Elliot Kessler

Genre is a strange thing to define. Some might say it’s the type of story being told, while others may think it’s the elements with which a story is told. There are a lot of stories, especially in the sci-fi and fantasy realm, that could be standard fiction as easily as they are genre fiction. There is no need to make them sci-fi or fantasy, but they are anyway because those sell better.

Making sure you’re writing your story in the correct genre is essential not only for storytelling purposes but for marketing purposes as well.

Appearances

Genre is not merely about appearances. Despite what most people say, if you set your story in space, that does not make it sci-fi. I would argue that C. S. Lewis’ “Cosmic Trilogy” is not, for the most part, sci-fi; it’s Christian fantasy. There are some sci-fi elements in the story. The spaceship is a scientific concept, and what space might look like was purely speculation. However, set the story in Narnia, not much changes except for appearances.

Another example of this is the entire subgenre of cyberpunk. When most people think of cyberpunk, they think of futuristic cities, cybernetic implants, androids, and advanced virtual reality. But that isn’t what cyberpunk is about. The core of cyberpunk is the dangers of technology, told through a character-focused story. This changes everything in the world of cyberpunk. You don’t need massive advertisements, neon lights, depressed hackers, or flying cars. All you need is to create a story that shows the possible dangers of technology and big-tech corporations through a story that focuses on character.

For example, I would argue that Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” is a cyberpunk movie. It isn’t set in a big, high-tech city. The characters aren’t living in dark, steamy alleys. It’s not even set in the future. But it has everything that is at the core of every cyberpunk story. It follows a group of hackers (or “extractors”) working against a large corporation. It uses sci-fi technology and shows its negative impact on the world. It is focused on Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, Cobb, and his struggles because of the sci-fi technology. If that isn’t the definition of cyberpunk, I don’t know what it is.

Lines and Barriers

Genres have no actual definition. They’re abstract ways that we’ve used to separate different types of stories so we can more easily find what we want. For instance, if someone is looking for a fun western read, you aren’t going to see them in the YA section. If someone is looking for a tense, mysterious thriller, you aren’t going to find them in the history section.

My point is this: genre only exists for marketing purposes. It works in the same way that social media algorithms work. It helps specific audiences find the kinds of stories they want to read or watch easily without needing to look through many other stories in many different genres. But it also keeps us from exploring other genres and expanding our horizons. Looking for new stories is more complicated with genre than without it. It’s easier to find the same stories over and over, but it’s harder to try new things.

Writing Other Genres

Because of these barriers that keep audiences from looking to other shelves, it’s harder for authors to write in multiple genres. Stephen King can easily write horror and thrillers because they can be similar. Orson Scott Card can easily write sci-fi and fantasy because they can be similar. But it is hard to be known for historical fiction and write thrillers. It’s also hard to write sci-fi and self-help books. Readers will look for your name on one bookshelf but not the other.

This is where pen names come in.

I haven’t tried this myself, and I have no idea if it would work, but if you want to write in more than one genre, you might try using a pen name for the other genre. However, for that name to be as recognizable as your original author’s name, you would likely have to double the work you are doing.

Writing in multiple genres with one name is possible, but it will likely not be easy. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

Conclusion

Genre is a bizarre thing. I don’t fully understand it, so I am writing this post to explore the idea further. Genres can be seen as barriers and walls, but they can also be seen as categories and types. They can be an obstacle for authors, but most authors have specific interests anyways, so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

The trouble comes in marketing. It would likely be challenging to market “Inception” as a cyberpunk film because it lacks the main visual appeal of cyberpunk. It would likely be challenging to market “Out of The Silent Planet” as fantasy, as most readers would see it as sci-fi because it is set in space.

That doesn’t mean your story can’t be successful in the genre you’re marketing it as, but it does mean it will be difficult. Focus on writing the best story you can and worry about marketing later.

Thanks for reading! Have a fantastic day.