Genres I understand
Webster’s Dictionary defines genre as
a ‘… a category of art or literature characterised by a certain form, style,
subject matter or atmosphere.’
It is a mystery to me that people
who write, know so certainly which genre they are writing to. I am amazed that
writers limit themselves to such a degree. Books might fall into certain
genres, but I do not understand why a writer puts themselves there. I have a
deep suspicion that these labels lead to formulaic writing, doomed to rejection
through lack of freshness regardless of the writing talent. Genres have become
the clichés of style.
I write stories. Where they fall
depends on all those things but they do not define what I write when I start
something new. I don’t want to write to
a recipe, I don’t want to conform for form’s sake. Surely it’s like saying to a
chef, you can only cook fish entrees or only vegetable soups or tagliatelle or
pork chops etc. Does this mean I have not found my niche? That my writing has
not developed enough to master specialised disciplines? Perhaps. I don’t know.
It’s like music these days – there are so many narrow labels and they all end
up sounding the same in any one genre. Oh for the 60s and 70s when diversity
reigned. In my youth there were broad categories which allowed originality
within and crossover without. You were not defined by your music choices as
people are now. I feel the same is happening to writing.
I understand the need for publishers
and bookstores to create order and so genres for marketing, but that is the end
product.
As a writer, you sit down and begin
to write because you have an idea, be it a story, a character, a setting or a
what if idea. Who knows the best form to realise that idea until you start? I
am writing my first novel which started as the story of the dynamics between
three sisters, but along came a murder and a policeman, who might fall in love
with one of the sisters. He is a bad cop but he is a good man. So far nothing
is resolved. Not sure if it will be. It’s not a crime novel, it’s not a
romance, it’s not even well done. So far. But I will work until I have resolved
those issues and made it as good as I can write it.
Check this website genre list - scroll down to the alphabetical list - oh please!
absurdist
Gothic
Sci-fi
paranormal romance
Space opera
Genre starter kit!
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