Genre Writing

Most people think genres are simply categories on Netflix or Amazon that provide a helpful guide to making entertainment choices. Most people are wrong. Genre stories aren’t just a small subset of the films, video games, TV shows, and books that people consume. They are the all-stars of the entertainment world, comprising the vast majority of popular stories worldwide. That’s why businesses—movie studios, production companies, video game studios, and publishing houses—buy and sell them. Legendary writing teacher John Truby provides a guide to understanding the major genres of the story world.

A creative writer's shelf should hold at least three essential books: a dictionary, a style guide, and Writing Fiction. Janet Burroway's best-selling classic is the most widely used creative writing text in America, and for more than three decades, it has helped hundreds of thousands of students learn the craft.

"If there is any life that is happier than the life we led on our timber ranch, it must be the sort of life which I have not read of in books or experienced in person," wrote Mark Twain, and now you can share in that experience. The beloved American humorist spent seven years on a "pleasure trip" through the untamed wilderness of Nevada. Twain intended to spend three months touring silver mines, but the lure of rough terrain and comfortable clothes proved irresistible - as will this vibrant travelogue.

Type Hard. Type Fast. Make Dough. That was the formula of old-school pulp fiction—plot-driven, popular and gobbled up by a reading public hungry for more. And it produced many writers who hammered out a living selling “cash-and-carry” stories and novels. Some of these writers were among the best America has ever produced. Writers like Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett and John D. MacDonald. Others are numbered among the bestselling authors of all time, including Erle Stanley Gardner, Lester Dent, and Frederick Faust (better known by his pen name, Max Brand). What were the secrets of ...

Unleash your creativity with 4004 Genre Writing Prompts by Christina Escamilla, a comprehensive compilation designed to spark inspiration across four captivating genres. Whether you're a seasoned writer or just beginning your storytelling journey, this collection offers a treasure trove of ideas to fuel your imagination. Please note, this is not a new collection of prompts but a mega collection of previously published books. Dive into: 1001 Horror Writing Prompts: Embrace the eerie and macabre with prompts that will send shivers down your spine and make your readers sleep with the lights on...

Whether it's a slow descent into madness during isolation or an unstoppable outbreak in the heart of a city, these writing prompts deal with the horrors of contagion. This guide escorts you through the horrors of infection with sections on: Outbreaks & Pandemics: Witness the devastation as global sicknesses sweep across the land, leaving destruction in their wake. Biological Experiments: Explore the terrifying outcomes of genetic manipulation and experiments gone wrong. Quarantine & Isolation: Follow survivors as they navigate the psychological and physical horrors of being trapped in a ...

Dear writers, it’s been a light year since ChatGPT introduced artificial intelligence into the world of writing. And oh, what a year it has been. By now, you’ve probably tried using AI to brainstorm premises, write marketing copy, develop characters, and build worlds. * * * Do you wish to do more? • Are you curious about what you can do beyond using ChatGPT? • Ready to learn how to customize AI to your own writing? • Wondering how to keep up with the pace of AI? Fear not. I’m Rachelle Ayala, a USA Today Bestselling author and AI trailblazer. I’m here to equip you with the ...

A haunting dream that will not relent pulls author Kent Nerburn back into the hidden world of Native America, where dreams have meaning, animals are teachers, and the "old ones" still have powers beyond our understanding. In this moving narrative, we travel through the lands of the Lakota and the Ojibwe, where we encounter a strange little girl with an unnerving connection to the past, a forgotten asylum that history has tried to hide, and complex, unforgettable characters.

Are you struggling to find inspiration for your next writing project? Are you tired of staring at a blank page, waiting for ideas to come to you? Look no further, because ChatGPT is here to revolutionize the way you approach your writing! In Chapter 1, our expert authors introduce you to ChatGPT and its capabilities. You'll learn how this artificial intelligence tool can improve your writing process and help you create unique and engaging content. But how do you get started with ChatGPT? In Chapter 2, we guide you through the basics of the tool and teach you how to use it for brainstorming ...

(New for 2025!) Have you heard the buzz about AI but fear you’ve missed the boat? Are you a genre fiction writer—a creator of romance, fantasy, sci-fi, thrillers, or mysteries—curious about AI writing tools but overwhelmed by all the technical jargon? Fear not, fellow storyteller! It’s not too late to harness the power of artificial intelligence to enhance your writing process. This isn't your typical tech manual. Authored by a USA Today bestselling romance writer who recognizes the distinct needs of fiction creators, this practical workbook cuts through the clutter and demonstrates...

Unleash your creativity with the ultimate fusion of storytelling and AI. The Writer’s AI Toolkit is your hands-on guide to turning ideas into impactful stories, poems, essays, and even marketing copy—with the help of powerful, thoughtfully crafted prompts. Whether you’re an aspiring novelist, a curious poet, a content creator, or just someone staring at a blank page hoping for a spark—this book hands you the keys to unlock AI’s creative potential. Inside, you’ll discover genre-specific prompts, insightful tips on how to talk to AI like a creative partner, and strategies to ...

In this book, we are going to explore the specific challenges of writing genre flash fiction and short fiction, where you only have 500 to 1,000 words to tell a story. To do this well, you need to master three specific skills of genre writing. You need to understand the reader's expectations of the genre—the voice, the story arc, and the satisfying outcomes. More often than not, you will need to use familiar locations or settings; after all, you don't have many words to create a whole new world. The real skill lies in the twist—after drawing the reader in with familiar genre storylines ...

What’s Better Than a Great Novel? A Series of Them! Series are popular in most genres and can help boost your visibility as an author. But how do you create one? How do you come up with an idea that will generate multiple stories in the same story world? This book explores all the factors that go into making a successful series, from testing your characters and story premise for series potential to tracking details as you write to ensure continuity. Content includes: Series vs. Story - A New Mindset Types of Series - Episodic, Serial & Hybrid Soaps & Serials Creating a Series Premise or ...

#1 Bestseller in: Authorship, Authorship Reference, Computer Graphics, Electronic Documents, Electronic Publishing, Writing Skill Reference * * * Under a tight deadline, see how one bestselling author leveraged AI to write a publishable full-length novel in two weeks. * * * Hey fellow authors! You’ve heard of this thing called AI (Artificial Intelligence) and I bet you have questions, such as: • How fast can an author write a publishable novel using AI? • Does using AI speed up the writing process? • Can AI help an author write consistently? • How does a writer adjust to using AI?...

Perfect for the advanced or aspiring author, ABOUT WRITING includes both Write This, Not That! Suz deMello's bestseller, and the newer Plotting and Planning, a primer on the basics: conflict and character, point of view, scene and sequel...plus much, much more, written in deMello's engaging style. ABOUT WRITING: your essential writing manual! --Recommended for homeschooling

4TH EDITION – COMPLETELY REVISED & UPDATED This is the book which demystified novel writing for a massive audience, a groundbreaking international bestseller on the shelves of thousands of published authors. The Marshall Plan technique is the industry’s #1 go-to novel-writing method for anyone who wants to write a commercial novel—fast. In this unique guide, agent, editor and novelist Evan Marshall provides an easy-to-follow plan which simplifies the complex process of designing and writing successful commercial fiction. Now revised, this book includes these topics: Choosing the ...

Bestselling author Jessica Rose needs to escape from a terrible secret that’s robbed her of her creativity. Could leading a retreat on a gorgeous Greek island be just what she needs? Coming home to Santorini was never in Zina’s plans, but now she’s determined to make her new business a success. And then there’s Karmela, who just wants to write her book and make her mother proud.

Tenley Roth's first book was a runaway best seller. Now that her second book is due, she's locked in fear. Can she repeat her earlier success, or is she a fraud who has run out of inspiration? A century earlier, another woman wrote at the same desk with hopes and fears of her own. Birdie Shehorn is the daughter of the old-money Knickerbockers. Under the strict control of her mother, her every move is decided ahead of time, even whom she'll marry. Tenley and Birdie are from two very different worlds, but fate has bound them together.

A Simple System to Writing a Gripping Fiction Novel! This handbook offers guidance on creating stronger beginnings, dramatic scenes, and crafting lifelike characters. Writers will also learn how to make their first pages so intriguing that the reader won’t be able to put the book down once they start. With easy to follow instructions on creating a comprehensive storyline and tons of great advice on scene building and character creation, writers of any genre will gain the tools needed to instantly strengthen their narrative. Topics in this book include: 3 Extensive Creation Character ...

The police fabricated a story about the night four members of MS-13 died in a tiny home on a quiet city street almost two years previous. George Tokay and his friends were not supposed to share the secret about what really happened that night. No one was to know the truth. But someone talked, and now MS-13, ruthless and wanting revenge, is back in town, and people are dying.