Why Genre-Bending Stories Kick Ass

You know, the initial title was on cruise control. Polite, proper and the literary equivalent of warm milk. Look, classic genres have their place. I love a high fantasy or a gritty mystery as much as the next person. But in my opinion the real magic is in the unexpected. Stories like that do exist; stories that don’t give a damn about staying in their lanes. Fantasy, horror and science-fiction? Take one or two, mix them together and add comedy or mystery. Place them in the past, the now or the far future and top it off with drama.

Pandora’s box

Yes, it’s just like opening Pandora’s Box, but you’ll find creative avenues left and right. Imagine a detective story, gritty noir, anti-hero with a shady past and an ex-wife lurking around the corner. Put it in a futuristic setting; he’s on a spaceship or in a dystopian mega-city. Now add paranormal experiences. The killer is a ghost or a sentient glitch in the machine. See how easy it is? See how innovative it is? Sure, you’ll need to convince readers, but the neat part of blending genres like that is you’re allowed to throw out the rulebook. In its place, you get insane possibilities that normal genre-fiction can’t touch. In my own works, I blend genres and expectations. I’ve an urban fantasy murder mystery comedy under my belt, a YA horror sci-fi set in another galaxy, a contemporary science-fantasy in the works told from the perspective of an immortal being stuck in the modern world.

Essentially, I can dig deeper into familiar themes, but take them in different directions. It allows me to explore ideas normally left in the dust by traditional genres.

My detective? She’s an unlucky amateur sleuth. The killer? It’s not the undead ghoul that’s chasing her, but the human bastard tugging the strings with deadly magic. The setting and the tropes? Urban, contemporary, comedy, farce, satire, mystery, slapstick.

Is there a market? We’ll have to find out, won’t we?

Characters Who Are More Than Their Genre

A genre-bending story demand a lot from its characters. They can’t just be wizards, cops or astronauts; they have to be all that and more. They’re juggling multiple realities, chasing down criminals in one scene or dodging curses in the next, and then their career consultant is bugging them about finding a real job. It’s a great way to create complex layered characters and silly (or strong) narratives that grow in unexpected ways.

Consider a protagonist who’s using a smartphone to illuminate an ancient curse, or decides to tackle modern problems with science-fiction technology. It’s not necessarily just about plot mechanics, but character evolution. Your characters needs to be multi-faceted, because the world they live in demands it. They’re doing more than fighting dragons, aliens or zombies—they’re navigating the laws of multiple rulesets, which makes every decision they make feel huge, where every action can have unexpected consequences.

Familiar ground, unknown territory

Mix comfort with chaos. There’s something exhilarating about taking the reliable satisfaction of a classic mystery and combining it with something new.

Imagine that two detective are chasing a killer.

Imagine that the story takes place:

– In a Haunted House

– On an Alien Spaceship

– In a Dragon’s Nest

And the kicker? The story is actually a:

– Comedy

– Horror

– Romance

You’re putting on a familiar jacket with a hidden pocket full of diamonds or dynamite. But the end result is something new and wonderful that’ll keep your readers hooked. You’re either looking to support a small niche, or clawing a new one out of an oversaturated market. 

Is it easy? No, not at all, and it might not even be possible. 

Is it fun for the writer? That depends on your definition of fun, and it might involve the expectation of money somewhere down that road. Spoiler alert, you should probably avoid getting your hopes up just yet.

Is it fun for the readers? YES! I would hope so, at least. There’s that juicy satisfaction of following a trail of clues or a hero’s journey with a little twist keeping them on edge. That’s the sweet spot I like to aim for in my stories: relatable, surreal and with familiar tropes, but unfamiliar takes.

So, what’s your favourite genre mash-up? Drop a comment if you love breaking the rules.