Which comes first, the story or the genre?

[backslashbaby]

Originally Posted by Buffysquirrel

I do sometimes think, okay, what kind of idea is it? Am I going to write it Science Fictiony, or is it going to be allowed to stray into the Fantasy realm? Because, for me, there is a distinction in how the story progresses. Fantasy stories are allowed to get all magical, whereas in SF I have to pretend to justify the science somehow, mostly. But it's more a frame for me to work inside than it is for the reader/publisher/whoever.

Exactly! At the beginning I don't know how much magic will come out. Or I don't know how chilling/scary certain parts will end up. The proportions of those change the genre, although I can usually count on writing spec fic.

If it's going all chilling and I want to keep that focus up, I decide on horror, and similar for magical realism.

eta - oh, my horror is never really very scary to modern readers. It's kind of Henry James horror. So I'm not the best to be talking about that genre, keep in mind!

[Leanna]

roman à clefs - thanks kuwisdelu that's an idea.

[robjvargas]

It seems to me that this question is about the *craft* of writing vs the *business* of writing. I mean, in some ways, the genre affects the craft, but it seems to be more about how to sell and market the work.

[RPecha]

Focus on the story first, you can always figure out the genre when it comes time when it absolutely must be decided.

[C. R. Reaves]

I'm working on a novel where I can't really quite tell what sort of genre(s) it's really going to be. I also don't know quite where the content will go. But instead of worrying too much about it, I'm just writing it.

If it overall has a more "adult" tone (steamier scenes and more graphic violence), I can go back and pump it up all over. If it ends up being something more YA-friendly (the characters all being adults it isn't actually going to be YA - but this is for me to determine which name to publish under) and I don't want it to get darker, I can go back and decide if there's anything that needs to be toned down.

As for genre decisions, I know it certainly has fantasy elements and I read a lot of fantasy and know what to expect from it - but I'm also dragging in elements of a few sub-genres and near-genres and it's eventually just going to come down to which elements are going to be strongest as to how I'll market it.

So, I guess that puts me in the, "story trumps genre" camp. For this book. I may decide to sit down and specifically write something that fits the typical patterns of a certain niche genre which in that case would to some respect influence whether or not certain elements made it into the book or not. (Of course, just typing that makes me want to find a niche genre, learn the framework and use it to utterly turn it on its head - even knowing that better writers have likely been there before me.)

[smellycat6464]

a circle has no beginning, to quote my favorite writer/person in the world

but in all seriousness, I'm a tad baffled as to why people place so much emphasis on genre
"oh no, is it supernatural, romance, or supernatural romance? is it urban, fantasy, steampunk? is children's, or erotica, gahhhh the choices!"

hearing things like that confuses me because, to me, genre is the least important thing to fret about when writing. Just write! I mean, its not a bad thing to know what genre you're shooting for. For me, I always know what genre I'm writing, but its not like that's how I planned it. I didn't sit down and said "hmm. fantasy, epic fantasy. I'll write that genre today." instead I sat down and wrote what I wanted to write, and it happened to be epic fantasy.

but if you're REALLY confused, ask what you like, which genres are your favorites, which elements do you like the most in your WIP, any in common, then most likley its the same genre. And besides, genres are not strict categories. you can have romantic fantasies, romantic horrors, horror non-fiction, just about any mix other than the fictional non-fiction work...

so I say, write what you want to write, and the genre should be pretty self explanatory. and if its not, make your best guess because if the creator cannot decide than its interstitial enough for it to be a gray area question for the reader

[Silver-Midnight]

I think with the genre in mind a lot of the time I think. However, sometimes I do get ideas for stories, but they don't fit into any specific genre, especially ones I write. (Oddly enough, they usually come up after I've read literary fiction.) So, that's usually where the dilemma comes in for me. However, I think it's good to write the story first then decide the genre, maybe? I mean like someone said that can be a real pain, but at least, you've written something. I guess. Truthfully, I have no clue. Haha.

[catian]

The story.
Enough said.

[WordCount]

Story. Always.

It could have no genre, or multiple, and as long as the story is good, I'll read it.

[Brigid Barry]

I wrote a novel, then worried about finding a niche for it. Now that I have learned, I know what genre my next novel will fit into.

So you can write and find the genre after, or you can pick a genre and write for that genre.

[Nathaniel Bell]

Story, story, story, did you know Superman was inspired by the story of Moses? Kal-el means "voice of god" in hebrew.

It's the tale of an infant who was cast adrift to save his life and was taken in by foreigners who raised him in their own customs. He then grows into a man with magical powers that he uses to fight evil. See? I could be talking about either one.

Great stories are so good you can rework them endlessly because they resonate in the human psyche.

[ladyleeona]

The story.

But, that said, I do usually have a genre in mind, if only because it makes querying/pitching a little easier down the road.

And it's good to have an idea of genre so you can keep an eye on market trends. (I don't advocate writing to trends, but I believe it's helpful to be aware of them.) What's hot now probably won't be the Awesome New Thing in six months. Can let you know what kind of road you'll be traveling.

[backslashbaby]

Originally Posted by ladylilchubb

...
And it's good to have an idea of genre so you can keep an eye on market trends. (I don't advocate writing to trends, but I believe it's helpful to be aware of them.) What's hot now probably won't be the Awesome New Thing in six months. Can let you know what kind of road you'll be traveling.

Yep. My novel WIP is close enough to a vampire story that I don't feel bad that I'm working on it very slowly. I'm working on other things, and it's probably not the right time to do that sort of premise right now anyway, market-wise.

[WordCount]

Right now, from the look of things, I'd say SF/F is the way to go.

Horror is kinda out, as much as I hate to say it. Even Stephen King himself is slowly moving away from it. Sure, his work is gruesome, but Under the Dome was more of a Sci-Fi action-adventure story. And 11/22/63 was a Sci-Fi Alt fantasy.

Are parts scary? Yes. But it's not because it's intended to be horror, it's just King's work.

[The Lonely One]

OP, I'm with you on this. I usually have some vague idea of what genre I'm in, otherwise I think it's just too raw of an idea to work with in the first place.

I'm writing with spaceships in the future. Boom, I got a sci-fi story. I'm playing with language in a contemporary setting, I know I have something I'm going to sell to literary markets.

Sub-genres are an afterthought, as in I'll look for markets that like the kind of story I've written, but overall I have an idea of where things are going, or at least generally in what world the story takes place.

[Fins Left]

Awww.. genre, schmamre... it really doesn't matter. In less than a decade, google will have a Genre Search Engine where you tell it "I like the Hobbit" and it will spit out similar books for the reader to choose from.

Then, in addition to editing for grammar, you'll be doing GEO (Genre Engine Optimization) on your book to ensure you have the phrase "fairy dust" in there enough to make it pop on fantasy searches.

;-)

[readitnweep]

Story.

[The Seanchai]

It varies for me. Usually I start with the story and that then "dictates" the genre. However, I recently decided that I wanted to write a Fantasy novel and thus came up with a story that would fit such.

And for the record, I'm generally a pantser--it's rare that I outline.

[Snowball2695]

I vote for starting with the story, don't try restricting your brain to one genre.
Write what you want and figure it out later.

[GFanthome]

Once I get a story in my head, it just comes out. I don't ever start by worrying about what genre I'm going to write in. That always reveals itself quickly after I start writing.

To me, it's all about the story.

[Alexandra Little]

If you can take the romance out of a romance novel and still have a story, then it's not a romance. If you can take the fantasy out of a fantasy novel and still have a story, then it's not a fantasy.

Your genre influences your story, so while you're certainly capable of writing a story without consciously having a genre in mind, you also can't decide to crowbar certain genre elements into it later in an attempt to make it fit one category or another.

[Silver-Midnight]

EDIT: Sorry, wrong thread.

[Ralyks]

Originally Posted by Leanna

Hey to those of you who feel it's easy to figure out what genre a story is, I challenge you with this dilemma:
A memoir (all material factual) half of which details a near-out-of-body experience that reads exactly like a fantasy thriller. Now what genre is that?

Memoir.

[Wallace Cass]

My opinion is to write the story and worry about where to pidgeonhole it later. The genre really only comes into play when it's time to shop your story around.

Good luck,

Wallace

[WordCount]

I think Stephen King said that, "Genres are no more than a bookstore convenience."

That was probably a massacre of his real words, but you get the point.