 Short Stories: February 17, 2016 Issue [#7487] |
  Short Stories
This week: The Influence of Conflict on Genre Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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A Short Story Newsletter by Elf
Slight ramble on the topic of genre and how the conflict of the story can influence the placement in the range of genres available. |
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It's another day in short story land and this time I want to talk about genre. More specific: let's consider how the main conflict in the story can influence the chosen main genre. While stories can have sub-plots/conflicts and other genre aspects to them, just consider the big, single main conflict in a short story. How do you think that conflict relates to the genre?
From my experience, conflict has quite the influence on the genre the story will eventually settle into, whether working with short fiction or even novels. Some are easy to pin down as far as the genre and even that factor can be determined before anything is written. However, there are times when the genre gets a little questionable and that is where I suggest looking at factors like the world, characters and the conflict involved. For entering contests that are genre specific, too, it's good to consider how the conflict can relate to the expectations.
For example, I judge an erotica contest and on occasion it will come up as to what qualifies compared to say a romance or even just a story has has sex in it. One way to look at the stories and something I always consider is how the actions in the story relate to the conflict.
Romance is one that is well known for having certain standards as to what qualifies in the genre and the readers expect those certain factors. The conflict within the story, the main one, needs to relate to the question of the relationship. Whether they are in one or working towards one will vary, but most imprints and readers are expecting the struggles to relate to the question of a budding romance.
Erotica can have those elements but there needs to be a connection to the physical side. Just because a story has sexual situations or things happening, does not automatically make the story erotic.
And just because a story includes romance doesn't necessarily mean that's the main genre. The young adult novels I'm working on right now do have romance subplots but I don't call them YA Romance. They are Contemporary YA stories because the main focus in on the friendships of the two main characters and each of their personal struggles.
Conflict can also influence some subgenre factors, like in fantasy where there are many different types found within the main genre. An urban fantasy will have a little bit of a different conflict than an epic one. There are many others too.
In summary, when trying to determine the genre of your short story (or longer ones too), one place to consider is within the main conflict.
Challenge: Think about a song where the main lyrics say "I'm only one call away" and create a type of conflict inspired by the words. What genre would come from that conflict? Comment on the newsletter with your conflict and expected genre.
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The story of an unlucky few who have the opportunity to do-over one point in their lives.
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How does the conflict in your story relate to the chosen genre?
Challenge: Think about a song where the main lyrics say "I'm only one call away" and create a type of conflict inspired by the words. What genre would come from that conflict? Comment on the newsletter with your conflict and expected genre.
Last time I discussed having characters who are thankful. Here are a couple of comments that were sent in back in November.
Comment by Mary Ann MCPhedran 
Your news letter was well written and brought a memory back to me of my past. My character was an old man who was a family friend. On a Wednesday each week I visited this family and took with me cream cakes and a block of tobacco. He took it from me and first he smelled the brand before saying,' This is grand.' He really looked forward to his block of tobacco. I enjoyed reading your news letter. Mary
Comment by brom21 
I think the way the character express his thankfulness is important too. The prince saves the princess and is rewarded with a kiss. An army general gives a medal to the heroic soldier and so on. Thankfulness also indicates a prudent and tender heart. It shows that the characters do not have a cold soul which makes the reader like him or her. Thanks or the pointer. I learned something.
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