Mix-Up, Mash-Up, Hybrid, Fusion: How to Write a Blended-Genre Story

January 9 – February 6, 2025

Deadline: November 22, 2024

Apply Here

Instructor:

Gregory Ashe

Level:

Beginner to Intermediate

Live Class:

7 pm-8:30 pm EST
Tues., Jan. 9
Tues., Jan. 23
Tues., Feb. 6

Tuition:

$259.00

Course Description

Do you love stories that combine more than one genre? Romance and fantasy? Mystery and science fiction? Cozy and… horror? (Okay, maybe not that last one.) Do you struggle to balance the demands and expectations of multiple genres in your own writing? Do the story structures seem incompatible? Do you want to create the same cross-genre story experience for other readers that you enjoyed, but you’re not sure how?

Learning how to write a blended-genre story can help with all these issues.

This course covers the concepts and techniques that will help you write effective blended-genre stories, with a focus on combining mystery, romance, and cozy (meaning, low-stakes, comforting stories) with fantastic fiction, an umbrella term encompassing fantasy, science fiction, horror, magical realism, and anything in between. Students will learn the core elements of genre, including tropes, story structures, character types, plot devices, and story turns. They will also learn about the important role of reader expectations and the emotional experience that is key to genre fiction, as well as the importance of genre considerations for successfully marketing their work.

Students will also learn how to blend genres in their own stories. In particular, students will learn how to examine their own writing to identify a base genre, to which they will add additional genre elements. Students will be introduced to techniques for combining different story structures, with an emphasis on controlling pacing, conflict, tension, and suspense in a way that is appropriate for the blended genres. Students will consider solutions for the additional complications that cross-genre writing presents to character arcs and themes. The course will address other challenges particular to multigenre writing.

Students will also hone their ability to dissect other authors’ work, particularly when it comes to balancing genre expectations and creating a satisfying experience for readers. This practice will help students to continue mastering these techniques independently after the conclusion of the course.

The course is intended for writers of fantastic fiction. Since this course focuses on blending genres, fiction writers who focus on other genres could profit from this class and would be welcome. The course will cover issues relevant in middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction.

It will be most valuable for beginner to intermediate writers.

Students must be ready to hear about the weaknesses in their writing and to work to strengthen them. Students must also be ready to give feedback to their classmates that is both truthful and helpful.

Our goal as a class is to provide a supportive yet challenging environment that will help students improve their writing.

Each student will have a private meeting with Greg.

Assignments:

Students will have some homework assigned before the first meeting, and will also be assigned homework during the course.

The first assignment will have a due date of January 8, the day before our initial meeting.

Homework will be assigned on January 9 and 23, with due dates, respectively, of January 15 and 29. You will also be required to provide critiques of some of your classmates’ work, which will be due on January 22 and February 5. Any student who misses a deadline may be expelled from the class and will receive no refund.

All assignments should be in standard manuscript format and should be submitted as MS Word files or rich text files.

You should reserve a minimum of 5 hours each week to complete homework.

Assignments will include reading and analyzing assigned texts, critiquing, performing exercises to practice techniques, writing new material, analyzing your previously written material, and revising previously written material. Students will also be required to reply to online discussion questions during the course.

Greg will return students’ homework with his feedback by the day before the next class session.

Students are expected to follow guidelines about assignments and class materials established in the Odyssey Online Student Handbook.

Attendance:

Since we will have only 3 class meetings, attendance at every class is necessary for students to get the most out of this course.

You are expected to attend all classes, except in cases of emergency. In such cases, you should notify the instructor.

Classes will be recorded and made available to students for a limited time.

Any student who misses more than one class may be expelled from the course and will receive no refund.

It is your responsibility to find out what happened in any classes you missed and to complete homework by the deadlines.

Students are expected to follow the policies about attendance and behavior set out in the Odyssey Online Student Handbook.

Texts:

Students will be required to complete several readings before the course begins. Additional readings may be required after the course begins.

Technical Requirements:

Technical requirements for all Odyssey Online Classes are covered on the Online Classes page.

Tentative Schedule:

January 9: First class meeting. Introduction and orientation. What is blended-genre writing. The core elements of genre. The importance of reader expectations. Mystery and fantastic fiction—tropes, story structures, character types, plot devices, and story turns. Assignment of homework.

January 15: Homework is due.

January 22: Critiques are due. Homework is returned with Greg’s feedback.

January 23: Second class meeting. Discussion of previous homework assignment. Identifying a base genre and adding additional genres. Character arcs and theme. Romance and fantastic fiction—tropes, story structures, character types, plot devices, and story turns. Assignment of new homework. Some students will have private meetings with Greg after class.

January 29: Homework is due.

January 30: Some students will have private meetings with Greg between 7:00-8:30 PM EST.

February 5: Critiques are due. Homework is returned with Greg’s feedback.

February 6: Third class meeting. Discussion of previous homework assignment. Combining story structures and controlling pacing, conflict, tension, and suspense in a way that is appropriate for the blended genres. Cozy and fantastic fiction—tropes, story structures, character types, plot devices, and story turns. Wrap-up. Some students will have private meetings with Greg after class.

Instructor: Gregory Ashe

Gregory Ashe is a bestselling author and longtime Midwesterner. He has lived in Chicago, Bloomington (IN), and Saint Louis, his current home. He primarily writes contemporary mysteries, with forays into romance, fantasy, and horror. Predominantly, his stories feature LGBTQ protagonists. When not reading and writing, he is an educator. He is a graduate of the Odyssey workshop and taught at Odyssey 2021. For more information, visit his website: www.gregoryashe.com.

Reactions from Gregory Ashe’s Students

Odyssey knows how to deliver instruction, and their online course on Scene and Sequel with Gregory Ashe took my writing to another level. I had read about Scene and Sequel in several sources, but it wasn’t until Greg broke down the process and helped me practice the techniques that this became a tool I now own. Odyssey courses are organized and well moderated. I always feel like I’m in safe and responsible hands. The workload is demanding but certainly not overwhelming. This was my second online course through Odyssey, and each one has given me greater confidence as a writer.
–SAM PISCIOTTA

In Ashe’s Scene & Sequel intensive, I learned how to better decipher how some writers create page turners and how I can better do that myself. I’ve tried to decipher how favorite authors do it, but until this course, the usefulness of my analyses was more miss than hit. I’m keeping the templates for effective scenes and sequels open as I write. The course work, class feedback, and instructor suggestions have helped me be more productive and to move my plots forward in ways that engage. I’m grateful for the opportunity to take an Odyssey online course.
–JENIFER HARTT

I was looking for a course to really help me level-up my writing. Something beyond the usual how-to books and YouTube tutorials. Odyssey Online gave me what I needed in spades: the instructor was knowledgeable and helpful; the assignments were designed to help me grasp the material; there was just enough challenge to encourage growth; and, best of all, it’s clear how I can apply my new knowledge to improve my new writing.
–NATHANAEL GREEN

The Odyssey Online course Scene and Sequel taught by Gregory Ashe was a great experience. I especially appreciated Greg’s enthusiasm, his willingness to share and discuss techniques both in and out of class, and the insights he gave me into using scene and sequel to hone my pacing. It was also a pleasure and a privilege to be in class with such dedicated, serious and imaginative fellow writers. Well worth the time and the hard work!
–CAROLINE LEE

I’ve taken two Odyssey classes over a couple of years. I now use the techniques I learned there for every story I write. Not only have those lessons been incorporated into the stories I’ve published since, but they have made me more confident in approaching any story I can dream up. It’s like I was given a box of immaculate, well-made tools.
–TED BUSHMAN

Odyssey is one of the most respected workshops in the world for writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. My problem? I don’t write any of those things. I write gay romance. So I admit I was a little hesitant at first. The reason I decided to apply for the Angled Dialogue workshop through Odyssey was so I could learn from Gregory Ashe, in my opinion, one of the best authors of fiction out there today. Of course being a great author doesn’t necessarily translate to being a great teacher. Except in this case, it does. Greg is passionate about writing and teaching, and it shows. The combination of class lectures, homework, getting and giving critiques, and the instructor’s feedback helped me figure out how I could use the concepts I learned in this course to improve my dialogue and my writing. I’ve read a multitude of craft books and writing blogs. Nothing compares to having someone knowledgeable guide you through the process. Another thing I learned? Good writing is good writing. The concepts I learned throughout this workshop are applicable whether you’re writing fantasy, science fiction, horror, or romance. I highly recommend Odyssey Online Workshops if you want to improve your writing. Don’t let a little thing like genre stop you.
–DEBRA SUTTON

The Angled Dialogue class transformed the way I write. In my attempts to “pile on trouble,” my characters were losing agency and getting stuck reacting. My dialogue also labored under inadequate character goals and motivation. Greg helped me see these limitations and understand ways to correct them. I now have techniques to bring my writing to a new level, for which I will be forever grateful.
–LYRI MERRILL

The Odyssey “Angled Dialogue” class delivers on the promise of its premise. Although I felt that dialog was one of my strengths as a writer, the class with its curated readings, summary lectures, and self-reflections succeeded in deepening my understanding of the craft. I especially enjoyed the specific techniques taught. Though obvious in hindsight, the techniques are not so readily discerned in published fiction, where masterful technique disappears into story. Having the techniques as explicit tools in one’s kit allows them to be used deliberatively instead of only intuitively, presumably with greater impact. For the class, I pushed myself to write a new short story using the taught techniques. There is no substitute from having expert eyes evaluate specific examples of one’s own writing, especially in such a “closed-loop” fashion. I learned a lot from the exercise. Highly recommended! In his critiques, the instructor, Gregory Ashe, delivered insights into what was working and what might work even better. Much appreciated!
–ROGER HAMMONS

I loved the Odyssey Writing Workshop – Writer’s Toolkit! The course content was valuable, thought provoking and easy to incorporate into your writing practice. The instructor, Gregory Ashe, was knowledgeable and engaging. The writing exercises with critiques provided immediate feedback to use to improve your writing skill. Excellent course. I will take another Odyssey writing course in the future.
–KIMBERLY ROSAL

I got so much out of Odyssey’s workshop, “The Writer’s Toolkit.” Greg presented us with tools and resources that I will use in my writing from now on. After this class, I feel better equipped to tackle my work-in-progress, have confidence in my process, and have a revived enthusiasm for writing. I highly recommend this workshop.
–CLAUDIA WAIR

I really enjoyed Odyssey’s Writer’s Toolkit class. Though I had experience writing and completing short stories, I really wanted to write a novel and kept finding myself struggling with dead ends and stagnancy no matter whether I tried to force myself to outline or force myself to draft. In this class, I gained new perspective on the process of drafting as well as techniques to push myself out of ruts and tough spots, both in terms of plot and in terms of the murky emotions that can come up around writing. The insight I’ve gained through thoughtful critique from Greg and my classmates has given me a completely new and inspiring way of looking at the stories that I read and write. I genuinely feel like a different writer with new skills, and I feel more confident navigating both my writing, and the tumultuous highs and lows of sustaining a practice of writing over my lifetime. Thank you!
–NADINE TABING

I really liked the ‘Writer’s Toolkit,’ class and the tips provided! I have already started seeing its effects in the books I am reading and the stories I am planning to write. I have become more aware of both the techniques being employed and also my own mental state while writing. Something that really helps me go on is knowing that other writers face similar roadblocks. Greg himself was an encouraging guide and solved as many of my issues as he could in the short personal meeting. Very good content overall. I will definitely enroll in an Odyssey class in the future.
–MANAN SURAIYA

I highly recommend Odyssey’s Writer’s Toolkit class! This was my first time experiencing an Odyssey Online class, but I am already considering applying for more in the future. Greg Ashe is an enthusiastic, knowledgeable instructor that makes every student feel welcome and heard. I entered this course with my own loose writing process and a little bit of undergraduate creative writing experience, and walked away with a fresh set of techniques related to drafting, craft, revising, and even writing effective sales copy and query letters. I feel confident in applying these techniques to my writing practice and stories going forward. If you are on the fence, I would still consider applying and taking this next step on your journey as a writer. Thank you so much to Odyssey and Greg for this great experience!
–SARA KUZUOKA DONLIN

I came away from this class feeling energized. Through writing assignments and critiques, I got an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of my stories. From Greg’s lectures and our reflection questions, I came away with craft and productivity techniques targeted to where I need to grow as a writer. Greg is a generous, energetic, and thoughtful teacher, walking us through techniques he has used to craft his own books and to remain happy and productive in the creative life. The Odyssey online format is rigorous and wonderful – everyone was willing to work hard and make it a great experience.
–SHIWEI ZHOU

In the Odyssey Writing Workshop – Writer’s Toolkit, I learned the art of building stories. Gregory Ashe was a super-accessible and engaged instructor. Now, I have full confidence smashing my 1st drafts apart and reconfiguring them using so many new toys in my writing sandbox. Thank you, Jeanne and Gregory!
–CHANA KOHL

Odyssey was everything I’d heard. Truthfully, I’ve not attended a better class than the one I did with Odyssey. Scene and Sequel with Gregory Ashe changed the way I think about writing, the way I think about my writing. And I couldn’t be more thankful for everything I learned.
–JASON HUSSONG

Writers thrive for clarity in their writing. Scene and Sequel at Odyssey, taught by Gregory Ashe, provides important tools to help clarify purpose for the characters, the readers, and the writer. I learned a ton. Many thanks to everyone at Odyssey.
–JOARY LIZARDO

Greg Ashe does a fantastic job making complex ideas understandable and actionable. His course assignments are comprehensive, he provides multiple examples that illuminate and broaden the concepts under consideration, and his provocative discussion questions further clarify the course content. All of this rich instruction is provided in a friendly and encouraging environment.
I read lots of writing craft books, but Greg helps me apply writing techniques in real time. I also continue to deepen my understanding of his lessons long after the class has concluded. Similarly, I’ve taken many writing classes. Odyssey Online provides high-quality instruction that combines live video lecture, discussion boards, and in-depth critiques for a superior learning experience.
If you’re looking for an excellent teacher, who is kind and fun, and who will help you take your writing to a deeper level, I strongly recommend you take a class from Greg Ashe at Odyssey Online.
–LYRI MERRILL

The Odyssey Scene and Sequel course taught by Gregory Ashe exceeded my already high expectations. Greg is a compassionate and expert instructor who was always generous with his time and open to questions. He taught us not only how to recognize and write these critical micro-structural narrative units, but also how to use the micro structure to build the macro structure of the story itself.
This is my first Odyssey course. I can’t wait to take my next one! I have already begun apply the concepts I’ve learned here to my works in progress. Jeanne and everyone at Odyssey has created a learning environment that allows students to thrive and achieve their highest potential.
–DAVID BARRY

The Scene and Sequel course taught by Gregory Ashe did not disappoint! The course allowed me to think critically about writing in a way I had not considered before. Greg was patient, kind, and supportive during his critiques and classes. He is approachable and offers consistent guidance, which I found very helpful. The course was structured so that I could learn from fellow classmates and implement that learning in my writing. As a beginning writer this was an incredible opportunity to learn and grow.
–CAREY ELDRIDGE

Odyssey surpassed my every expectation and Gregory Ashe’s course, Scene & Sequel, is the best writing course I’ve ever taken. This course goes in depth to make writing concepts concrete in a way I’ve never experienced before. It made me more confident in my ability to control pacing, increase stakes, and create compelling character goals. I would highly recommend!
–DEANNA DUXBURY

Scene and Sequel with Greg was wonderful. It’s no exaggeration to say that this was the best workshop I’ve ever participated in. The readings were really insightful and very clearly illustrated the main points of the lectures. Greg was generous with his time and attention and the vibe among the students was collegial and supportive. The critiquing worksheet we were given is such an outstanding tool. It really sharpened the critiques I was able to give and set a very high standard that I strove to live up to. The online course was itself well structured and administered, with plenty of support to assist the less tech savvy students and to organize the course contents for ease of use. I feel my craft has gotten a lot stronger and in my daily writing practice now I find myself focusing on the techniques we covered.
–TIM STAPLETON