Creative Writing 101

Lesson 2: Genres

Writing Exercise and Bibliography.

The main point of this lesson has been to familiarise yourself with genres, and to look at them in an analytical fashion. Authors are often advised to write in the genre they most like to read. This is good advice on the whole, but what if your preference lies in cross-genre books or what if the genre givens sometimes annoy you?

If you are writing genre fiction with a view to mainstream publication, you will probably need to abide by the givens, at least at first. The publishing world is a commercial one, and the givens have come about because they have proved, over time, to be the most popular forms of their genre.

If you prefer to write outside the guidelines, you might be better off writing literary novels, but if you want to write your own version of genre fiction, you may need to consider alternative avenues of publication.

Here are a few possibilities.

Electronic publishers often welcome cross-genre or atypical novels.

For some reason the YA and children's book worlds seem quite welcoming to cross genre. That is one more reason why 'Translations in Celadon' was written and published as a YA.

Self-publishing is also available to those with the money and determination.

WRITING EXERCISE.

The writing exercise for this lesson is to choose two genres or sub genres from those discussed in this lesson. One should be something you would like to write, the other should be a genre that doesn't appeal to you. Write a brief report on each, explaining why you would or would not feel comfortable writing in that genre.

Use your natural style for this writing exercise.

BIBLIOGRAPHY;

'In Search of a Husband', by Tegan James. Published by Robinson Publishing, 1997.

'Translations in Celadon', by Sally Odgers. Published by HarperCollins Australia, 1998.

The 'Alphabet Series' about Kinsey Mullhone, by Sue Grafton. Titles include 'E is for Evidence' and 'M is for Malice'. Published by Bantam.

The 'Phryne Fisher Series', by Kerry Greenwood. Titles include 'Raisins and Almonds' and 'Cocaine Blues', published by Allen and Unwin and Bolinda Press.

Jane Austen, various titles, available from Peguin Books.

Georgette Heyer, many titles including 'Bath Tangle' and 'Lady of Quality', available from Random House Publishers.

'Man of Iron', by Catherine George. Publisher: Harlequin, 1988; ISBN:0373029241.

'One Last Dance', by Claire Harrison. Harlequin, ISBN: 0373107692 1984. 'Touch Me in the Morning', by Catherine George. Harlequin, 1987, ISBN:0373110650.

'Beyond Compare', by Penny Jordan. Harlequin, ISBN: 0373112823 1990?

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