Genre stories are pieces of writing, often short, within a specific genre. For example, crime stories, horror stories, sci-fi stories, etc. I like the sound of these genre stories not because of the genres in which they are written, but because they are often short. I don’t really enjoy reading. I don’t read many books. The books I have read and enjoyed have mostly ended up being made into films, which I’ve genuinely preferred. (That’s not true. I’m just trying to make a point. I read Yes Man by Danny Wallace and loved it. The film made me go ‘eh’.)

My point is that reading doesn’t seem to do for me what it does for so many others. I seldom feel immersed in another world when I read. I’m more likely to be looking at how many more pages I have to go. I get distracted. That’s all I’m saying. Sometimes I’ll be reading a cartoon strip and jump from the first panel to the last, eager for the inevitably disappointing punch line. To be fair they’re only disappointing because I’ve skipped the vital set up in panels two and three.

So. Genre stories. I’m even getting distracted just reading over this draft. Of course by the time you’re reading this, it isn’t a draft anymore. This is the final product. Just imagine all the lines I’ve taken out. My tea is getting cold.

Focus. One man, Sam Wilson, has taken genre stories to another level. A level I really admire. He’s taken them to Twitter. Sam is writing tiny genre stories within the 140 character limit of Twitter and you can read them here.

He’s also surprisingly good at 20 Questions, as you will discover in the latest episode of The Brothers Streep Show, here.

Thanks,

Dyl Streep.