Write, write, write

You know the ones I mean. You’re in the middle of talking film and suddenly someone blurts out that they hate horror, or scifi, or western, romantic comedies, whatever, and would never watch that stuff. With a single statement they brush aside an entire world. Now that’s just a personal flaw in most instances – but when that person is a screenwriter, I get the instant urge to slap a bit of sense into that writer.

I may not write it, but I'll go there!

Genres and sub-genres are like countries with their very distinctly different laws and landscapes. If your average tourist says, e.g. , “I don’t care about Ivory Coast and will therefore never travel there”, not much is lost. That individual has simply chosen to exclude a particular part of our world from his/her life experience. Most likely, that decision will not impact that person’s professional life. But if you’re a writer and you exclude an entire genre – you are, in fact, messing with your profession, your craft, your goals, your future, you’re messing with what you might one day become – the best there is.

I currently have no intention of ever writing a “romantic comedy” – but watching them? I have enjoyed some of the most charming, brilliant, wonderfully crafted romantic comedies. I laugh, I cry, I’m entirely happy when the inevitable moment comes, when the two, despite all those carefully crafted odds, finally end up together. What I’m trying to say is – wherever your voice may lie, whatever your preferred writing genre – never exclude entire other worlds – you learn from those just as much – even more!

Every genre offers great stories (and myriads of terrible ones). My suggestion – if you have a particular prejudice against a particular genre – do the research, and rent ten or twenty top reviewed films of that genre. Even if you can’t stand getting scared and have stayed away from horror for that very reason – get over it! Rent them, watch them, get scared – then analyze and learn. You’ll probably still never write a horror film – but the professional writer in you has just become more rounded, more experienced, more versed.

Learn to not think “genre”, but “story” instead. As a writer, you couldn’t possibly want to exclude yourself from some of the greatest stories ever told. So in whatever genre-country those stories may sit – take the time to journey there – take in the scenery, take some pictures and come back an even better writer.

Enjoy your trips!