Day 17 - The Rubric of Genre...

Today you can find a "Questory" character interview over at The Plot. I had  a lot of fun doing this! It's such a unique and clever way to share, not just the who, what, where, when and how of your book but the feel and tone and voice of it at the same time. Very cool!

I'm also very happy to share two more great reviews over at Families.com. and also at Kathleen's Book Reviews. Thank you Tristi and Kathleen! One of the things both mentioned that pleased me greatly was about the inevitable Harry Potter comparison.

Tristi writes:

...might make the reader think the book is a Harry Potter rip-off, but there are enough twists and turns to the story to make it stand on its own two feet. Besides, there are enough common elements in every fantasy story that make them all seem alike, in one way or another.

And Kathleen writes:

I think that any new book about children and magic will end up being compared to HP.  Reid’s book is certainly different in many ways..

I know that the HP comparison will chase me, at least for awhile but it was refreshing to see the understanding that all genres follow a certain common thread. They must. You cannot write a romantic comedy with two people overcoming all obstacles to be together and then have one die or change his or her mind. It just doesn't work that way. Same with a murder mystery. It must be solved! You must follow the rules of genre or suffer the result of no readership. It's true.

There is a book. I'm sure many of you have heard about it. It's called Story by Robert McKee. If you are a writer and you haven't, then stop what you're doing..stop right now and get this book. It is the bible of good writing. In it he explains the clear, concise and necessary paths that each and every genre must take.

I was fortunate to attend his workshop several years ago and though the guy is cranky...I mean Cran. Ky. (god forbid you didn't bring in yellow legal pads for notes!)...he is brilliant. And absolutely right.

Loosely then, in the fantasy genre the hero(ine) must overcome emotional and physical obstacles, most likely with magic and usually with the help of companions in an invented world. In the end she (or he) must go up against his or her greatest obstacle, the evil (insert whatever the evil is here).

And so, with this in mind, I am happy to find my place in fantasy literature and thus gratefully accept the comparisons of all the stories before me.

Have an onkly good day!