Use Genres to Fulfill Readers’ Expectations

Genres help writers understand and fulfill the expectations of audiences by adopting and adapting the key scenes and conventions pre-established by TV shows, films, and books.

Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this post.

• The power of genre’s key scenes and conventions.
• How to use a genre to guide your story development.
• The opportunity to combine genres and create a unique story.

The Power of Genre’s Key Scenes and Conventions

Top writers of commercial fiction don’t reinvent story structure, but use the wisdom of those that came before them to exceed readers’ expectations.

“Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.” — King Solomon

Here’s a brief breakdown of terms.

I found the listed books and website helpful, but unwieldy for story development, so I adopted and adapted three genres to use on my latest work in progress.

Note: Within the overall story arc, the start and end of multiple genres (i.e., Act 1, Act 2A, Act 2B, and Act 3) may vary. For example, in my current WIP, the conventions and key scenes do not start and end at the same time within the acts. The romance’s Act 1 does not start until the thriller’s Act 2A. Shifting and contrasting the genre mix gives writers opportunities to make their stories unique.

And here’s an example of the HOOK Story beat plus key scenes and conventions.

Note: Scene intensity rises and falls, progressing in an upward trend until CLIMAX.

Use Genres to Guide Story Development

Here’s how I use genres to guide story development.

1. Define the key scene and conventions you’ll use with your chosen genres. (Note: For an example, download the hi-res PDF of my key scenes and conventions for thriller, mystery, and romance genres.)
2. Determine the initial placement of content that will satisfy the key scenes and conventions. (Note: I start with the Trellis Method’s 18 Story Beats and create a note card and its placement in the overall story arc. You can do this with sticky notes, index cards, spreadsheet, or Scrivener’s “cork board” mode.)
3. If your story uses multiple genres, repeat the process for each genre. (Note: There are many formats and story styles that use more than one genre. My work in progress combines thriller (70%), mystery (20%), and romance (10%). This WIP uses subplots and multi-POV to emphasize the key scenes and conventions.)

Using key scenes and conventions for story development is art, not science.

The Trellis Method’s Story Beats serve as your guide, supporting a writer’s freedom to create. Do what’s right for your story, but keep in mind that deviating too far from the familiar structure and pre-established expectations may not please readers.

Again, writing a book is creative art, not adherence to some invisible set of rules.

Combine Genres to Create Unique Stories

Using multiple genres offers you exciting opportunities to create unique stories.

• Study bestselling authors and you’ll find much familiar territory, but it’s the way those authors combine genres and then add twists that sets them apart from others.
• Only you govern the placement of key scenes and conventions within the framework of the 18 Story Beats, empowering without hindering your creativity.
• Your mind will explode with possibilities when you combine the key scenes and conventions to create a one-of-a-kind narrative.

Your opportunities will go nuclear when you layer in the twists designed to surprise and delight your readers.

Wrap Up

• Genres represent the pre-established expectations of audiences.
• There is no single source for a standard definition of each genre.
• Adopt and adapt a genre’s key scenes and conventions for your stories.
• Satisfy readers’ pre-established expectations, then add your twists.

*Note: This page contains affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, but it won’t cost you a penny more. Learn more in my Affiliate Disclaimer.

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