So You Wanna Write - Lesson 4
From WRITE COMPELLING FICTION by L. J. Martin & Craig Martelle
If you want to write for a living this is the blog for you. Craig and I have over 150 books, many from America’s major publishers, many self-published. In my case I’ve also been instrumental in the publishing of over 400 books, now the company I co-founded, Wolfpack Publishing, has gone on to publish thousands and was named last year by INC Magazine as America’s fastest growing independent publisher. Here’s lesson 4:
THE HISTORICAL GENRE
The historical is basically any novel set in the past. What is the exact time break that divides a historical from a contemporary? Generally a contemporary is set now. A historical is set in the past. Is the Vietnam era "the past?" It depends on the reader's interpretation. I would say Winds of War is a historical, set in WW II. John Jakes’s great series, The Bastard, etc., etc., is the best example of true historicals I can give. James Michener’s Hawaii, Chesapeake, and Centennial are great examples. James Clavell's Tai-Pan and Shogun are also among the finest of the genre. There are also historical romances, and many sub-genres thereof; and historicals that dig all the way back to prehistoric times—some of which, like Clan of the Cave Bear have been tremendously popular. And that novel began a new sub-genre. The Gears, Kathleen and Michael, picked up that gauntlet and improved upon it.
Basically the difference between a historical novel set in the old West—(some call it a novel of the West)—and a western, is length. A historical should be around 130,000 words, or twice as long as a western.
My novel, Rush to Destiny, is a historical. It's just over 130,000 words. It's based on the early life of Edward Fitzgerald Beale. I'll tell you more about Beale and the writing of Rush to Destiny when we talk in depth about "writing from history"—and that might as well be now.
THE CRIME/THRILLER/MYSTERY NOVEL
Grisham says these are the rules he followed when he began writing:
10 Rules From Suspense Fiction
by Brian Garfield
1. Start with action, explain it later
2. Make it tough for your protagonist
3. Plant it early, pay it off later
4. Give the protagonist the initiative
5. Give the protagonist a personal stake
6. Give the protagonist a tight time limit, then shorten it (ticking clock)
7. Choose your character according to your own capacities, as well as his
8. Know your destination before you set out
9. Don’t rush in where angels fear to tread
10. Don’t write anything you wouldn’t want to read
The crime novel is, obviously, about a crime or crimes. Unlike a mystery, a crime novel does not have to have the perpertrator revealed until the end. Crime novels can use standard police procedures or how the protagonist gets around them to achieve the desired end state.
A thriller normally has a much broader spectrum and more at risk than a crime or mystery novel. It's the dirty bomb in L.A. Harbor, or the spreading of ricin in the subway. Thrillers also have a certain action level – something must happen with great enough frequency to keep the readers engaged. James Patterson has written thrillers with some kind of action on every single page. Others are every four pages, but once every thirteen pages is the least amount of action to remain within the thriller and action genres.
A mystery is just that, usually a crime in the first chapter, a plethora of clues along the way, and its solving in the last chapter.
SCIENCE FICTION
This is the beauty of science fiction. The future. A reimagined past. A dystopian present. Some science involved. Definitely fiction, but not necessarily. When George Orwell wrote 1984, he envisioned a future that has seen too many of his elements come true. In Star Trek, much of what you see on the small screen now exists in real life. Science Fiction is a wide open genre. Reach for the stars.
The future of science or is it the limits of imagination? Neither and both. Science fiction is a rich genre that has a broad range of sub-genres like military science fiction, space opera, hard science fiction, alien contact, galactic colonization. Space ships. Distant planets. Fantastic technologies.
I’ll tell you a secret. Just like in westerns, when all is said and done, the story is about the characters. There are oddities and one-offs, but the vast majority of science fiction is about the people. This is what the readers don’t know that they expect. They want worldbuilding that they can embrace. Frank Herbert’s Dune is a massive universe with many moving parts. Frank was the master of it and shared bits and pieces of it with his readers. Once he passed away, his son Brian and master storyteller Kevin J. Anderson continued writing books in that universe. Nineteen books and counting, plus a new movie. The most compelling science fiction creates a strong universe as the backdrop upon which the characters act.
That’s science fiction, along with so much more.
It starts with an imagined world, whether that is today, but different and then builds out a plot that could come from that same world of today. Science fiction opens up possibilities of what if. Very much like we see in westerns, the universal plot device of “What if?” It works.
URBAN FANTASY
Take Urban Fantasy like Harry Potter. This is a huge genre with hungry readers across all age groups looking for the next big thing. If you love JK Rowling’s works, then maybe you have an Urban Fantasy story to tell. What if you had a magic high school?
Urban Fantasy has romantic elements in it. There is magic. Usually those who use magic don’t necessarily know the extent of their gifts. Is Urban Fantasy always about teenagers? Not necessarily, but many are.
Look at the emerging magic academy and school books. Hundreds of authors are plunging into this genre in 2018 and 2019. What makes them stand out? Covers with greens and purples. Lead characters with the magic hands. Something mystical going on in the background. Those points draw the readers into the blurb. Is the hook there to make the reader go further?
Only the reader will know. Conversion rates – the rate at which clicks on your ad turn into sales of your book are the best determinant of how well your cover and blurb work to turn readers into buyers.
What kind of journey will the reader join as part of this magical adventure? Journey. Antagonist. Protagonist. Conflict. Resolution. The same, but different.
See a pattern here?
OTHER GENRES
We won't write much about other genres as we don't write them, other than a few nonfiction works such as the one you're reading, or How To Build A Greenhouse, Killing Cancer, Cooking Wild and Wonderful or California Cocina. If you write nonfiction, write something you know and are hopefully an expert at accomplishing.
Watch for Lesson 5
By the way if you’re not willing to invest a lousy $2.99 in your career, or even potential career, don’t bother reading this blog. Craig and I write for a living and in some instances self-publish for a living. We’re serious about it and hope you are.
If you want to pick up a copy of WRITE COMPELLING FICTION go here: https://www.amazon.com/Write-Compelling-Fiction-Strengthen-Successful-ebook/dp/B07WZW2WRL/ref=sr_1_1?crid=22MECHWR2M392&keywords=write+compelling+fiction+L.+J.&qid=1685972454&sprefix=write+compelling+fiction+l.+j.%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-1
Here are a few of the over 100 five star reviews on Amazon:
“Full of top tips and insightful points that will make a difference to your writing today.”
“A lot of valuable information in this book.I would suggest keeping a pack of post-its next to you while reading it so you can create a nice decoration around your writing-screen.”
“This book is a quick and easy read loaded with incredible information. I found that several of the tips listed here were things that I already did within my books, but I just didn't know why I felt the need to, or what they were called in the writing world. This book also helped me to feel more confident with my writing as it's easy to chase the perfection train, which you're never going to truly catch. I recommend this book for anyone, whether you're a seasoned author or not, it helps tremendously.”
“How To Write Compelling Fiction by L. J. Martin and Craig Martell is a must read writing source for the fledgling author… or for that matter it’s also an essential aid even for an established author like myself. I have written over 30 novels and when I read this book I realized I had been lacking in certain areas. Since reading the book I have ordered three reference books that the authors have recommended. I have yet to receive the books but I am eagerly looking forward to reading them. One of the books is titled “1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.” Now where in the world would you ever hear of that book if not for “HOW TO WRITE A COMPELLING FICTION.” The other two books are just as informative. Of all the books I’ve read about writing, “HOW TO WRITE COMPELLING FICTION” is by far the best aid for an author I’ve read.”