I recently read a compelling essay regarding magical realism. Daniel—the author of the piece—described the work of a Bohemian writer named Josef Popper-Lynkeus, and went on to explain that he was categorized as a “fabulist”, someone who writes short fables. I wasn’t bothered by this reductionist categorization, but it definitely sparked a line of inquisitive thought around being categorized as a specific type of writer.

The need to categorize fiction, and its respective writers, is great. A reader wants to know which section to visit in a bookstore. It allows an author to effectively market their story. It’s how we have thoughtful conversations about entertainment. Stephen King is known for Horror, yet he wrote a novella which was later adapted for the screen called “The Shawshank Redemption”, one of the highest rated movies of all time and not considered to be within the Horror genre.

I guess what I’m leading into is, does genre matter to you when you sit down to write a story? What influence does genre have over the formulation of your tale? Can genre lead to derivative storytelling, or is that a part of its appeal? What sort of tropes form out of writing to fit a certain genre?

For readers, when picking up a book in a specific genre, are you seeking something familiar yet original? Do you avoid certain genres based on generalized feelings toward them? Overall, how important is genre when you look for your next book?

Lots of questions this week, but it’s a broad topic. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts! ~ WM