6 answers
Dublyn
Student
Kingman, Arizona
1
Question
Asked
372 views
what form of writing is the most successful currently?
to be more specific, like what genre and tropes do really well?
6 answers
Tom Foster
Freelance writer
26
Answers
Forest Grove, Oregon
Updated
Tom’s Answer
This is kind of a tough answer since writing is always changing and evolving. The best I can do with this question is to tell you that finding your niche, what you enjoy writing, is the best way to go. Romance is a big market, but so are fantasy, action, science fiction, and so on and so forth. What's important is to find what you enjoy writing, since if you enjoy it, you'll be more inclined to give it your all and make sure that you tell a great story.
As a person who can and has tried to write more than one type of story, I can state that shifting gears is a little tricky since each genre requires its own rules in the industry. But as I stated above, finding your desired genre is one of the first steps. If you don't enjoy what you're writing then it might not be the genre you're comfortable with. It's not necessary to write what's popular, it's necessary to write what YOU want. If you're not happy writing something, then it's time to switch things up. A good writer can write just about anything they can since a good writer can adapt and evolve when necessary. But a wise writer is someone who writes for themselves first and finds fulfillment in what they write.
So to be fair, write what you know and what you're interested in. If you can't find enjoyment in your writing then it will be translated into your work. Find your niche first, then worry about being successful. If you can't be happy with what you write, then it's fair to state that your readers won't be either. Write for you first, then the readers. I know you asked about tropes and specific ideas of what's popular, but that won't matter until you find what you enjoy writing.
Just write for you to start with, then figure out how to make it popular.
As a person who can and has tried to write more than one type of story, I can state that shifting gears is a little tricky since each genre requires its own rules in the industry. But as I stated above, finding your desired genre is one of the first steps. If you don't enjoy what you're writing then it might not be the genre you're comfortable with. It's not necessary to write what's popular, it's necessary to write what YOU want. If you're not happy writing something, then it's time to switch things up. A good writer can write just about anything they can since a good writer can adapt and evolve when necessary. But a wise writer is someone who writes for themselves first and finds fulfillment in what they write.
So to be fair, write what you know and what you're interested in. If you can't find enjoyment in your writing then it will be translated into your work. Find your niche first, then worry about being successful. If you can't be happy with what you write, then it's fair to state that your readers won't be either. Write for you first, then the readers. I know you asked about tropes and specific ideas of what's popular, but that won't matter until you find what you enjoy writing.
Just write for you to start with, then figure out how to make it popular.
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
3766
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Dear Dublyn,
The most effective writing style today is a fusion of various genres and themes, particularly those that resonate with the tastes of online readers.
Young adult (YA) fiction is currently a hot favorite among readers. This genre has achieved great success in both traditional and self-publishing, spanning a variety of sub-genres such as fantasy, science fiction, romance, and dystopia. The popularity of YA fiction lies in its broad appeal, tackling universal themes like identity, friendship, and love.
Mystery and thriller novels are also highly successful. These narratives often revolve around suspense-filled plots, unforeseen twists, and captivating characters. They've found success in different formats, from standalone books and series to serialized stories released episodically.
Memoirs and personal essays have gained popularity in recent times. With the advent of social media and personal blogging, readers have developed a keen interest in exploring the real-life experiences of others. These writings offer glimpses into various cultures, lifestyles, or personal challenges, often striking a chord with readers due to their shared human experiences or emotions.
As for popular elements across genres, consider these:
Diverse representation: Today's audiences appreciate stories that mirror the diverse world they inhabit. This involves representation of various races, cultures, sexual orientations, and abilities. Incorporating diverse characters can make a story more relatable to a wider audience.
Strong female characters: Contemporary audiences value well-rounded female characters who play a pivotal role in the story and exercise control over their narratives. These characters, whether protagonists or supporting characters, should be depicted as complex individuals rather than cliches or stereotypes.
Worldbuilding: In speculative fiction (like fantasy and science fiction), robust worldbuilding is crucial for crafting immersive narratives that captivate readers. This involves creating unique settings, cultures, histories, and systems of magic or technology, adding depth to the narrative.
Unique narrative voices: A distinctive narrative voice can set a story apart from others in its genre. Crafting a unique voice involves using distinct language, perspectives, or storytelling techniques that make the narrative memorable and engaging for readers.
Emotional resonance: Narratives that stir strong emotions in readers tend to be more successful than those that fail to connect emotionally. By delving into universal themes such as love, loss, hope, or fear, writers can craft narratives that deeply resonate with their audience.
Stay Blessed!
James Constantine.
The most effective writing style today is a fusion of various genres and themes, particularly those that resonate with the tastes of online readers.
Young adult (YA) fiction is currently a hot favorite among readers. This genre has achieved great success in both traditional and self-publishing, spanning a variety of sub-genres such as fantasy, science fiction, romance, and dystopia. The popularity of YA fiction lies in its broad appeal, tackling universal themes like identity, friendship, and love.
Mystery and thriller novels are also highly successful. These narratives often revolve around suspense-filled plots, unforeseen twists, and captivating characters. They've found success in different formats, from standalone books and series to serialized stories released episodically.
Memoirs and personal essays have gained popularity in recent times. With the advent of social media and personal blogging, readers have developed a keen interest in exploring the real-life experiences of others. These writings offer glimpses into various cultures, lifestyles, or personal challenges, often striking a chord with readers due to their shared human experiences or emotions.
As for popular elements across genres, consider these:
Diverse representation: Today's audiences appreciate stories that mirror the diverse world they inhabit. This involves representation of various races, cultures, sexual orientations, and abilities. Incorporating diverse characters can make a story more relatable to a wider audience.
Strong female characters: Contemporary audiences value well-rounded female characters who play a pivotal role in the story and exercise control over their narratives. These characters, whether protagonists or supporting characters, should be depicted as complex individuals rather than cliches or stereotypes.
Worldbuilding: In speculative fiction (like fantasy and science fiction), robust worldbuilding is crucial for crafting immersive narratives that captivate readers. This involves creating unique settings, cultures, histories, and systems of magic or technology, adding depth to the narrative.
Unique narrative voices: A distinctive narrative voice can set a story apart from others in its genre. Crafting a unique voice involves using distinct language, perspectives, or storytelling techniques that make the narrative memorable and engaging for readers.
Emotional resonance: Narratives that stir strong emotions in readers tend to be more successful than those that fail to connect emotionally. By delving into universal themes such as love, loss, hope, or fear, writers can craft narratives that deeply resonate with their audience.
Stay Blessed!
James Constantine.
Talia Roepel
Author / Article Writer/ Professor
29
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Talia’s Answer
Since writing changes constantly, turn your focus away from genres and tropes and to what you like to write about. If you have a specialty, you can make an income doing what you enjoy.
On the fiction side, you can publish books, write short stories, write scripts and screenplays, or be a narrative designer.
On the non-fiction side, you can be a journalist, a content writer, a technical writer, or a copywriter.
There are many specialties beyond these, but there's always a need for people with good writing skills and a specialty.
On the fiction side, you can publish books, write short stories, write scripts and screenplays, or be a narrative designer.
On the non-fiction side, you can be a journalist, a content writer, a technical writer, or a copywriter.
There are many specialties beyond these, but there's always a need for people with good writing skills and a specialty.
Elizabeth Raichle
Director
3
Answers
Nashville, Tennessee
Updated
Elizabeth’s Answer
To everyone else's point, there are so many genres and types of writing. The important thing is to find your voice, brand your style, and know that words matter. They're powerful and can change people's lives and even the course of history.
With that said, I have 20+ years of experience as a technical writer. Technical writers create a wide range of documents and content to make complex technical information understandable and usable for a variety of audiences. Some of the types of documents and content tech writers commonly produce include:
- User Manuals: These provide step-by-step instructions on how to use a product or a piece of software.
- Installation Guides: Instructions on how to install hardware or software.
- Online Help Documentation: Interactive help content for software or websites, including FAQs and tutorials. (My personal favorite!)
- API Documentation: Instructions for developers on how to use an application programming interface (API).
- Product Guides: Detailed information about a product, including specifications, features, and usage tips.
- Training Materials: Materials for training courses or workshops, including presentations and manuals.
- Policies and Procedures: Documents that outline organizational policies, processes, and procedures.
- Knowledge Base Articles: Online articles or FAQs that provide answers to common user questions.
- Marketing Content: Tech writers may also create marketing materials like product brochures, website content, or case studies.
And more!
Effective communication is such a critical skill in today's workforce, and believe me, there are companies that will pay BIG bucks to have someone else write all their documentation! The added joy of this profession is learning so much about so many things (I could tell you exactly how to perform a knee replacement), the work is engaging, and it can morph into opportunities you never even knew existed.
With that said, I have 20+ years of experience as a technical writer. Technical writers create a wide range of documents and content to make complex technical information understandable and usable for a variety of audiences. Some of the types of documents and content tech writers commonly produce include:
- User Manuals: These provide step-by-step instructions on how to use a product or a piece of software.
- Installation Guides: Instructions on how to install hardware or software.
- Online Help Documentation: Interactive help content for software or websites, including FAQs and tutorials. (My personal favorite!)
- API Documentation: Instructions for developers on how to use an application programming interface (API).
- Product Guides: Detailed information about a product, including specifications, features, and usage tips.
- Training Materials: Materials for training courses or workshops, including presentations and manuals.
- Policies and Procedures: Documents that outline organizational policies, processes, and procedures.
- Knowledge Base Articles: Online articles or FAQs that provide answers to common user questions.
- Marketing Content: Tech writers may also create marketing materials like product brochures, website content, or case studies.
And more!
Effective communication is such a critical skill in today's workforce, and believe me, there are companies that will pay BIG bucks to have someone else write all their documentation! The added joy of this profession is learning so much about so many things (I could tell you exactly how to perform a knee replacement), the work is engaging, and it can morph into opportunities you never even knew existed.
Michael L. Mizrahi
locations department worker
5
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Michael L.’s Answer
I concur with Tom's viewpoint.
Success doesn't always equate to monetary gain. For me, writing is not a means to amass wealth. It's true that I, like many others, fantasize about achieving financial stability that could transform my life. I won't deny the allure of prestige, recognition, and the desire to be admired by my peers and society at large. The thought of rubbing shoulders with luminaries like JJ Abrams and Ridley Scott does cross my mind. But these dreams need to be shelved for now.
The world of screenwriting is ever-evolving, with popular genres constantly shifting. If you're crafting a script based on the current in-vogue genre for TV, it may be outdated by the time it reaches the development stage.
I draw inspiration from my life experiences and the subjects that captivate me. When something piques my interest, I immerse myself in its world or delve into extensive research, such as historical events. This curiosity fuels my passion. A good rule of thumb of mine is that I'm able to have empathy for all the characters. Otherwise they will probably be cliche or unreal. (I write drama. This rule changes for other genres)
Let's rethink the term "successful". In my perspective, success isn't measured by the wealth I accumulate, but by the richness of my life experiences. How can one deem themselves successful if they aren't fulfilling their role as a good friend, being dependable, present, and pursuing their passion? To me, success is about writing, completing stories, and being an active participant in the game. The famed painter Kandinsky didn't achieve commercial success until his 60's, yet he was undeniably successful in his craft.
Success doesn't always equate to monetary gain. For me, writing is not a means to amass wealth. It's true that I, like many others, fantasize about achieving financial stability that could transform my life. I won't deny the allure of prestige, recognition, and the desire to be admired by my peers and society at large. The thought of rubbing shoulders with luminaries like JJ Abrams and Ridley Scott does cross my mind. But these dreams need to be shelved for now.
The world of screenwriting is ever-evolving, with popular genres constantly shifting. If you're crafting a script based on the current in-vogue genre for TV, it may be outdated by the time it reaches the development stage.
I draw inspiration from my life experiences and the subjects that captivate me. When something piques my interest, I immerse myself in its world or delve into extensive research, such as historical events. This curiosity fuels my passion. A good rule of thumb of mine is that I'm able to have empathy for all the characters. Otherwise they will probably be cliche or unreal. (I write drama. This rule changes for other genres)
Let's rethink the term "successful". In my perspective, success isn't measured by the wealth I accumulate, but by the richness of my life experiences. How can one deem themselves successful if they aren't fulfilling their role as a good friend, being dependable, present, and pursuing their passion? To me, success is about writing, completing stories, and being an active participant in the game. The famed painter Kandinsky didn't achieve commercial success until his 60's, yet he was undeniably successful in his craft.
Kehinde Makinde
Spiritual mentor, Creative & Academic Writer
4
Answers
Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria
Updated
Kehinde’s Answer
It is beautiful to see you propelling into the future as a writer success. I want you to know that success creatively and success financially are two poles that can be attained.
One area doing well in terms of creative success is Non-fictional writing, the other area doing well in terms of financial success is romance.
Although life is ever-evolving and readers' attraction is rippling into what is entertaining, connected to the future they look up to; and what solves problems. In your adventure to look for the area of writing currently doing well, make sure your writing is:
a. Clear and concise
b. Persuasive
c. Committed to storytelling
d. Relevant and informative
I wish you the best in your area of writing (genre(s) and trope(s).
One area doing well in terms of creative success is Non-fictional writing, the other area doing well in terms of financial success is romance.
Although life is ever-evolving and readers' attraction is rippling into what is entertaining, connected to the future they look up to; and what solves problems. In your adventure to look for the area of writing currently doing well, make sure your writing is:
a. Clear and concise
b. Persuasive
c. Committed to storytelling
d. Relevant and informative
I wish you the best in your area of writing (genre(s) and trope(s).
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