despite encouragement to be creative within the boundaries of genre, it’s difficult — because if you’re too creative it’s not genre anymore. But how many romances can you read in which the “hot” hero liberates a naive innocent. Or a “maverick cop” chases a villain “on the wrong side of the tracks”. And don’t tell me these are just cliches, because if genre is about anything it’s about embracing cliches, to a greater or lesser extent.<br /><br />I do understand that most people just want an easy read at the end of the day. And I can see that a lot of literary fiction is pretentious twaddle. But I can foresee a time when, with book critics probably on the road to extinction, the only show in town will be called genre. And the future Philip Roths or Ernest Hemingways will not get any attention at all.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05199458832188396530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023519653976035588.post-34384551520651338732013-11-30T12:24:16.362-08:002013-11-30T12:24:16.362-08:00Great advice, David. I've been teaching writi...Great advice, David. I've been teaching writing for years and I can't think of a better piece of advice to give students, especially those looking for the "secret." Patricia Kayhttp://www.patriciakay.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023519653976035588.post-38376901177323233352013-11-30T12:22:47.363-08:002013-11-30T12:22:47.363-08:00I tend to agree with you about being genre-specifi...I tend to agree with you about being genre-specific if you want to be commercial - even though those of us who self-publish have no interest in impressing an agent. But what about the first person who wrote steampunk? Or chicklit? Lucky they didn't follow your advice.Lexihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14404818053292364819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023519653976035588.post-26171064625582103532013-11-22T12:33:21.764-08:002013-11-22T12:33:21.764-08:00Great advice.... know your genre, how it works, th...Great advice.... know your genre, how it works, the boundaries, then be as free and as creative in the actual story telling. I look at someone like Ian Mcewan who is a master of literary prose but writes in different genres.... (usually with a dark twist). Older Mumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02923339244117157344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023519653976035588.post-91849843650966428092013-11-15T16:44:58.187-08:002013-11-15T16:44:58.187-08:00Excellent and utter sparkling brilliance, David. W...Excellent and utter sparkling brilliance, David. Wonderful advice! Thank you for sharing it with us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023519653976035588.post-8860817807941356652013-11-15T05:06:01.564-08:002013-11-15T05:06:01.564-08:00Hi Anita. 2 points:
1) Remember in the blogpost,...Hi Anita. 2 points: <br /><br />1) Remember in the blogpost, it says be professional and clinical in the overarching story, and spontaneous and creative in the delivery of that overarching story, so you're still being true to your heart. <br /><br />2) And if it doesn't fit a genre, that doesn't mean throw it away and it doesn't mean it's 'bad' - it's still brilliant if YOU love it and if YOU think it's brilliant. BUT if it doesn't fit a genre, your chance of COMMERCIAL success is greatly reduced. <br /><br />So this post is about fitting your story into a genre in order to help yourself professionally - to sell your story. If you love it the way it is and it doesn't fit any genre or it invents a whole new genre or bucks every trend ever set, that's great! It's just much, much harder to sell. <br /><br />My advice in the story book is 'write from the heart, rewrite with the head,' and that includes structuring your heart-given story using your head IF your aim is to make a sale. Windy Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382452185388293994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1023519653976035588.post-47335352033793533852013-11-15T04:10:39.439-08:002013-11-15T04:10:39.439-08:00Hi David, I am now completely confused. I thought ...Hi David, I am now completely confused. I thought writing was supposed to be spontaneous if it was to be real, so if you write what comes into your head and it doesn't fit a genre, you have to throw it away? Please advise?<br />Anitaanita daweshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03872644106384365588noreply@blogger.com