As I’m
writing a genre novel for the NaNoWriMo, it seemed a good time to look at genre. The Oxford
Dictionary defines genre as 'a particular kind or style of art or literature'. Since
Aristotle people have discussed how creative writing falls into different
categories, and today we generally group writing into the three main divisions
of fiction, poetry and drama - with each group containing many subdivisions.
The genre novel
versus the literary novel, and the blurring – or not – of the lines between the
two is a discussion I’m sure will continue, and which I’m not going to
address. Literary fiction or genre novels, the writers of both have one thing
in common - they want people to read their books.
When someone
chooses a book, they often have a particular idea in mind of the kind of book
they want to read, and genre performs an active role in meeting those expectations.
Readers are smart and know the codes inherent within a genre, and writers can use these to increase anticipation. However,
it isn’t incumbent on the writer to meet all of those expectations – and this
play between reader and writer enhances enjoyment of the story. Genre should be
viewed as a great tool for writers with distinguishing features they can
deliberately use to their advantage.
Many stories are what is termed cross-genre, where themes and elements from two or more different genres are blended together. For example, a spy novel may
have a romance element (Bond always manages an affair or two), there are futuristic thrillers like Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, and crime novels do very well set in the past, as demonstrated by Lindsey Davis, author of the Falco detective series set in ancient Rome. So which genre a story belongs to is not
always clear cut.
Knowing the codes
of a particular genre can present a risk in that if you stick too closely to
the prescribed formula, you may end up with a story lacking in originality that
isn’t the one you set out to write. On the plus side, if done well, you’ll find
there are readers already out there, eager and waiting for your story.
Writing Update
My attempt to
complete the NaNoWriMo challenge of writing 50,000 words during the month of
November continues, and my life revolves around achieving my quota each day. My
brain is a bit of a mud pit first thing in the morning, but a few megajolts of caffeine
clears the sluggishness, allows a thought or two to surface, and I start
writing.
I have to admit,
without an outline, I would struggle to maintain the pace (I am managing the
quota - and a little bit more) but I’m hoping this month will give some long term strength to my writing muscle. I cut a chapter
deciding I didn’t like, or need it, then couldn’t think of anything to put in
its place, and put it back!
When I wrote my
outline, I decided I to have a battle – which is coming up in the chapter after
next. A battle! What was I thinking of? And although it’s not the climax, it’s
an appropriate increase in the dramatic arc. But battles really aren’t my thing, and although I know there is writing advice for battle scenes out there – I’m going to read a little Homer, (the ancient Greek, not the modern TV one)
as The Iliad has some great battles – not a lot of interior monologue – but great
detail on the action.
So with a bit of
luck, if I keep my head down, and my fingers tapping those keys, I might even be
finished next week! Yeah!
TODAY’S HAIKU
suits drink coffee,
talk
profit – outside a
homeless
man sits with his
dog
Useful Links:
This is a comprehensive
list of genres:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_genres
And for anyone
wishing to find out more about the NaNoWriMo:
Join me on Twitter
at: teagankearney@modhaiku
To all story lovers
out there, good reading, and to those of you who write, good writing.
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