Writer's Road Chat Recap: Blending Genres
Heather McCorkle Welcome all! Tonight on the #WritersRoad we're chatting about Blending Genres. Should you do, how to do it, and how to pitch it.
Tina Moss Oh genre blending! Perfect topic. Have a MS on sub now that's been called...well, a bit of everything. :) #writersroad
J B Mills I have a sci fi that reads like a paranormal. So I'm calling it fantasy. Probably wrong, but I have to call it something. #writersroad
Heather McCorkle to @jbeemills True sci-fi fans will tell you though that sci-fi MUST be plausible/possible. #WritersRoad
Heather McCorkle to @jbeemills But that's not to say that you can't write something with sci-if elements that doesn't fall into the sci-fi genre. #WritersRoad
A.M. Guynes I tend to write the story I want to write and when I'm done figure out where it fits in. #writersroad
Matthew Wilbur to @HeatherMcCorkle @jbeemills The problem becomes when "plausible" becomes "here and now." Sf gets harder to write without a PhD. #WritersRoad
J B Mills to @HeatherMcCorkle There's no magic. It's focusing on different dimensions. But it just doesn't feel like a sci fi... #writersroad
Tina Moss The trick to genre blending is making sure it's marketable if you pitch agents/editors. If you go self-pub route, more leeway. #writersroad
Kris Mehigan Here's a newbie question... where would one go to find the "rules" of the different genres? #writersroad
Tina Moss to @KKMHOO Hmm... Romance is the easiest to figure out "rules". You can look at HQN lines or RWA. #WritersRoad
Tina Moss to @KKMHOO Also good to look at what's being written in your genre or how books that are like yours are marketed. #WritersRoad
Heather McCorkle to @KKMHOO Rules: Sci-fi=possible, fantasy=impossible, contemporary=real world base, romance=main theme must be romance... #WritersRoad
Tina Moss Blending genres can fill gaps in the market. This is basically how the "New Adult" category came to be, although not a genre. #writersroad
Matthew Wilbur to @HeatherMcCorkle @NineTiger Good blend of sf and fantasy was the SERRAted Edge novels. Elves and magic in an sf setting.
A.M. Guynes Any of the Pern books by Anne McCaffrey. They're science fantasy. #writersroad
Tina Moss Actually, my cousin's book, Bomb Boy blends genres well. It's sci-fi mixed with dystopian. Cool and gritty. #writersroad
Heather McCorkle I'll throw out Dune, sci-fi elements mixed with the impossibility of fantasy. It teeters on the edge of both. #WritersRoad
Matthew Wilbur I liked the Georgina Kinkaide books. Definitely paranormal romance but with a lot of humor mixed. in. #WritersRoad
A.M. Guynes Here's a question. Do you think psionic powers (telepathy, telekinesis) are science fiction or fantasy? #writersroad
Heather McCorkle to @annikkawoods It would officially fall under fantasy, but in my opinion, totally possible. #WritersRoad
Tina Moss Quick promo moment for my cousin: Bomb Boy by Steven Lombardi. amzn.to/14IkDqa It is a good ex of genre blends. #writersroad
Tina Moss One of my fav authors is MaryJanice Davidson. Not sure what to call her writing paranormal contemporary humor? Doesn't matter. #writersroad
Heather McCorkle Don't let the 'rules' of genres deter you from blending them. Some of the best stories broke the rules. #WritersRoad
Matthew Wilbur Whatever genres you decide to use, write the best story you can. Genre is really just a label. Story is what matters. #WritersRoad
J B Mills I think sometimes you have to do some blending to keep from being cliche. #writersroad
Matthew Wilbur to @jbeemills Sometimes the blending happens because the story requires it. Sometimes it happens and you don't even realize it. #WritersRoad
Tina Moss Harry Potter could be contemporary fantasy, but wouldn't be urban fantasy. UF is usually gritty, dark, etc. Goes w/ urban vibe. #writersroad
Tina Moss My co-written book is UF. Was calling individual book UF too, but it didn't have the same feel to it. Now... #writersroad
Tina Moss It's Paranormal Romantic Suspense. Try saying that three times fast. ;) #writersroad
Matthew Wilbur Humor is technically it's own genre. So things like Hitchhikers and the Discworld books are technically blends. #WritersRoad
Marianne G. Petrino #WritersRoad my novel Coffee with Thunderbolts I have labeled as urban metaphysical chicklit roadtrip too
Heather McCorkle to @Tina_Moss You make a great point. We need to allow our stories to naturally turn into whatever they want. Then go from there. #WritersRoad
Tina Moss Trick is to show comparables to MS. "Look it's not obscure, so and so writes it and makes $." LOL. But, don't pitch that. #writersroad
Heather McCorkle While it is great to blend genres, you must know your genres to do it well. #WritersRoad
Matthew Wilbur to @HeatherMcCorkle Which means you have to actually read the genres you want to blend. So you have the experience. #WritersRoad
Fida Just have the knowledge you need to write the best and sell in the best way. #WritersRoad
Matthew Wilbur to @HeatherMcCorkle Which also means, for guys especially, don't be afraid to read the "girly" stuff. You won't get cooties. #WritersRoad
Heather McCorkle to @Nightveil LOL! Yes. And if you do, you will likely find you like the cooties. #WritersRoad
Matthew Wilbur to @Tina_Moss @HeatherMcCorkle On occasion. I hate the stereotype that says male=explosions and no plot. #WritersRoad
Tina Moss Oh genre blending! Perfect topic. Have a MS on sub now that's been called...well, a bit of everything. :) #writersroad
J B Mills I have a sci fi that reads like a paranormal. So I'm calling it fantasy. Probably wrong, but I have to call it something. #writersroad
Heather McCorkle to @jbeemills True sci-fi fans will tell you though that sci-fi MUST be plausible/possible. #WritersRoad
Heather McCorkle to @jbeemills But that's not to say that you can't write something with sci-if elements that doesn't fall into the sci-fi genre. #WritersRoad
A.M. Guynes I tend to write the story I want to write and when I'm done figure out where it fits in. #writersroad
Matthew Wilbur to @HeatherMcCorkle @jbeemills The problem becomes when "plausible" becomes "here and now." Sf gets harder to write without a PhD. #WritersRoad
J B Mills to @HeatherMcCorkle There's no magic. It's focusing on different dimensions. But it just doesn't feel like a sci fi... #writersroad
Tina Moss The trick to genre blending is making sure it's marketable if you pitch agents/editors. If you go self-pub route, more leeway. #writersroad
Kris Mehigan Here's a newbie question... where would one go to find the "rules" of the different genres? #writersroad
Tina Moss to @KKMHOO Hmm... Romance is the easiest to figure out "rules". You can look at HQN lines or RWA. #WritersRoad
Tina Moss to @KKMHOO Also good to look at what's being written in your genre or how books that are like yours are marketed. #WritersRoad
Heather McCorkle to @KKMHOO Rules: Sci-fi=possible, fantasy=impossible, contemporary=real world base, romance=main theme must be romance... #WritersRoad
Tina Moss Blending genres can fill gaps in the market. This is basically how the "New Adult" category came to be, although not a genre. #writersroad
Matthew Wilbur to @HeatherMcCorkle @NineTiger Good blend of sf and fantasy was the SERRAted Edge novels. Elves and magic in an sf setting.
A.M. Guynes Any of the Pern books by Anne McCaffrey. They're science fantasy. #writersroad
Tina Moss Actually, my cousin's book, Bomb Boy blends genres well. It's sci-fi mixed with dystopian. Cool and gritty. #writersroad
Heather McCorkle I'll throw out Dune, sci-fi elements mixed with the impossibility of fantasy. It teeters on the edge of both. #WritersRoad
Matthew Wilbur I liked the Georgina Kinkaide books. Definitely paranormal romance but with a lot of humor mixed. in. #WritersRoad
A.M. Guynes Here's a question. Do you think psionic powers (telepathy, telekinesis) are science fiction or fantasy? #writersroad
Heather McCorkle to @annikkawoods It would officially fall under fantasy, but in my opinion, totally possible. #WritersRoad
Tina Moss Quick promo moment for my cousin: Bomb Boy by Steven Lombardi. amzn.to/14IkDqa It is a good ex of genre blends. #writersroad
Tina Moss One of my fav authors is MaryJanice Davidson. Not sure what to call her writing paranormal contemporary humor? Doesn't matter. #writersroad
Heather McCorkle Don't let the 'rules' of genres deter you from blending them. Some of the best stories broke the rules. #WritersRoad
Matthew Wilbur Whatever genres you decide to use, write the best story you can. Genre is really just a label. Story is what matters. #WritersRoad
J B Mills I think sometimes you have to do some blending to keep from being cliche. #writersroad
Matthew Wilbur to @jbeemills Sometimes the blending happens because the story requires it. Sometimes it happens and you don't even realize it. #WritersRoad
Tina Moss Harry Potter could be contemporary fantasy, but wouldn't be urban fantasy. UF is usually gritty, dark, etc. Goes w/ urban vibe. #writersroad
Tina Moss My co-written book is UF. Was calling individual book UF too, but it didn't have the same feel to it. Now... #writersroad
Tina Moss It's Paranormal Romantic Suspense. Try saying that three times fast. ;) #writersroad
Matthew Wilbur Humor is technically it's own genre. So things like Hitchhikers and the Discworld books are technically blends. #WritersRoad
Marianne G. Petrino #WritersRoad my novel Coffee with Thunderbolts I have labeled as urban metaphysical chicklit roadtrip too
Heather McCorkle to @Tina_Moss You make a great point. We need to allow our stories to naturally turn into whatever they want. Then go from there. #WritersRoad
Tina Moss Trick is to show comparables to MS. "Look it's not obscure, so and so writes it and makes $." LOL. But, don't pitch that. #writersroad
Heather McCorkle While it is great to blend genres, you must know your genres to do it well. #WritersRoad
Matthew Wilbur to @HeatherMcCorkle Which means you have to actually read the genres you want to blend. So you have the experience. #WritersRoad
Fida Just have the knowledge you need to write the best and sell in the best way. #WritersRoad
Matthew Wilbur to @HeatherMcCorkle Which also means, for guys especially, don't be afraid to read the "girly" stuff. You won't get cooties. #WritersRoad
Heather McCorkle to @Nightveil LOL! Yes. And if you do, you will likely find you like the cooties. #WritersRoad
Matthew Wilbur to @Tina_Moss @HeatherMcCorkle On occasion. I hate the stereotype that says male=explosions and no plot. #WritersRoad
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