A Wannabe Author's Journey Through the Genre Maze

Unraveling the Complexities of Genre and Structure in Fiction Writing

As a first-time author, I've found myself in a bit of a quandary. We're constantly told that genre is everything in the world of writing, but what happens when you're not quite sure where your story fits? It's a conundrum that's been weighing on my mind lately, and I thought I'd share my thoughts and discoveries with you.

The Genre Dilemma

When you start writing a book, you might have a vague idea of which genre it belongs to, but often, you're wrong. And here's the kicker: genre is crucial. How can you satisfy your readers if you don’t know your genre? How can you include the mandatory scenes and tropes they expect?

I find myself in this very predicament. I love science fiction, or speculative fiction, if you will. But I'm not into fantasy, which already limits my options in the broader sci-fi and fantasy genre. And then there's the thriller genre, which I enjoy but haven't read much of recently.

The Importance of Reading

I've realized that I need to read more before settling on my genre. This might upset the family, but it's necessary. I've been listening to podcasts from the Self Publishing Show with James Blatch and Mark Dawson, featuring ThrillerFest 2018 and 2019 episodes. They interviewed several authors, including JD Barker and James Rollins, and names I hadn't really heard of before.

It's made me realize how limited my reading has been lately. I don't think I've ever read a James Rollins book. I read a Dan Brown novel ages ago, maybe two. And James Patterson, arguably the world's number-one author at the moment? I've barely touched his work.

A New Approach to Structure

Recently, I stumbled upon an interesting conversation in a podcast about Johnny B. Truant and his partners, Sean and Dave. They've released a book called "The Fiction Formula." Now, don't be misled by the title - it's not a formula for writing hit fiction, but rather a craft book.

Every piece of advice I've encountered over the past few years has discussed the three-act structure. The Story Grid method formalizes this into the beginning hook, the middle build, and the ending payoff, with a 25-50-25 split.

But Truant and his co-authors propose something different. They suggest that most writers, especially new ones, get lost in the middle build because it's too long. Their solution? Split the story into four acts of roughly 25% each.

The Four-Act Structure

This four-act structure isn't just pulled out of thin air. Apparently, it's what Hollywood does with their thriller movies. They always have a climax at the end of the second act, right in the middle of the traditional middle build. This structure works because the audience can understand and follow it easily, making for a more riveting story.

And it's not just for films. Books can benefit from this structure, too. If a book is properly structured this way, it becomes a page-turner.

Crafting Page-Turning Chapters

Another tip I've picked up is about chapter length. Keep your chapters short, possibly even making each chapter a single scene. Aim for no more than 2000 words, with 1500 words being a good target.

The logic behind this is simple but effective. When a reader finishes a chapter, they're incentivized to turn the page and read another. Even if it's late at night and they're reading before bed, they might think, "I'll just have a quick look at the next chapter." And before they know it, they've read several more chapters because each one is a manageable chunk.

The 40-Beat Method

Truant also suggests an interesting plotting method. Instead of meticulously plotting out each scene, chapter, and act, he recommends splitting the four acts into 40 beats - 10 beats per act. For each beat, you write a sentence describing what must happen.

This method provides a guideline without being too restrictive. It leaves room for the writer to discover and write as they go, allowing for creative freedom while still maintaining structure.

The Daily Writing Struggle

Of course, the usual advice from just about everyone is to write every day. But as I've found, that's easier said than done. Between family commitments and the demands of my day job, finding time to write daily is a challenge. At my age, the day job can be pretty exhausting, leaving little energy for creative pursuits.

But I'm not giving up. I'll keep plugging away, finding pockets of time where I can, and see what comes out of it all.

Final Thoughts

Navigating the world of genre, structure, and writing techniques can feel overwhelming for a first-time author. But it’s also exciting. I’m learning that while understanding genre is important, it’s not something that needs to be set in stone from the start. Reading widely and exploring different authors and styles can help shape and refine your own writing.

The four-act structure and the 40-beat method offer intriguing alternatives to the traditional three-act structure. They provide a framework that can help avoid the dreaded "saggy middle" while allowing creative freedom.

And while writing every day remains the ideal, it's important to be realistic and kind to ourselves. Writing when we can, even if it's not daily, is still progress. The key is to keep moving forward, keep learning, and keep writing.

In the end, whether you're writing sci-fi, thrillers, or something in between, the most important thing is to tell a story that excites you. Because if you're excited about your story, chances are your readers will be too. So here's to the writing journey, with all its challenges and discoveries. Let's keep exploring, keep learning, and, above all, keep writing.