The Rise and Rise of Multiple Genres

Writing EncouragementWriting TipsWriting PassionWriting Inspiration
Written By Lisa Clifford - Author/Journalist

What is your genre? This is the first question we will ask you at the Art of Writing retreat in Florence. How I found mine came up in my last blog on Maria. By interviewing Aunty Maria, by gathering her story, I knew what I wanted to write about, and why. Aunty Maria’s story helped me know exactly where my new book would sit with publishers and agents. That’s the first question agents and publishers will ask you too. It’s a constant query -- genre, genre, genre. And if you don’t know your literary category on the first day of your creative writing retreat with us, you will know it on your last day. With hard work, deep thinking, and tutoring, you will know your genre.

Genre is a particular type of literature that is considered a ‘class’ because it has special characteristics.

To explain, agents and publishers buy and sell genres. That is the nature of their game. Agents pitch specific genres to publishers. Then publishers take on precise genres to sell to readers. People who love reading have their favourite genres. And if they don’t get the genre they bought, they will be really disappointed. (That’s a nice way of saying super pissed off.) Genres sit on shelves in bookshops under signs saying Young Adult, Horror, Romance or Science Fiction,or Historical Fiction. Everything boils down to the moment a reader shops down the aisle of what they like.

If you can’t nail down your genre you won’t be picked up by an agent. Sure, maybe your novel is ‘literary,’ so your genre is harder to pinpoint. But at the very minimum label, your work initially as Women’s Fiction. Then it would be grouped into Women’s Literary Fiction or Women’s Commercial Fiction. Every book, in the interests of marketing, promotions, pitches and sales (in other words – business) must have a genre.

Now, just to really shake things up, I recently chatted with a group of successful writers who talked about how the best books nowadays (meaning the biggest sellers) are a mix of genres. Crime worked into romance. Historical worked into horror and romance. How television now has the most incredible writers who weave all sorts of genres into story. Think Game of Thrones = action, romance, thriller, suspense, adventure, fantasy. Think Breaking Bad = dark comedy, suspense, crime, thriller, drama. Think The Handmaid’s Tale = Science Fiction, Dystopian, Tragedy. TV is really mixing up the genres.

But even in TV or the written word, a primary genre must be chosen. Especially with books, as they are still heavily mired in genre. But in many ways, books are catching up to TV. The biggest sellers have multiple genres. This will absolutely do your head in if you are a beginner/emerging writer. It’s hard enough finishing your first book, let alone trying to merge multiple genres into it.

But think about multiple genres and genres in general. Know what’s happening in literature and TV. Understand why you like HBO’s White Lotus – maybe because it’s a mix of genres? Thriller, satire, dark comedy, family drama, and general drama.

Think deeply about your genre. I’ll write more about it in the coming weeks.

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2023 Art of Writing Dates

NOW FULL - Thursday, February 9th to Sunday, February 12th, 2023, Brisbane, Australia

Sunday, May 7th to Thursday, May 11th, 2023, Florence

Sunday, June 4th to Thursday, June 8th, 2023, Florence

Sunday, June 25th to Thursday, June 29th The Next Draft, for finished manuscripts.

Sunday July 9th to Thursday, July 13th, 2023, Florence

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If you’d like to share any comments or thoughts, I’d be happy to hear from you. Email me directly at lisacliffordwriter@gmail.com.

Lisa Clifford - Author/Journalist

I was seventeen years old and as I watched my step on the suicidally thin strips of footpath, I never imagined that I would marry one of the Italian boys on the Vespas that shot up and down the tiny, medieval streets of Florence.

But one year after arriving in Florence to study Italian, I did fall in love. There followed eighteen years of going back and forth between Italy and Sydney, trying to decide where to live. During these early years of oscillation, I won a scholarship to the Australian Film, Television and Radio School. After graduating, I became a radio journalist and reported for 2GB, Kiss FM and corresponded for the ABC, 2UE and the American Radio News Network. Ultimately I moved into television news and while Associate Producer with Channel 10 I wrote my first book – Walking Sydney, A Guide to 25 of Sydney’s Best Walks.

During those eighteen years I always, always went back to Florence to see my gorgeous Italian boyfriend.

The move to live permanently in Italy and marry Paolo brought me two beautiful babies. Three books followed – The Promise, Death in the Mountains and Naples: A Way of Love. My current work in progress keeps me busy travelling all over Italy. I hope you’ll join me on writing tips, formulas, updates and manuscript developments on my blog.

After four decades of living in and writing about Italy, I decided it was time to share what I have learnt here in Tuscany by helping other writers achieve their dreams. My Art of Writing retreats are for beginning, emerging and established writers. We bring famous publishers and published authors to the Florence to teach and share their journeys.

I hope you can join me. I’d love to meet you and help you take your idea to novel, in what I think is the perfect environment for creativity.

— Lisa Clifford

http://www.lisacliffordwriter.com/
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The Rise and Rise of Multiple Genres - Part 2

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The Creative Journey - My Interview with Aunty Maria