Introduction

Hey, Authors of Tomorrow!

Today’s post is a continuation of “Blending and Subverting Familiar Tropes in New Ways” and should grow your unique story further. As a quick refresher, tropes are tools that help us write better and readers read better. A trope as a tool and not a crutch. Tropes used as tools create stronger characters, more vivid worlds, and better stories for your readers to fall in love with. Knowing the tropes will help you with genre mashups because it sets the basis for merging genres. If you haven’t read it already, I encourage you to visit the post linked above! If you’re just here for the genre mashup, then let’s get to it.

Genre blending has changed the landscape of modern speculative fiction. We’ve gone from pure fantasy and pure sci-fi to science fantasy, urban fantasy, dystopian, and paranormal romance stories. This has not only created unique niches for writers and readers but also encourages readers to explore other genres. They’ve also become some of the most popular works of fiction. Romantasy has taken a massive leap in popularity and enthrals many readers. So there might be something there.

Mastering genre mashups can transform your story that isn’t just quite working to a unique and compelling piece of literature.

Understanding Genre Mashups

Genre mashups, also known as cross-genres or hybrid genres, take elements from two or more genres to create a cohesive and unique piece of fiction.

While genre mashups are more popular now more than ever, they didn’t just appear in the form we see them today. The earliest forms of genre-blending can be found in ancient Greek tragedies that combined drama and philosophy. William Shakespeare came in later mixing comedy, tragedy, and history in his plays. Mary Shelley brought us the gothic horror with science fiction, “Frankenstein.” As technology and society developed, more and more options appeared for writers to use in their mashups. The continued growth of creativity will continue to change the mashups that readers of tomorrow will find as their favorite. If you take only one thing from the history of genre-blending, is that it’s tried and true, and can help make your story the best it can be.

Authors love genre mashups because it allows greater creative freedom. You’ll find new ways to experiment with storytelling techniques that reach a broader audience.

Readers swarm to genre-blended fiction because it provides a unique and immersive experience on every page. You can challenge your readers to reconsider how they view their favorite genres and explore new ones.

With the basic understanding of mashups in place, let’s explore some common genre combinations in speculative fiction.

Common Genre Combinations in Speculative Fiction

There are so many genre combinations available that it would take a book to explore all of them. But looking at the familiar combinations through examples can help you decide on what genres you want to combine.

Science Fantasy

The Science fiction and fantasy combo appears probably the most often as it allows for more exploration than a one side or the other story. Science Fantasy stories can include other worlds, aliens, advanced technology, all combined with magic and magical creatures. These can also be entertaining, allowing readers to enjoy the softer sides of both genres.

Star Wars and Dune showcase a well-balanced combination of magical and science fiction elements. These stories have detailed worlds, interesting characters, and a blend of futuristic technology and supernatural abilities. They offer captivating adventures with themes of power, destiny, and the duality of good and evil.

Urban Fantasy

Urban fantasy is a genre where fantastical elements are integrated into a real-world urban setting. Often these stories take place in the current day. These are great stories that tie in the challenges of our modern world with the struggles of the magical world. Common elements include dark noir, crime solving, and paranormal characters, which makes this genre popular with teenagers and adults.

“The Dresden Files” by Jim Butcher and “Neverwhere” from Neil Gaiman are great examples of urban fantasy, showcasing diverse and vibrant urban settings intertwined with magical elements and supernatural beings.

Butcher’s series follows the adventures of Harry Dresden, a wizard detective in modern-day Chicago, while Gaiman’s novel takes readers on a journey through the mysterious and hidden realm of London Below.

Both authors expertly combine city life with the extraordinary, crafting immersive stories that have attracted a dedicated fanbase. The popularity of their works has helped urban fantasy gain widespread appreciation as a compelling subgenre that captivates readers globally.

Romantasy

Romantasy is a genre that balances the importance of romance and fantasy genre elements. Instead of just being a subplot, the romance becomes just important to the characters, as does the fantastical elements. Social media has played a large part in this genre’s popularity, but it’s more than that. Authors of this genre are creating more sex-positivity and spiciness in their female characters to connect with the target audience. It also provides a unique escapism from the realities of the world with familiar tropes.

In “A Court of Thorns and Roses,” the main character, Feyre, becomes involved with magic and encounters powerful faeries, leading to a passionate romance with the enigmatic faerie prince, Tamlin. This romantic dynamic is interwoven with mythical creatures, enchanting settings, and perilous challenges, creating a captivating blend of romance and fantasy.

The “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros is another romantasy that is familiar to those who even haven’t read it. Violet Sorrengail, the protagonist, attends Basgiath War College to become a dragon rider. The fantastical backdrop provided by Yarros offers an immersive environment for the plot. Meanwhile, the romance elements follow the enemies to lovers trope and their relationship adds as much depth and tension to the story as does the fantasy setting.

There are many other common forms of genre mash-ups, but I’ve excluded some from this list because we’ve already have, or will talk about them in depth. You can find them here, Steampunk (A few weeks ago) and Dystopian (Next Week!).

Benefits of Genre Mashups

Expanded Creative Possibilities

Many of these genre combinations allow for more creative possibilities than would be possible with a true science fiction, or true fantasy. The combined elements act as a chemical reaction to create something new. The limits of these stories really depend on your selection of elements and your creativity. Remember that when you’re combining in this creative space that both genres are just as important to the whole of the story.

Appeal to Wider Audience

As I mentioned earlier, genre mashups allow readers of certain genres to explore others without feeling like they’re breaking from their identity. Every reader has their identity just as much as anyone who listens to music. We got pop punk because punk rock bands blended punk rock with pop music. While you have your purists in any music genre, they often find familiarity and new creativity in the blended music genre. That’s the same thing you can do with your genre mashup.

Opportunity for Fresh Takes on Familiar Themes

While many readers love the consistency of a genre, there are times writers remain too consistent with expectations. This can cause reader and writer dissatisfaction. By providing some genre mashups you’re able to refresh your readers with the familiar tropes they love and maybe some they haven’t experienced before. This is as true for the writers. We sometimes get lost in the minutia of writing that we grow bored with our book and set it aside. It may be that we’re missing the part of the equation that will only appear in another genre. This goes along with the concept of no tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. If you’re bored, the readers might be bored too.

Challenges of Genre Mashups

While genre mashups are amazing things, they also create a wonderful challenge for writers. I say wonderful, because writing a genre mashup will force you to grow in ways you haven’t before. It’s also never a non-starter. You’ll just have a harder time with some mashups over others.

Balancing Elements from Different Genres

A lot of balancing your elements from different genres comes from choosing the parts and pieces that complement each other. Mixing steampunk with alternate history can make a fascinating tale of technology and historical mystery. While tying historical fiction and fantasy, elements can create a challenge of maintaining historical accuracy and creative freedom.

Meeting Reader Expectations While Subverting Them

When you write a genre mashup, readers from both sides will come in with their expectations. The challenge comes when you try to meet these expectations while you subvert them at the same time. You can do this by tying the two very different elements together. Readers of steampunk might expect airships and clockwork gadgets. Give them this and then add that maybe your magic system is powered by steam technology somehow. This will help you create a more unified story.

Avoiding Clichés and Maintaining Originality

Clichés challenge all genres, but genre fusion can compound them. To avoid them, focus on your characters, their arcs, and the plot development. Consider how a common trope would translate into the other genre you’re blending with the main one.

For example, the “chosen one” trope is prevalent in fantasy novels. In a science fantasy novel, the logic-based side would likely refute this concept as impossible to calculate due to too many variables. Instead, you could transform the “chosen one” into the character who first discovered and understood the magical artifact or prophecy. This approach not only evades the chosen one cliché but also aligns with the expectations of science fiction readers, who appreciate logical and plausible explanations.

Writing Exercise: Creating Your Own Genre Mashup

Create a short story (500-1000 words) that combines elements from science fiction and fantasy. Your story should:

• Include a technological device or concept typical of science fiction (e.g., a spaceship, AI, or time travel)
• Incorporate a magical element or creature from fantasy (e.g., spells, dragons, or mythical beings)
• Set the story in an urban environment to add elements of urban fantasy
• Include a romantic subplot to practice blending in romantasy elements

Focus on balancing these different genre elements while maintaining a coherent narrative. Pay attention to how you can subvert reader expectations by combining familiar tropes in new ways.

This writing exercise might be a little uncomfortable, but don’t worry, no one will have to read it. Even if you’ve already written a genre mashup, it’s good to practice other combinations that will challenge your current skillset.

Conclusion

In this exploration of genre mashups, we’ve uncovered the power of blending familiar tropes and genres to create fresh, compelling narratives. From science fantasy to urban fantasy and romantasy, these combinations offer writers expanded creative possibilities and the chance to appeal to wider audiences.

While challenges exist in balancing elements and meeting reader expectations, the rewards of genre-blending are significant. As you continue your writing journey, don’t hesitate to experiment with different genre combinations – your unique voice and perspective could lead to the next groundbreaking mashup.

The future of speculative fiction is bright and boundless, limited only by our imagination. As technology advances and society evolves, new opportunities for genre fusion will emerge, keeping the literary landscape vibrant and ever-changing. Embrace the possibilities, push the boundaries, and let your creativity turn you into an Author of Tomorrow.

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