Writing is Comprised of Many Genres
Writing as a discipline is as diverse and varied as the creatures of the ocean. As such, despite how long we spend perfecting our craft, us writers are less masters of writing than we are masters of one or two specific genres within the sphere of writing. For example, a poet laureate would likely have no idea how to draft a long form memoir, and a memoirist has hardly heard of the terms anaphora and dactylic hexameter.
Within the various genres of writing, I happen to be proficient in two particular kinds technical writing and fictional writing. These genres, their definitions, similarities, and differences will be the focus of this post. The point of exploring these two contrasting genres is to identify ways to write engaging content no matter what genre you are in, and that will be the final, concluding section of this post.
Technical Writing
Technical writing is writing that explains highly complex, technical topics, usually for STEM-related fields. In my experience, technical writing jobs are centralized across a couple of industries, such as software and tech, medical device production, and the legal sphere, though there are technical writing jobs in almost any technical role, if at least by a different name. Technical writing favors structured content, simple writing, and easy-to-understand diagrams and processes. It is easy to write a technical document, such as a user’s guide or configuration guide, but it is difficult to do it well. Technical writing is suited for those with strong communication skills and the ability to learn and articulate complex topics.
Fictional Writing
Fictional writing is just as broad and diverse as technical writing, though most of us tend to think of mass-produced paperback books from Barnes and Noble when we think of fictional writing. Fictional writing can be literary and serious or cute and contemporary. It can be simplistic and meant for children, or it can be flowery and complex. Fictional writing is dictated by the conventions of its sub-genres (middle grade, ya, romance, literary, etc.). Fictional writing requires no formal training, but it does require effort and practice to master. It is best suited to those with active imaginations and a strong sense of voice.
Similarities Between Technical and Fictional Writing
Despite how different I just made these two genres seem, there are actually a few similarities, which are as follows:
- Genre conventions: Both technical writing and fictional writing are bound by the conventions of its sub-genres. For example, a user’s guide has specific sections that make it a user’s guide, just as a romance novel has specific tropes and ideas associated with it that comprise the sub-genre. And while subverting these conventions and expectations is possible, it isn’t recommended until you are a master of your craft. Something, something, knowing the rules before you break them.
- Structure: Both genres have structure. Technical writing often takes the structure of ordered headings, such as how I structured this post. The title was the highest ordered heading, the three main sections are of the second order, and so on. In a similar fashion, fiction also often has structure, usually in the form of scenes and chapters.
- Emphasis of audience: In fiction, we obviously think about and care very much about our audience. We want them to both understand the story and enjoy it, and we make artistic choices according to these guidelines. Likewise, in technical writing, where the audience are often called users, we want our audience to understand the content (though not necessarily to enjoy it; I’ll be the first to admit that technical writing can be at times dry) and able to implement the knowledge they have gained from our content.
These are just a few similarities I’ve thought of off the top of my head, and if you read through these again, you’ll likely be able to apply these points to other genres of writing too, as these similarities transcend just one or two genres; they apply to writing in general.
Differences Between Technical and Fictional Writing
Of course, since they are different genres, technical writing and fictional writing are pretty different. I’ll skip the most obvious ones (i.e., technical writing is about technical content, and fictional writing is about, well, fiction) and instead note some lesser thought of differences that only someone who has dabbled in both genres would pick up. These differences are as follows:
- Writing style: Obviously the two genres have drastically different writing styles, but that isn’t always the case. Technical writing will always be plainly written, eschewing large words and avoiding ambiguity as much as possible. And while it is possible for fictional writing to employ this style, that isn’t generally true in my experience. Fictional writers, while generally they write in a plain style, have the freedom to use more flowery language and create as much ambiguity as the story and the readers will tolerate.
- Repetition: Repetition is actually a component of style, but I believe this specific characteristic deserves its own bullet point. In technical writing, repetition is huge. If you refer to something as “the left-hand panel on the screen”, you should use that phrasing over and over again to remove any ambiguity as to what you’re referring to. Technical writing seeks to diminish user error by eliminating ambiguity through repetition. Even changing the phrasing to “the left-side panel on the screen” could introduce error. And almost on the completely opposite side of the spectrum, fictional writing seldom employs repetition, unless for specific, articulatable purposes. Using the same words over and over again is boring to the readers and generally reads as clunky. As a writer in both genres, I struggle the most with leaving my repetitive tendencies at technical writing’s door before entering fictional writing’s sphere, something which I specifically have to edit for during the revision process, which is why I felt repetition deserved its own bullet point.
- Voice: The last characteristic is voice. In technical writing, you must employ an impartial voice. It doesn’t necessarily have to be formal (this semi-technical writing-style article certainly doesn’t use a formal voice), but it must be impartial. Facts are facts, and you as the writer can’t be inserting opinions into your instructions. However, in fictional writing, voice is whatever you decide it is. And even if you decide to employ an impartial voice, chances are you’ll insert an opinion, yours or your characters’, at some point. That’s just the way of writing engaging fiction.
Obviously there are more differences between these two genres, but these are the ones that I deal with most as a writer of both genres. Having these differences in mind as you switch between genres can help you better adhere to the conventions of whatever genre you’re currently writing in and cut down on future editing time.
Tips for Engaging Writing Across Genres
As a final thought, take these tips for writing engaging writing, no matter the genre:
- Choose a voice appropriate to your genre.
- Take note of the conventions of your genre and stick to them.
- Hold your audience in your mind throughout your writing process.
- Write as authentically as you can.