Into the Fire

The expression "by the book" generally means adhering to laws or instructions on the right way to do things. It implies not cheating to accomplish a directive or purpose.

Too often the by-the-book approach seeps into writing fiction. And while this can work in an author's favor, it can also dash all kinds of creativity.

Genres dictate formulas for writing them. These accepted formulas most often appear in romance novels, but they exist for mysteries, suspense, cozy mysteries, etcetera. Genres overlap and sometimes in the publishing world, in order to gin up extra attention from readers of neighboring genres, the definitions are exaggerated and attached to books that really don't quite fit into how they're described in the marketing. I've noticed this happening more in the thriller genre – so many suspense novels are stretched to include the "thriller" moniker when it truly doesn't fit.

Many publishers insist that readers don't like much variation in their genres – again particularly readers of romance. And there are those readers who repeatedly grab the supermarket paperbacks or the Love Inspired fiction or a particular author's fare and stick to them. However, there are many readers who love variety, who care nothing about formulaic fiction, and who actually enjoy a mix in their genre types.

While novels need to have a solid flow, they don't need to follow a rigid pattern in their delivery. Story, story, story, no matter how bland or how boisterous, dictates the appeal to particular audiences. This should be but isn't always easy to predict. CBA publishers are notorious for not taking risks and stick to the by-the-book fiction. They've survived with this approach.

All that to say I don't choose to write by the book. Because I appreciate diverse styles and detailed character studies within the pages of a novel, I try to write what I like no matter where the story takes me. You can fault my efforts, criticize my design, and, as a result, not enjoy or appreciate my work. So be it.

Father, thank you for the love of writing and reading fiction. It's a true joy in my life, and I'm so grateful for those who share it with me. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.