When I write I prefer to let the genre take a back seat to the story.
Why?
For a few different reasons. If you concentrate too much on genre you'll find yourself constrained. And because of that, your story could suffer. Why not let the sky be the limit. Why not write whatever flows from your mind. You can always rein it back it later. At least you've let your imaginative mind search the grey edges of your boundaries.
I know this style of writing does not suit everyone. Many like to plan and know what will happen in the middle of the story and ending. That's fine, but there's still room for you to let yourself go and just see how your characters handle it. Life isn't going to always follow the tracks. Sometimes it gets derailed, so your story should too.
Interesting thoughts, Matt. Given that genre is something of a moving cultural target, in any event, I agree with what you've said. I'll keep that in mind for my next story!
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff Jarod, glad my rambling has some merit ;)
DeleteHowever there is a difference between planning and sticking to genre conventions.
ReplyDeleteMany writers do not outline their stories but they do try to stay within the genre conventions and for very good reason. It gives structure to a book and means the audience knows what they are expecting.
Of course there is room to explore within a genre and that is where and how sub genres have and are created but there will always be an underlying path that writers should follow so that their story makes total sense.
Ah yes, spoken like a true planner! Thanks for the comment Lindy, especially because it's a different opinion to mine :)
DeleteI do like a good discussion.
And for people reading this now: if planning is your way and it works for you then that's great! Some people like order and structure and to know where they are going with a story. Also what genre their story will be, what characters will be included, and even the tone of the story. But others feel too restricted by this and may not even begin writing because of it. And if rules are stopping you from writing because they bog you down or slow you down, then throw them out the window. Write anything, do some stream of consciousness: http://matclarke.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/free-writing-stream-of-consciousness.html
Both ways are correct. And actually, any way you write is correct!
I still prefer to write and see what happens as I go. Maybe my horror story will become a comedy, I really don't mind. Maybe it's how the genre horror-comedy came about?
Write what you feel like and write for yourself. No restrictions no limits. Then later, rein your story in if you wish, style it toward a genre if that's what you want.
You may find that during this process you can't rein your story back into a genre (if that's what you wish to do) in that case then that way of writing may not be for you.
As Hemingway said, write drunk, edit sober. Take that literally, or to mean that you should write just about anything initially, and then later alter it to appeal to (certain) readers.
And as for genres, well, writers came before readers, so I say change the genre to suit you. It's your art, you decide. Boundaries are there to be broken - you just may not be published as soon as you would like to if you do start straying from the norm.
However, look at Comac McCarthy, he broke the rules of writing (not genre rules) and he's published.
Interesting stories sell... sometimes even if they're not written in way that's generally accepted.
(Side note: If you want to be published, publishers do like a story to sit within a particular genre and style, at least generally, however, they more like it when your book is comparable in story or plot to another well known author's title - true dinks! It's one of the first things a publisher asks: What book do you see yours sitting next to on the shelf and how is it comparable?)