: Re: Where can I find information on how different genres are conventionally written? I'm having a very hard time finding a list and examples of stylistic subgenre conventions. To be specific: how

@Holmes449

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I believe genre is primarily determined by plot, setting, and "justifications"; i.e. SciFi justifies fantastical elements (like FTL drives) by hand-waving some futuristic technology (or some technology we know would be possible if we could make some element that is impossible; like a particle with negative mass or what not).

Fantasy justifies their fantastical elements with "magic" that, like physics, operates according to some kind of rules. But in the end, if that were true, magic would just be subject to technological development too; like when we discovered the power of "electricity" and eventually harnessed it.

Other genres, like Wuxian (wire kung-fu) allows only supernatural muscular response in leaping, speed, strength or accuracy.

Then there is Realism, with no explicit magic, but sub-genres are characterized by plot: The Romantic Comedy can be written to any level of language, but ultimately we know the plots very well. A murder mystery is the same, a detective story demands no fixed language or phrases. e.g. The new season of "Endeavour" is on PBS, the eponymous police detective (set in Oxford 1960's) is highly intelligent and well read with sophisticated hobbies, including operas, an extensive philosophical education and the ability to debate it with Oxford professors, and so on. More of a Sherlock than a Sam Spade knuckle-bruiser.

Genre truly does not have much impact on things like "sentence length, dialogue, the tone of adjectives, pacing, etc."

Genre bending is violating plot norms (tropes) or what readers expect from a story type. Finding a way to use the "hard boiled detective" plot and tropes for a romantic comedy. Or a Zombie Apocalypse in a Fantasy world with magic. The show "Out of the Badlands" is Wuxian in a Post-Apocalyptic USA Dystopia.

Genre is a bigger "cut" than the details of sentence structure and word choice (Except perhaps for Children's books or YA), it tells the reader what to expect, what kinds of plot, what levels of sex and violence to expect. Often even the ending: I've been told by an agent that Romance novels do not have unhappy endings, the reader buys them FOR the happy ending, and will bring them back for a refund (which bookstores usually give because it comes out of the publisher's pocket), and publishers (and agents) know that and won't publish an unhappy ending, no matter how well written.

I don't think you need to worry about the elements you describe; write as you will and it will likely have an audience. As for genre, pick a story type that appeals to you. Here is a list most agents will recognize.

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