Writing a Novel: The Adventure Fiction Genre

Adventure fiction is probably one of the oldest fiction genres. When cavemen sat around the fire, telling each other their hunting tales, but exaggerating them until they bore little resemblance to the truth, they were telling tales of the adventure fiction genre. This genre can be fun and exciting, but unless you have a real passion for adventure and its many components, you should probably look to another genre when writing your book.

What is Adventure Fiction?

It is sometimes difficult to define adventure fiction, because it can so easily slip into another genre. Indeed, it is possible to write a fantasy adventure, a crime adventure, or a science fiction adventure. Many authors combine the elements of different styles to come up with something unique and thrilling, while at the same time trying to stay true to the adventure genre.

Perhaps a good description for adventure fiction might simply be a tale that places the hero (or heroine) in nearly constant peril while dealing with nearly constant mayhem or chaos. So, if you were to write a book that started out in this style, but then had several chapters where not much in the way of peril or chaos happened, your story might not be termed adventure fiction.

Adventure fiction absolutely requires a villain. And your readers will expect this villain to have a serious and negative effect on your hero. The hero in an adventure story usually has everything thrown at him all of the time. He has to rely on his skills and wits to get him out of any situation, because there is no ‘magical’ rescuing or long-lost friend to save the day. He has to be the one to save the day, or your audience will regulate your so-called adventure story to the back of their bookshelves.

Adventure Fiction Takes Many Forms

The decision to write an adventure novel doesn’t mean that you’ve suddenly limited in your options. Adventure can be woven into almost any setting. If you like spies and secret agents, then write an adventure story that has your hero trying to track down an elusive and brilliant spy.

Adventure novels can center around disasters, such as earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, or perhaps around terrorism. War is always a popular topic, and adventure themes are quite easily woven into these settings. And if you enjoy the paranormal, try your hand at writing a paranormal adventure book.

There are so many choices when it comes to writing an adventure novel. Consider some of these as potential ideas when you finally sit down to put pen to paper:

• High finance or big business;
• Techno-thrillers;
• Legal stories;
• Aliens;
• Political or religious tales; or
• Adventures on the high seas.

Adventure fiction is fast-paced and entertaining. If you can write a novel that moves quickly, has an engaging plot, and never stops supplying your audience with action, then the adventure genre might be for you. If it is, then get started.