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the one minute writer: Genre writing
I teach many writers interested in genres such as mystery, fantasy, and vampire stories. When critiquing their drafts I often find myself saying, “imitate the best of the genre, not the worst of it.”
For example, let’s take detective stories. This genre has its roots in pulp fiction. The name literally refers to the type of paper these stories were printed on: cheap, disposable, smeary, pulpy paper, the kind that turns brown and brittle in no time.
Like the paper they were printed on, the stories were mostly written to be disposable. Familiar, repetitious plot devices, flat, stereotyped, easily recognizable characters, plenty of cliches and sentimentality, and a clunky style that didn’t show signs of much revision. One more thing: they were geared to the emotional maturity and hormones of 12-year-old boys.
That’s not where their storytelling innovation lies. Detective fiction resonates because it has a way of looking at the world that connects with us, great situations, terrific form for suspense. And it created an enduring character type and voice: the world-weary, hard-boiled, amoral detective.
Nowadays, though, the genre has improved along with the paper, matured along with the audience. More rounded characters, less flash and more craft, more art all around. It’s tempting to imitate what seems to be the signature style of these stories, but along with imitating the best, don’t imitate the worst, and don’t get caught in a time warp, recycling the same plots, characters, and situations as 40 years ago. (Parody, of course, is a different story.)
The same holds true for sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and most other genres. If you love genre, think about what makes it enduring, and what limits it. Avoid the worst aspects and work on finding your unique approach to the best aspects. – Michael Jackman, Director, WWP.
