Zoe ,'The Train Job'
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
Science fiction, mystery, horror or thrillers have more latitude in plot outcome than Romance. I think you can hit all the beats in those other genres and have a variety of outcomes
But expectations don't cover *only* the outcome. Other genres do allow for more than one kind of ending, but each genre demands certain elements ... or a book doesn't fall within the genre anymore.
From the outside, it does seem like a lot of rules. Some people object if they bump uglies too early, for instance.
Some people get upset if they call it "bumping uglies" too.
I think "bumping uglies" is my very favorite euphemism for sex.
I actually did read a parody romance written to flaunt the "rules" once, although, you're right, they still didn't call it *that*, no.
But expectations don't cover *only* the outcome. Other genres do allow for more than one kind of ending, but each genre demands certain elements ... or a book doesn't fall within the genre anymore.
That's true. But the genre elements are less plot defining except in perhaps Mysteries which - like Romance - needs a money shot satisfying ending. Science Fiction can go just about anywhere storywise, it just needs elements addressing how advances in technology can affect the story. Similarly a Western is defined by it's setting and era and to a lesser extent it's themes, but within that can tell any story it wants.
But mystery has about fifty billion categories, which is cool, until you start think about how Chandler would feel about being shelved next to the mystery solving Siameses. Then, it's a little sad.
opps - real life too real. sorry.
But the genre elements are less plot defining
Right. But my point was simply that there *are* expectations, however loose, in genre fiction. So you need to know what those expectations are to satisfy the bulk of readers. You can't answer *only* to yourself, and what you think equals a good book, not if you'd like to sell it.
Yeah, something like that. Of course, George Pelecanos swears the caper story is the new Western.
Right but Mystery as a genre requires a certain ending. The mystery must be revealed. Romance requires a certain ending - the lovers get together.
Science Fiction doesn't have a plot requirement, its genre requirements relate to an element of the fantastic which is technologically feasible.