You know the kind of person who says they don’t like your favourite genre, even though they’ve never read it before? The kind of person who says, “Oh, that’s stupid. Why would anyone read it?” I’m sure you’ve met a few. I know I have. If you are one of those people, these answers are for you!
Question 65 – What would you say to someone to convince them to read the genre you write in?
“Gay angel.” No, seriously. You’d be surprised what an uncommon word combination can do to intrigue someone. And it sums up my genre pretty well, I’d say – queer fantasy. One and done.
If someone is convinced that they don’t like genre x,y or z then it’s hard to convince them to try it. I’ve found the better approach is to find out what kind of stories a person enjoys (character driven, drama, romance, adventure, etc) without the label of genre attached, and then recommend a specific work that matches up nicely with that preference. Some people think that they don’t like “fantasy” but they absolutely love Greek mythology, for example. So I might recommend a sand & sandal epic that would appeal to them. Someone might say that they don’t like lots of magical “nonsense,” so I could recommend something that lowers the reader gently into magical elements, like A Song of Ice and Fire. Ultimately, I don’t worry about trying to be a fantasy/sci-fi evangelist. Not everyone is going to like it, even the really good stuff, because it’s just not their cup of hot steaming steeped leaves in water.
Do you find people interesting? I write about people. Sometimes those people are dealing with things in a science fiction environment, and sometimes as more of a fantasy world, but it all pretty much boils down to people making choices and interacting with one another.
This one’s difficult. Usually if someone tells me they don’t like sci fi or fantasy I let it be. There is an exception where I convinced my boyfriend to give Game of Thrones (the TV show, not the books) a chance based on the quality of the story alone. So I guess that’s my method. If I’m in love with the story, I’ll sell someone on that above its genre. (And despite not liking fantasy stories, he’s just as addicted to the show now as I am.)
I would tell them that there is more to children’s story than the simple plot. Often, there many underlying messages, lessons to be learned, and hidden meanings. The stories can often be interpreted so many different ways. The stories are short, but they can be full of intricacies.
Fantasy: Not Just An Escape! Read fantasy novels to see a reflection of our world, stripped of many of the divisive labels and visuals in order to present real conflicts and concerns from a fresh perspective! Like science fiction, fantasy can expound upon modern issues, taking them to a variety of logical or illogical conclusions — but unlike (most) science fiction, fantasy has dragons! Though much fantasy of the past has been regressive, in that it focused strongly upon European medieval themes, it has become far more expansive and inclusive in recent years, embracing all manner of settings and time periods as the basis for its flights of fancy. The time to start is now!
I would hope they wouldn’t need convincing. Science fiction is the history of the future. All of our hopes and dreams, and sometimes nightmares, reside there. The best of science fiction has subtle social commentary that transcends the ages. I recently reread Heinlein’s Have Space Suit, Will Travel, and was surprised at how current some of the social commentary is.
I don’t specifically stick to one genre, but I’ll answer for the two genres that I write in the most often.
For horror, I’d explain that there is something very thrilling in writing about ghosts and ghouls and nightmare creatures. I’d describe how it’s both challenging and very fun to try to establish how each particular character reacts to different situations; for instance, one of my favorite scenes from “Nowhere to Hide” to write is the one in which Nancy is first actually faced with zombies. I loved describing the strange way her brain almost short-circuited – how she’d be freaking out one second and considering completely random, unimportant information the next.
For fantasy, I’d say that it’s all about good, old fashioned imagination. In a fantasy world you can do practically anything and everything. You don’t have to worry about being able to explain something scientifically, or describing real-life places accurately, or any of that nonsense. You can start completely from scratch and throw in whatever you damn-well please, and while you still have to consider whether what you’re doing is good for the story or not, that huge, blank pallet is something that is wonderful to be able to work with.
The only thing I can really think of is to point out something else that they like which does fall into the genre that they say they don’t read. However, this doesn’t actually convince people very often.
Oh, not sure I’d ever try this. And I write in two genres: Historical military fiction, and Sci Fi. If pressed, though, I’d speak to Sci Fi and I’d argue that Sci Fi will show you universes that you would never see otherwise.
At the moment I’m writing paranormal romance. I would say, perhaps, that romance is something almost anyone can relate to. The paranormal part of the genre I write in, however, might be impossible to convince someone who reads only practical text to enjoy. And what’s the use in reading something you don’t enjoy?
Fantasy and science fiction can offer readers many things. Of course, they can offer entertainment and escape to another world. But I think that’s what many critics of the genres think is what’s wrong with them. Well, they are actually quite intelligent genres. Science fiction usually deals with contemporary issues, such as racism, terrorism, war, climate change, and disease. It can show a possible consequence of our actions, and maybe offer a way to avoid it.
Fantasy, on the other hand, is an examination of the human condition. Much of the genre looks at human behaviour, especially when confronted by immense pressures. It looks at the dark side of humanity, and what we are capable of. It may provide a look into your own mind.
How about you?
What would you say to someone to convince them to read your genre? Let us know in the comments below.
I Read Encyclopedias for Fun 
Reblogged this on Elizabeth Rhodes and commented:
What’ll it take to get you to read science fiction/fantasy?
Reblogged this on North of Andover.
Given that most people say they don’t understand poetry, I would say that poetry is always open to each person’s interpretation. There is no one “right” meaning for a poem, not even the poet’s.
There are also many kinds of poetry. Saying you don’t like poetry is like saying you don’t like fiction. Chances are that there are certain types of fiction you do like; there are likely certain types of poetry that you do like..
For example, many people like and understand song lyrics, most of which are poems.
That’s very true. And there are some, like The Iliad and The Odyssey, which are also poems. Very, very long poems. And Beowulf, too. In a way, Shakespeare’s plays are like poems.
All that iambic pentameter!
Yes. But when I read it, I don’t notice it.
Reblogged this on On the Edge of Enlightenment and commented:
People like what they like, but it can be a shame when someone hasn’t given a genre a chance in the first place.
Reblogged this on and commented:
How open are you to new things? This week on Authors Answer the authors and I are trying to convince people to read the genres that we write in. What would convince you?
It depends on WHY they don’t read that genre.
If someone tells me, ‘I never read sci-fi because it’s all space battles and killer aliens’ or ‘I don’t read sci-fi because I’m not interested in physics and math,’ I can recommend good novels (or short stories) that are NOT about space battles or physics. (My own interest, when it comes to the science in sci-fi, tends more toward biology — genetics, specifically — that orbital mechanics. I’m just weird that way.) If they don’t like science fiction because they’d somehow gotten the impression that sci-fi is always about rockets and robots and ray guns instead of the people who create and use such things… Well, one of my favorite sci-fi novels happens to be a romantic comedy. With lots of stuff about genetics, of course.
If, on the other hand, someone tells me they don’t read science fiction because ‘I only read real stories, not that made-up stuff,’ there’s not much I can do to help them. Some people don’t like fiction AT ALL, and some people don’t like “imaginary” fiction because they (wrongly!) believe it’s bad for the brain. Maybe I could recommend science fiction written by actual scientists and lure them into the genre that way… I don’t believe in pressuring anyone to reading fiction they’re truly not interested in, however.
Yeah, some people just don’t like fiction. There was a time when I didn’t read fiction. I always read science books and magazines, plus encyclopedias. I was firmly rooted in reality. When I started reading fiction, I loved it. And it was always fantasy and science fiction. I think the genres are wonderful for the brain. They allow us to imagine things that are impossible (for the moment), and it’s therapeutic. Reading calms people, helps their minds relax, and even promotes healing neurologically. And you can learn new words.