If you’re a new author reading this post, and you’re not out to become a self-help guru, odds are you’re interested in writing genre fiction.
Let’s talk about how to approach writing fantasy, horror, mystery, and sci fi.
First, it’s important to understand that genres aren’t just labels. They are powerful tools that not only help you navigate the vast ocean of storytelling possibilities, they can improve the effectiveness of you marketing.
Genres are categories that first and foremost serve booksellers. They help oldpub and newpub alike track sales and direct marketing. And decades of use have led readers to attach certain sets of expectations to established genres. These familiar tropes, themes, and conventions are how book buyers define what they like to read.
That knowledge gives you the power to harness readers’ specific genre affinities to enhance your marketing.
And it starts before you even bring your work to market—at the book’s planning stage.
Here’s how leveraging genre conventions can help make your writing more engaging to readers.
Embrace, Don’t Confine
While genres can feel restrictive, it’s essential to view them as creative playgrounds rather than constricting cages. Embrace the established tropes and themes, but don’t be afraid to add your own style, ideas, and twists to the mix.
Remember: Genre tropes draw in readers, but unexpected yet inevitable surprises hook them.
Study the Masters
To understand a genre, immerse yourself in its classics. Read at least 100 books in your genre. Analyze foundational authors’ works, and identify the tools that make them timeless. Studying the masters gives you priceless insights into what works in a given genre and what doesn’t.
Innovate and Reinvent
Frequent readers of this blog know that genre fiction is in decline. To break out of the dead ends most genres have devolved into, push the boundaries. Challenge the status quo, and introduce fresh elements to the genre you’re writing in.
One proven approach is to blend genres. This is my preferred method because it surprises readers with unexpected combinations.
Whatever path you choose, strive to be the trailblazer that breaks your chosen genre out of its rut and into exciting new territories.
Know Your Audience
Every genre has a specific target audience, and understanding their expectations is key.
Research your readership. What do they crave, what tropes resonate with them, and what themes speak to them? By knowing your audience, you can deliver a story that doesn’t just satisfy their desires but exceeds their wildest expectations.
Craft Unforgettable Characters
Character is the heart of genre fiction. Who cares if you’ve built a lush, layered fantasy world if no one worth rooting for does anything of interest there?
Create protagonists that resonate with your readers, and craft compelling antagonists that challenge them at every turn. Ensure that your characters embody the tropes of their genre while maintaining the drive and moral dimension that makes them human.
Pacing and Tension
Setting the right pace and regulating tension are vital in genre fiction. Hook your readers from the first page, paragraph, and sentence. And keep them on the edge of their seats until the final word.
Managing the ebb and flow of suspense is a skill that comes with practice. But master it, and you’ll write an unputdownable book every time.
World building and Immersion
Immerse your readers in a rich, detailed world that engages every sense and kindles the imagination. Whether it’s a cyberpunk dystopia, a medieval fantasy realm, or a chilling horror landscape, build a world that’s easy for readers to believe in.
The key to believability?
Consistency.
Masterful Plotting
A well-crafted narrative is the backbone of genre fiction. When it comes to weaving enthralling stories, there is no substitute for meticulous planning. Make sure each scene serves a purpose and propels the story forward. Alternate questions and answers to keep readers turning pages.
Evocative Descriptions
Bring your world and characters to life through vivid descriptions. Use multisensory details to let readers see, hear, smell, taste, and touch the world you’ve created.
Sparkling Dialogue
In a time when most genre characters are written like Seattleites, well-crafted dialogue can elevate your book above the competition. Develop distinct voices for your characters, ensuring their words reveal their personalities, motivations, and conflicts. Dialogue should be sharp, meaningful, and true to the genre, propelling the narrative while revealing crucial information and building relationships.
Above all, resist the temptation to write “real-world” dialogue. The reader picked up your book to get away from the real world. So your characters shouldn’t sound like his co-workers.
Instead, make novel dialogue the “best of” real-life speech. Your characters should talk like they have a professional author writing for them. Because they do—you!
Revision and Editing
Your job’s not over when the first draft is complete. Embrace the revision process with dedication. Polish your prose, close the character arcs, and eliminate any inconsistencies.
If you can, seek feedback from trusted beta readers or writing groups. Compile the pieces of feedback most of them agree on. Then implement the best 25% of that advice on your next draft.
Yet even the best beta reader critiquing your manuscript is like having another motorist test drive your car. He might be able to confirm that there’s a weird noise or a funny smell. That input will point you in the direction of a potential problem. But to diagnose and find solutions with certainty, you need a mechanic.
And in writing terms, that means hiring a professional editor.
Grant your book a clear advantage over the glut of amateurs who skip editing. Give it the chops to go to-to-toe with works by name authors.
Resonant Themes
Genre fiction has the unique capacity to evoke strong emotions in readers by exploring profound themes. Infuse your story with central ideas that resonate deeply. That means tackling universal struggles and exploring timeless moral dilemmas. Addressing these themes with objectivity will help your work connect with readers on a fundamental level.
Persistence and Patience
Writing genre fiction is a marathon, not a sprint. Be persistent to cultivate patience. Because the path to success is rife with obstacles.
Rejections and setbacks come with the territory. Commit to honing your craft. Learn from your failures. Stay consistent in your practice. That’s how you grow as a writer. The tenacity to keep writing against adversity is necessary for success.
Remember: Patience obtains all things, and persistence alone is invincible.
Genres are not eternal platonic forms. Nor are they shackles that bind us. They are keys that unlock creative potential and marketing success.
By understanding genres as marketing categories you can navigate the vast field of genre fiction with confidence and creativity. Use your genre’s tropes while daring to innovate. Study the masters, know your audience, and create unforgettable characters that resonate with readers. Master the art of pacing and tension, and immerse your audience in vivid worlds.
Master the art of writing within genres, and you can satisfy your readers’ demands while surpassing their expectations.
Embrace the power of genre fiction. Master the marketing categories that help books connect with readers who hunger for the stories you have to tell. Harness your genre’s artistic and marketing potential to craft stories that will reach readers and keep them coming back for more.
See Eastern and Western mech fiction blended into a greater whole.
Read my hit mil-SF saga’s explosive conclusion now:
Interesting. While I know I wouldn’t have the discipline for such a program (I struggle to actually sit down and read books even though I’m a pretty fast reader), I find them fascinating.