Post History

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/45023
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

This question is about **genre** and **reader expectations**. I'm not trying to change my story to fit a mainstream genre. I have already taken steps to broaden it's appeal, but it's too late to create an entirely different type of story.

I'm writing and illustrating a graphic novel. My difficulty is that I have issues communicating what it's about, the "1-minute elevator pitch".

## Describe the story in 2 words...

I was fine with calling it **Science Fiction** , but I noticed _non-writers had certain genre expectations_ which they get from mainstream works that I wouldn't even consider to strictly be sci-fi. My story is character-driven. It lacks _melodramatic villains_. There are no _fantasy races_ or _magic aliens_ or _telepaths_. Explaining this, I'd watch people's eyes glaze over. I can't get people excited by saying how it's _not_ all these other things they expect.

In niche communities like _Writers_ and _Worldbuilding_, genres have a narrower definition. To get around gatekeeping debates with other community members about scientific plausibility, I switched my genre label to **Space Opera**. It got them to accept my "alternative science" (it's consistent, but based on a specific pseudo-science) as not requiring a deep explanation (not integral to the plot). However, I'm still not providing genre expectations like _dogfights in space_, _laser shootouts_, _space empires_ and _half-dressed space princesses_. I'm not fulfilling the promise-to-the-reader of what I think a Space Opera ought to be. None of the action even takes place in outer space.

## Subverting expectations, or genre salad…?

At each phase, I took steps to try to make my story more _commercial_ (in a George R. R. Martin sense) suggesting the implied genre promises but subverting expectations to get back to _my_ story: a "melodrama villain" is taken out early leaving unanswered questions, the "action hero" isn't able to solve problems with a laserpistol, and the "half-dressed space princess" is a social-climbing thot trying to get to another planet. Feminist and social justice themes were subverted in favor of more complicated, frustrating characters who act in their own self-interest. No one's a "hero", no one's a "villain". Characters are imperfect and no one gets exactly what they want.

While this made the _drama_ better, it moved further away from mainstream sci-fi. Looking critically at my full script, it's like I hang a lampshade on some mainstream tropes and then wander away to do something else. To try to be clear, it's not just that I have grey-morality and adult themes, it's more like "is this story even in this genre?"

## Wait, it's actually some obscure genre no one has heard of that has zero marketing appeal…

Earlier this year I found the term **Planetary Romance** , and it fits. My story isn't really a "clash of worlds" so much as it's a clash of individuals from different worlds. The story takes place (mostly) on one planet where the socio-political situation is more important than technology, and the conflicts are small and inter-personal, at first anyway.

[For anyone who knows the origins of Planetary Romance](http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=planetary_romance), I feel they would accept the story in the spirit it's intended. It's a modern twist on the **White Savior goes to a Primitive Planet, rescues a native princess, and sparks a revolution** , except the planet is a libertarian slum and all the hero and damsel tropes are subverted.

I know "romance" here is not indicating an actual relationship, as in **Romance** genre – but to anyone who doesn't know the term (non-writers) it at least gives them the right sense of scale to the conflict. Of course there is more than boy-meets-girl-on-Planet-Z, but if someone came with that expectation I feel they would be happily surprised by a complex character-driven story with some exotic stage dressing. There is a "which guy will she choose" aspect they can read into that carries through.

I'm at the stage where I need to solidify how I discuss this project. The script is finished and the artwork is in production. I can't keep fishing for genre labels. I need to communicate the basic scope of the story quickly so I can turn attention to the individual characters the story is really about.

## Can I call my graphic novel a planetary romance?

Does it help me communicate the idea, or is it just too obscure to be useful?

Original score: 18