In an article for Writer’s Digest, Tim Piper shares three tips for writing mixed-genre stories. They are:
- Be sure it’s necessary. “If you can tell a compelling story and remain within the bounds and expectations of a specific genre, then do so,” Piper says. “Adding a dash of murder mystery to your historical fiction or spicing it up with magical realism is not going to make the overall experience better unless those tropes contribute in a direct and meaningful way to the story.”
- Identify your core genre. Which element is most important to your story: the mystery, the history, the romance? Blending genres is rewarding, but you should understand which elements take precedence and which are supporting. “This is arguably the most important aspect of any mixed-genre book: It still must remain largely one thing or the other, or you risk alienating your readers,” Piper writes.
- Follow expectations for each genre. Mystery readers expect a puzzle and romance readers expect something like a happy ending or at least a resolution. When writing a mixed-genre novel, especially if you want to market it, you must know and follow the rules of the genres.
