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The plot thickens may be a clich, but it's a truism. The plot genre is the skeleton of all good stories. Not only does it organize how the story will be laid out, but gives it gives it the structure on which to flesh out the characters and sets the pace of the conflict resolution. From the uniqueness of the character mixture to the depth of the conflict, the plot helps the writer develop a story that flows evenly and consistently. By developing characters, actions and conflicts, the storyline develops layers, which not only flush out the main plot but also creates sub-plots to create uniqueness within the story.

Plot genres can be as complex or as simple as the author wishes to make them. There are several generic story lines; romance, fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, comedy, suspense and western are the major plot themes. However, by combining them you can develop your own niche in the writing world. I write magical fantasy much like Anne McCaffrey and Marion Zimmer Bradley. Working with the magical realm, my characters live in today's world only it is so much more. The themes can be mix and matched to create unique storylines and unexpected endings. William Nolan wrote a wonderful comedy fantasy novels; my favorite is Space for Hire. It is a futuristic version of the Detective Sam Spade series. It's silly and unexpected, which is why it works. Movies like Scary Movie is an example of comedy horror. All three versions are spoofs of horror movies. The more common genre combinations are sci-fi horror with monsters in space, romantic westerns when the hero rides up to save the heroine, and suspense thrillers in the style of Dick Francis. Romance erotica is a new genre that brings the old romantic novels into the present; no longer are they limited hand holding and loving gazes, but can include explicit sexual content. The only limits on plot combinations are within each author imagination. By crossing genres, the readership is more inclusive and diverse allowing the author to reach a wider audience.

After you have chosen your genre, do your research. Read novels that are in the genre. If you don't read it, you can't write it. By following the rhythm, that others have been successful with, you can see the patterns of the genre and know what is expected. Fantasy and Sci-fi are deeply rooted in science. You don't have to have a Masters in physics, but you do have to understand the basics. People who read fantasy and sci-fi are science-wise and are quick to point out

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