Consider a recent book you’ve read. Did it feel like a mix of genres? Perhaps there was a romance story mixed in with an adventure. Or maybe a sci-fi with a touch of western (think Firefly).
Genre blending or genre mixing is a term used a lot with fiction. It’s pretty common to see blurbs with, ‘sci-fi meets thriller’ or ‘mystery meets fantasy’. Is this a good thing or does it make fiction more confusing? As a reader, do you like the clear cut lines of crime fiction with nothing added?
There are always multiple arguments to to everything. And sure, there’s something pure about a legal drama that is only a legal drama. Or an adventure piece of fiction that is about finding the treasure. It makes the story entertaining. As a reader, you know what’s going to happen, but the fun becomes how will it happen. How will the characters get themselves out of this mess? How will the main character stay one step ahead of the villainous treasure hunters?
There’s also something to a mystery that is set in a bucolic town full of supernaturals. This might be called, ‘cozy mystery meets urban fantasy’. Or a love story mixed in with an action adventure.
So why do authors do this? Why do is it seen on movie and T.V. screens? There are many reasons, but one simple reason is, It creates a larger audience base. When genres are mixed, more people are attracted to the story. A story that is full of action will appeal to one audience group. When an author adds in romance as part of the plot, however, romance readers will suddenly show an interest. There is now a product that can target two groups in advertising. For the adventure group, the ad will focus on the action. There would also be ads showcasing the steps to finding the treasure and the challenges the character faces. There will also be ads that focus on the romance in the story for the second ad group.
Consider this from a numbers perspective. Let’s say (for ease of number) the first ad group (adventure genre) is around 100, 000. And the second group (romance genre) is around 100, 000. By blending the two genres, the book, movie, T.V. show, etc. can now focus on an audience of 200, 000.
As a writer, genre blending is a fun way of taking multiple genres and giving fans even more. It adds creativity to the writing process and adds new ideas, bends, and twists that would otherwise go undiscovered. When I wrote The English Teacher’s Magic series, I blended urban fantasy with romantic comedy. Twilight’s Princess is high fantasy with a regency romance.
Another aspect of genre blending is the ability to add new twists to the story. Readers who love a certain genre come to know and recognize the story beats. This is what the reader wants, but it can also become predictable. The result is the story or genre doesn’t feel fresh anymore. Authors want to entertain readers. Readers want to be entertained with the unexpected. Readers love the feeling of, ‘I didn’t expect that’. And authors love crafting a novels with hidden gems to delight readers. By blending genres, the story beats and plots twists will have new avenues that can freshen up a predictable story.
When I attend craft markets to sell my books, I do get the fantasy lovers. But other readers love mystery or crime or horror. This inspires me to consider a paranormal cozy mystery. Think Hallmark Murder and Mysteries meets Urban Fantasy? Does that sound like something you would be interested in reading? Think about your favorite genres. Is there a combination you’d like to see?
K. M. Wray 