Trouble arrives, however, when we write
cross-genre stories. We now have two (or more) reader expectations to be
met—and we have to do so in the same word count allotment. To make matters more complicated, we might not
be as conversant with the reader expectations and tropes of the non-romance
genre… and hence we find ourselves floundering, juggling, drinking copious
amounts of caffeine (or chowing down chocolate), and in general driving our
critique partners and editors slightly crazy. Because we’re trying to fit twice
the punch in half the size.
As someone who routinely melds two
genres for a living, I’ve come up with three ways to make your life slightly
easier (and less fattening ):
1. Know Thy Genres: This means you need to be suitable well-read
in all the genres in which you write. If you’re writing SFR and you go
gangbusters on the hyperspace drive technical aspects and wimp out on the
romance, you’ll lose readers (and reviewers). If you drown the book in romance
and do paper thin world building, you’ll lose your speculative fiction readers.
Those of us who love cross-genre come to those books wanting, yes, both our
chocolate and our peanut butter (if you’re a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup candy
fan). You have to know what readers expect…what must they absolutely have to be
happy?
2. Determine What Expectations/Tropes
Your Genres Have in Common: Both space
opera and romance trend (these days) for the take-charge, gutsy heroine. So in
crafting your character for that kind of cross-genre book, you can meet both
reader expectations but having a female protagonist that fits that kind of
role. But in cozy mysteries, for example, the protagonist is often an amateur,
perhaps even a bit bumbling. If you’re mixing cozy and space opera, you might
want to forgo the take-charge technical wizard lead character and consider the
ship’s cook as your protagonist…or perhaps a third-shift medical tech.
How about historical romance and fantasy
alternate-Earth? Historical romance and fantasy both lend themselves to more
lavish settings and descriptions. You can make readers from both sides of the
bookstore happy if you address that expectation in your story. And if you know
that’s an expectation you must address, it will cut down on your research time
and your word count: You’re doing double-duty when you research and design the
wizard’s castle with an eye to what both the historical and fantasy reader want
to know (and experience). And,
3. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help: Seek
out beta readers, critique partners, and other authors who write in all the
genres you’re currently exploring. Take classes—online and in-person—from
authors and experts in those genres. Don’t expect your romance critique partner
to fully understand the tropes and reader expectations in police procedurals if
that’s not a genre he usually reads. Don’t expect the manager of the science
fiction and fantasy bookshop you frequent to be conversant with the HEA. Use
these sources but know what each source brings to the literary table.
Writing cross-genre romance means you’re
always going to be doing double-duty, serving two masters, demanding chocolate
with your peanut butter. It’s a balancing act but it’s one that allows you—and
your readers—to explore worlds and characters and plots and conflicts that are
deeper, richer, and—when it’s done right—definitely more memorable.
A good resource for tropes and viewer
(reader) expectations:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GenreTropesBIO:
Winner of the prestigious national book
award, the RITA®, author Linnea Sinclair
is a name synonymous for high-action, emotionally intense, character-driven
novels. Starlog magazine calls
Sinclair “one of the reigning queens of science fiction romance.” The
Down Home Zombie Blues, her 2007 Bantam release, will hit the movie
theatres as The Down Home Alien Blues
in late 2012.
Sinclair, a former news
reporter and retired private detective, resides in
Naples, Florida (winters) and Columbus, Ohio (summers). Readers can find her at
her WEBSITE
I hope you will join my class
SLEUTH FACTS: PI
Procedures
For Your Plots
Hosted by
Fantasy-Futuristic& Paranormal
Romance Writers
This 4 WEEK class starts Sept. 3rd
For more information click HERE
Posts
3 comments:
Linnea,
What great food for thought! Thank you for the resource of trope lists. I am writing a cross genre novel and really appreciate it. I've already signed up for the PI class and am looking forward to it.
You always write interesting and useful blog posts. Many thanks for the tips and link. :-)
Hi Linnea,
Great post. I was very interested when you started mentioning SFR. I'm working on a series now and thought you hit the nail on the head with your post.
Janice~
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