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Creative writing

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Can I have some genre advice please?

4 replies

lilaccloud · 28/11/2017 10:46

I have a story that is set in a specific (distant) historical period, and the detail of everyday life is as accurate as possible for that period. It is set on specific dates (so even the phase of the moon is correct - not that I'm obsessive!), and some of the characters are real historical characters, all of which suggest historic fiction. However, the narrator has the ability to see the future, and this is a major element in the way the plot develops. Visions of the future would not have seemed improbable to the people of the period, but to our 21st-century view, they are clearly impossible. Does this tip it over into fantasy?

Am I in danger of falling into a no-man's land between two genres?

OP posts:
strongandlong · 28/11/2017 11:43

I don't see why that would be a problem. One of my favourite books uses a similar mix very successfully.

BordersMumNow123 · 28/11/2017 16:19

I think it sounds like an excellent book! My favourite books stretch genre boundaries or traverse the edges. I wouldn't panic about genre whilst writing the book and, besides, strict genre books can be a bit formulaic and predictable. For example kazuo ishiguro's work very much can be many genres, literary fiction, sci fi etc and his work is wonderful

lilaccloud · 28/11/2017 19:36

Thank you, Borders and Strong, you are right of course, and I love Kazuo Ishiguro's work...
I had written 90% of a first draft and panicked...

OP posts:
Nuffaluff · 28/11/2017 20:35

That sounds like it could be absolutely brilliant. Surely falling between two genres is a good thing because your work will be original.
I want to read it!
Is it set in medieval times?

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