Write Stories Using Popular Genres, Such as the Fish Out of Water

In a previous article, I detailed how to Write Stories Using Appropriate Genres. These included Magical Realism, Dystopian, Thriller, Speculative Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, and more. There are a plethora of fascinating genres, and in this article, I would like to show you more about how to write stories using popular genres. Let’s explore three more: 

• Fish Out of Water
• Traveling Angel
• Space Opera

A Fish Out of Water is a story about a character who finds herself outside of her comfort zone. She’s in a dilemma where she must search for meaning and resources to extricate herself from the uncomfortable situation, which has an uncertain outcome. Finding her way back to the familiar will not be an easy one.

Think of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. She realizes she’s not at her home in Kansas anymore. Kansas represents her comfort zone along with her aunt Em. Dorothy and her dog Toto are caught in a tornado where they are deposited into a magical land called Oz. Here, she finds herself facing strange occurrences. She sets out to see the Wizard of Oz whom she hopes can help her get back home to Kansas. There are unfamiliar and implausible characters such as the Scarecrow who wants a brain, a Tin Man who wants a heart, and a Lion searching for courage. Dorothy wanders through this strange land. She must find a way to avoid the Wicked Witch of the West who is after her ruby slippers. With the help of her newfound friends, she’s able to solve her dilemma. Dorothy adapts, overcomes, and grows. This growth shows her successful character arc and her return to Kansas, back to a somewhat normal life. However, through growth, nothing is ever completely the same.

The Fish Out of Water Genre originates from how a fish—taken out of its natural habitat, water—struggles to survive.

Write Stories Using Popular Genres,
Such as The Traveling Angel

Angels are a source of fascination because they are associated with goodness and helpfulness. A traveling angel is a perfect person who travels about solving the problems of others, whether their problems or those in their community. 

The angel character is imbued with wisdom and abilities not inherent in ordinary men and women. Traveling angels often have themes that deal with redemption and morality.

An example of a Traveling Angel is the TV series Highway to Heaven (1984-1989), where Michael Landon stars as Jonathan Smith. This angel, sent to Earth from God, has a human friend. Together, they help people get on the right track as they face life’s challenges. Sometimes the angel offers miraculous solutions.

Other themes consist of compassion and transformative power when the divine is involved in life’s solutions.

Write Stories Using Popular Genres,
Such as the Space Opera Genre

Space Opera is a subgenre of science fiction where adventure and hero journeys are emphasized. This genre has at its core space travel, cosmic conflict, and advanced futuristic technologies. The space opera genre is basically a soap opera in outer space.

In exploring the term space opera, here we learn that there is not a connection with classical music: 

This genre is gaining popularity because of its spectacular mix of action, stunning world-building, and emotional depth.

Discover more of what James has to say about the Space Opera genre.

There are differences of course between science fiction and the space opera. One difference is that “Sci-fi writers pour countless hours into researching the machinations behind their stories, making their themes as scientifically feasible and realistic as possible” (James).

James goes on to state that space opera novels love to be implausible. Though planets, galaxies, and entirely made-up systems are included, these stories are nevertheless inspired by the space setting. Known as “relationship arcs,” these show major conflicts that individuals, organizations, and societies fight, usually pitting good against evil.

One example of a space opera is The Expanse, based on novels by James S. A. Corey. These novels explore a future in which humanity has colonized much of the Solar System. It details political and social tensions among Earth's future colonies that are stretched across the solar system.

When you write stories using popular genres, you will give your audience a thrilling ride through stories that stretch the imagination. You will provide them with a deep understanding of what happens to a character when she no longer finds herself in her usual environment. Will help come in the form of an angel? Will love blossom in outer space? These genres give the audience a well-rounded view of characters as they struggle to “work things out” in their lives.  

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