{"id":24730,"date":"2021-10-14T18:43:24","date_gmt":"2021-10-15T01:43:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=24730"},"modified":"2021-10-14T18:43:24","modified_gmt":"2021-10-15T01:43:24","slug":"plan-your-novel-start-with-genre-by-beth-barany","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2021\/10\/14\/plan-your-novel-start-with-genre-by-beth-barany\/","title":{"rendered":"Plan Your Novel: Start with Genre by Beth Barany"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"WFZ_Plan<\/a>To plan your novel, it\u2019s helpful to think about your genre, so that you\u2019ll have a general idea of your story ending.<\/p>\n

If you’re not sure what your genre is, take a guess and start there.<\/p>\n

After all, preparing your novel is about testing ideas and seeing how they fit together.<\/p>\n

You’re in a creative lab here.<\/p>\n

What is genre?<\/h2>\n

\u201cGenre is a label that tells the reader\/audience what to expect. Genres simply manage audience expectations.\u201d \u2013 Shawn Coyne, StoryGrid.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There are many definitions of genre in fiction and in storytelling in general.<\/p>\n

I like Shawn Coyne\u2019s definition from book, Story Grid<\/em><\/a>, where he also has an extensive discussion of how to analyze genre in his material.<\/p>\n

For example, readers of romance<\/strong> expect a Happily Ever After or a Happily For Now.<\/p>\n

Mystery<\/strong> readers expect a mystery at the beginning that is solved by a sleuth and the perpetrator brought to justice.<\/p>\n

Thriller<\/strong> readers expect a fast-paced ride where the main character runs for their life but finds a way to overcome in the end, but maybe at great cost.<\/p>\n

Orson Scott Card’s book, Characters and Viewpoint<\/em><\/a>, gives another take on reader expectations:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhenever you tell a story, you make an implicit contract with the reader. Within the first few paragraphs or pages, you tell the reader implicitly what kind of story this is going to be; the reader then knows what to expect and holds the thread of that structure throughout the tale. . .\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You probably already know your expectations of your genre.<\/p>\n

Hopefully, you read what you want to write. If you don\u2019t, I highly recommend that you do.<\/p>\n

\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n

Common Problem at this Stage<\/h2>\n

I don’t know my story’s genre because I’m just getting to know my story.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That’s okay. You’re in the right place.<\/p>\n

Possible Next Step<\/em><\/p>\n

Go ahead and continue to plan your novel and notice what kinds of stories your story idea resembles. What other stories is it like? Enlist the help of others to help you see the connections to other stories.<\/p>\n

My story seems to be a mix of several kinds of genre.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes! We welcome and encourage stretching genre boundaries and mashing up genres. This works well if you already know your genres, or if you’re willing to explore.<\/p>\n

Possible Next Step<\/em><\/p>\n

Pay attention to which elements of your story belong to which genre.<\/p>\n

That way you can pick and choose from your buffet of options.<\/p>\n

This whole genre discussion makes my head spin. Can I just work on the story idea I have an ignore genre?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sure! When you’re doing something for the first time or exploring something new after doing it one way, the questions of genre can seem like too much to consider at this stage of the writing process.<\/p>\n

Possible Solution<\/em><\/p>\n

Brainstorm your story and ask yourself story questions as you go, letting your subconscious ruminate on the genre question.<\/p>\n

Above all, hold the planning and first drafting process lightly. It’s an exploratory, play space, or a laboratory where you try things.<\/p>\n

In the editing you’ll have a chance to refine your story and make conscious decisions about genre.<\/p>\n

SHARE<\/strong><\/h2>\n