How are YOU going to fix the genre you hate or dislike?

[NotaNuffian]

Character depth can make or break any genre.

I don't really consider lit-rpg a genre but saw a lot of missed potential with the trope for some crazy death game with too many main characters to count so I am trying that. ( I'm mentioning it here because lots of people consider it a genre now instead of a trope. ) Also, litrpg readers are guilty of expecting an OP character who never has to struggle and just goes around flexing his nuts while teabagging everyone. And I'm like, nope, this genre can do the opposite of that and I'm going to prove it.

As soon as I feel less tired I'll get back to it. I'm so very tired.

I'm trying to fix werewolf, vampire romance but that's not working out as well.
Going for character depth and making it a parody comedy.

Also, beware when trying to make something new out of a stale genre that readers with expectations will bite.

I don't like OP characters, especially MC.

Because then it becomes paramount for their character and personality to grow instead.

And as long time reader, good luck finding an author who can actually do that.

 

[ShrimpShady]

A few years back, I had an idea for an isekai story that was instead about a sentient slime thing that kills an isekai hero in self-defense and subsequently consumes him to gain his powers and memories. From those memories, the slime then learns that the isekai hero was an absolute dickwad, and so the slime guy goes on a crusade to kill all of the heroes that have come to its world. It was supposed to kinda be like The Boys.

After some time, I realized that the idea was edgy as hell and probably wouldn't have resulted in a quality story because it would've been a product of spite and nothing else. Hence why I just don't write isekai

...But if I were to actually write in the genre, I'd make the protagonist struggle more than the average isekai protagonist. I still like actual underdog stories, what can I say ?‍. No overpowered gimmicks. They have to start from scratch and really grind to grow.

Also no slavery bullshit. I don't mean no portrayals of slavery, but none of the weird tropes that come with slavery in these sorts of stories. No "buying a cute slave girl to show that the protagonist's actually a good person". If they were truly a good person, they'd follow the path of John "Walk 'Em Down" Brown.

 

[JayMark]

The genre is smut.

How would I fix it? Focus on the desire between lovers, the chasteness of them holding back their lust in order to do things the right way, and the vows of their sacred joining in marriage, and the consumation as a rightful fulfilment of their efforts of becoming husband and wife.

So really, I would heavily christianize it instead of going the "free love" or perverted lust driven slop that the genre is known for.

And concerns or questions, princess?

Dragon smut when?

 

[Eldoria]

How are YOU going to fix the genre you hate or dislike?

The short answer is, by not writing it even a little into my story elements.

I will not write these genres:

Spoiler: Block List

adult, smut, BL, GL, ecchi and reverse harem.

These genres I might read, even though I 'probably' won't write them:

Spoiler: Maybe Read list

genben (without romance), romance (without clichés), harem (without making Pokémon), gore (without glorifying violence), and tragedy (with lanterns).

I might write these genres, and I also hope other authors write them better:

Spoiler: Recommendation List

fantasy (or dark fantasy), isekai, shoujo, josei, drama, SoL, action, martial arts, shounen, seinen, comedy, adventure and supranatural.

I will not forbid others from writing the genres I block list (Well, it's useless to forbid. I have no right to forbid, and they will continue to write them. Nothing changes).

The point is, I only write what is worth writing according to my conscience. I know my answer may not be satisfactory. But this is just the complaint of a tired person.

 

[melchi]

Genre: Forum high school adventure.

Increase cookies 10x

 

[Placeholder]

The genre is smut.

How would I fix it? Focus on the desire between lovers, the chasteness of them holding back their lust in order to do things the right way, and the vows of their sacred joining in marriage, and the consumation as a rightful fulfilment of their efforts of becoming husband and wife.

So really, I would heavily christianize it instead of going the "free love" or perverted lust driven slop that the genre is known for.

And concerns or questions, princess?

Completely mistaken and deeply unethical. Just add more car chases and explosions.

 

[Bartun]

I don't know if I could 'fix' any genre. Can barely fix my own story.

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

I don't know if I could 'fix' any genre. Can barely fix my own story.

truth!

 

[DireBadger]

there are only a few genres I really despise, and wouldn't write in them for a million dollars. I already have enough shit to work off in Purgatory, I don't need to be hellbound.

 

[Alski]

My solution to fix my most hated genre would probably get me banned, so i have to remain silent.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Hmm... well some of the oddball genres like NTR can only be fixed through neutering like a pet (which is also the way most politicians seem to wind up "fixing" problems... often ones they created... but I digress)...

Normally, if I hate a genre, I won't read it so never really thought about "fixing" any. though. I guess the two top contenders here would be "Sports" and "Romance" - I tried writing a romance and have not brought myself to share the results anywhere so let's move on to sports...
I would go for something oddball, with a lot of comedic potential and room for tragedy, something like Games Workshop's Bloodbowl or the 3D version of Hockey I saw someone put out (where you also frequently had stuff like High Explosive pucks and blades hidden in the sticks; wish I could remember the name). Definitely a dark comedy.

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

Hmm... well some of the oddball genres like NTR can only be fixed through neutering like a pet (which is also the way most politicians seem to wind up "fixing" problems... often ones they created... but I digress)...

Normally, if I hate a genre, I won't read it so never really thought about "fixing" any. though. I guess the two top contenders here would be "Sports" and "Romance" - I tried writing a romance and have not brought myself to share the results anywhere so let's move on to sports...
I would go for something oddball, with a lot of comedic potential and room for tragedy, something like Games Workshop's Bloodbowl or the 3D version of Hockey I saw someone put out (where you also frequently had stuff like High Explosive pucks and blades hidden in the sticks; wish I could remember the name). Definitely a dark comedy.

can see it now, the XHL, with a bunch of violent Canadians that use the Geneva Checklist on the ice.

 

[Placeholder]

> My solution to fix my most hated genre would probably get me banned, so i have to remain silent.

Consider a closed course and an explosive handler's permit.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

can see it now, the XHL, with a bunch of violent Canadians that use the Geneva Checklist on the ice.

That's probably an official maneuver, "The Geneva Checklist"

 

[Author_Riceball]

If you are a smartass you can skip this step and go straight to showing your superior intellect. For those who aren't midwits, stick with me for a little bit.

So a small mental experiment, mkay? Let's not go crazy over here. Let's assume there is a djin somewhere on the internet, or was it Robin Williams? Anyway, there is someone who PMs you. Now, you think, this is an AI scammer again! Fuck 'em clankers! ? But the person starts by saying, "I will give you 1 million dollars if you write this story." ?The trick is, this persons asks you to write a genre you really dislike or outrights hate. ?

Before you start let me elaborate a little bit further.

First things first, what is a genre? To make it easier for us let's just use SH's genre list. You can also add stuff like Kingdom Building stories, Korean academy stories, Japanese villainess\villain stories, and Chinese cultivation. What is NOT a genre? BDSM, futanari, netorare, blacksmith MC, vampires, and so on. In other words, tags and tropes.

Second part. Since smartasses left us way back, I will talk to you, yes you! ? Let us talk one-on-one, mano a mano, face to face. Let's not try to weasel our way of this curious predicament, mkay? Let's not say, "Well, I hate harem, since I have to write it, I will simply make it into a setting without MC actually having multiple lovers." Let's not. We all write, we all can play with words and stretch the definition of a term to the point it blows up like a balloon. Since this is a mental experiment made for fun, let's think of how to fix the genre while still respecting it.

Phew, can't believen I've already finished. Now I can't wait to read, like, three replies in this thread! Two of which are going to be smartasses saying how they would've made different rules, and one person saying the didn't understand what to do. Bring it on lads!

fix smut by not having it exist. and if there is smut just have all the horny bastards die in the end.

 

[Wenlock]

I too hate harems because they are 2D and feel like they are just there. One way I would fix it is if the story is set in an extremely stressful situation, somewhat like an apocalypse where the MC has to solve or save the world in a short time. This way they meet multiple women who then help each other out. Have a short arc given to each woman. Make some women interact with each other for comedy or angst. But the MC does not have the luxury to get into romance and yet he is loved by many. A Saitama kind of character. Then maybe wait till the epilogue for it to blow up in his face.

Another one would be same woman, broken souls. So all women come from the same person but are for some reason fragmented. Some fantasy element.

fix smut by not having it exist. and if there is smut just have all the horny bastards die in the end.

I once read a book where an STD caused an apocalypse so they all died after having sex. I would suggest it but I don't remember the title

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I too hate harems because they are 2D and feel like they are just there. One way I would fix it is if the story is set in an extremely stressful situation, somewhat like an apocalypse where the MC has to solve or save the world in a short time. This way they meet multiple women who then help each other out. Have a short arc given to each woman. Make some women interact with each other for comedy or angst. But the MC does not have the luxury to get into romance and yet he is loved by many. A Saitama kind of character. Then maybe wait till the epilogue for it to blow up in his face.

That sounds like what Robert Jordan was going for with Rand Al'Thor in The Wheel of Time series. Not sure if that's the direction it WENT but that seemed to be where he wanted to take it (stopped reading at about book 8)

 

[Wenlock]

I read a manga once where there was a harem (I didn't know) and I kinda rooted for one love interest. The MC then has sex with her and then that love interest just vanishes? Like her role was done? So i go in the comments and they tell me that the original novel is, idk, 1000 chapters long. The MC fucks everyone and decides to remain single in the end. I just wasn't up for that kind of brain rot

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I read a manga once where there was a harem (I didn't know) and I kinda rooted for one love interest. The MC then has sex with her and then that love interest just vanishes? Like her role was done? So i go in the comments and they tell me that the original novel is, idk, 1000 chapters long. The MC fucks everyone and decides to remain single in the end. I just wasn't up for that kind of brain rot

That's not a harem story - that's an STD research project funded by multiple paternity suits!

 

[Hoshino]

Gender Bender


Instead of changing their genders, they turn into femboys.


Rom-Com

Make the protagonist less dense than a black hole, don’t take 100 chapters just to hold hands, and avoid unnecessary love triangles-nya