The Rise and Rise of Multiple Genres - Part 3

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

One of the best books I’ve read on Genres is The Anatomy of Genres by John Truby. Actually, it’s the only book I’ve read on Genres. But as we are concerned at the Art of Writing creative writing retreats about your genre choice, I thought I’d give a book on Genres a go. And there is no better book to give a go than this one.

For me, the Anatomy of Genres is essential reading for every writer. That said, I don’t read a lot of books on writing. I buy writing books on whims. Then they sit on my bookshelf, or bedside table mostly unread. That said, every now and then I do need a bit of a kick-a-long, an uplift, motivation, or writerly validation. So, I will on occasion dip in and out of a writing book.

Goodness knows Amazon is packed with writing self-help books. Every tiny, weeny niche in self-help and self-tutor writing books has been explored. Yet, before John Truby’s book I had not seen a great and true examination and revelation of the mystery surrounding Genres. John sold a gazillion copies of The Anatomy of Story (which I did not read) and has made a business out of consulting on storytelling. That’s how he found his way into Genre. Because Genre is important:  

Most people think genres are simply categories on Netflix or Amazon that provide a helpful guide to making entertainment choices. Most people are wrong. Genre stories aren’t just a small subset of the films, video games, TV shows, and books that people consume. They are the all-stars of the entertainment world, comprising the vast majority of popular stories worldwide. That’s why businesses—movie studios, production companies, video game studios, and publishing houses—buy and sell them. Writers who want to succeed professionally must write the stories these businesses want to buy. Simply put, the storytelling game is won by mastering the structure of genres.

In The Anatomy of Genres, John Truby outlines and explains each genre’s philosophy. How each genre is based on a fundamental concern. The below list may not make sense to you. But if you read the book, the pennies will drop like bricks:

  • HORROR: Confront death and face your ghosts from the past.

  • ACTION: 90% of success is taking action

  • MYTH: Seek immortality by finding your destiny in life.

  • MEMOIR and COMING OF AGE: Examine your life to create your true self.

  • SCIENCE FICTION: Make the right choices now to ensure a better future for all.

  • CRIME: Protect the weak and bring the guilty to justice.

  • COMEDY: Success comes when you strip away all facades and show others who you really are.

  • WESTERN: When you help others make a home, you create a civilisation where everyone is free to live their best life.

  • GANGSTER: Don’t be enslaved by absolute power and money or you will pay the ultimate price.

  • FANTASY: Discover the magic in yourself that makes life itself an art form.

  • DETECTIVE AND THRILLER: Look for the truth and assign guilt in spite of the danger.

  • LOVE: Learning how to love is the key to happiness.

Please check out previously published blogs on Genre Part 1 and Part 2 that lead up to John’s thoughts, listed below:

The Anatomy of Genres: How Story Forms Explain the Way the World Works. John Truby details three ironclad rules of successful genre writing, and analyzes more than a dozen major genres and the essential plot events, or “beats,” that define each of them. As he shows, the ability to combine these beats in the right way is what separates stories that sell from those that don’t. Truby also reveals how a single story can combine elements of different genres, and how the best writers use this technique to craft unforgettable stories that stand out from the crowd.

You can’t go wrong buying and reading a book like this. Why not? You don’t have anything to lose. Improving your writing and your knowledge base on writing is a never-ending process.

That’s why we are here!

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2023 Art of Writing Dates

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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A Quick Note from Lisa
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The Rise and Rise of Multiple Genres - Part 2