Minimalism in fiction writing is quick action, snappy dialog, psychotic but loveable characters, light description, a dash of saving the world or revenge, as needed, and humor over tears.
Psychotic but loveable characters
This may be unbelievable, but it’s a goal for me. A person can be psychotic and still an empath. Being psychotic doesn’t necessarily mean narcissist, psychopath or sociopath. To me it means your reality has slipped into the dark recesses of the abyss. Which is my happy place.
Humor over Tears
This is my thing. Writers say you have to get your readers to cry or you’re not a writer. I want people to laugh. I do want it a little serious, and parts are serious, but I’d rather tell jokes. I don’t want to read a book that is purely serious.
Minimalism in short fiction
This is the most common place to see this style of writing. Writing short fiction is a major way I developed as a writer. Short fiction is the way and path, but I find my muse giving me bigger pieces. The Unholy Monster War is pieces of short fiction strung together in a line.
Calling it Men’s Fiction is Doom
Enough women have read my books, I see zero reason to call it men’s fiction. It’s fiction for humans. It’s not romance or erotica, if somebody is into romance, then my stuff is not their genre. It doesn’t mean women won’t enjoy it.
My third Juxta book, Ash, is about a girl, who is a soldier in a world of male soldiers. It’s epic fantasy so there are more details than some of my other books but no plagues of sausage fests.
Action Adventure
This is a common genre for minimalism. It depends heavily on the writer. If the pace is too fast, too little description, lack of thoughts, I don’t think it works. For me, I have to care about the characters and relate to the characters, or who cares that somebody is shooting at them?
To me, the goal is to write character driven stories. I build up the characters, I build friendships. Then put the reader into a rollercoaster.
War fiction
Fictional war is kind of my thing within a minimalism scope. Most of my books have wars in them. Winter’s line has a war, but it’s small scale, and far more adventure than war.
Codename: Bear books have war on a law enforcement scale, the battles are mostly S.W.A.T. level of conflict, and less thousand-man armies.
My trope is a main character with reasons to fight. Family, friends, save humanity, whatever it takes to get him or her into gear and unwilling to quit. Good, bad or ugly, these are my tropes, and I write them as a minimalist.
Definition #2 of minimalism
Short but balanced descriptions. Jokes. Plot driven. Loveable, fleshed out characters. Action.
Descriptions
I don’t want pages of descriptions. I do want readers to be able to see what is happening in their minds, just at a minimum. I’m about dialog and thoughts over painting pictures with prose.
Mainstream Fast Paced
You see a lot of books claiming to be fast paced or action. Most I’ve seen aren’t entirely minimalists, they still spend too much time painting pictures with prose.
Some of these are pretty okay, but most are based in the real world with real physics and real problems. No magic, no sci fi, no monsters.
I want to combine the good elements of minimalism, with some unreal facets, and ultimately borderline insane characters. Or completely insane, or psychotic. I want these elements of manic energy in my characters.
I am the source when it comes to minimalist writing, a hint of the unreal, and manic energy.
This is what I truly need in books I read, and not finding this in books, is one reason I started writing.
Examples
Unholy Monster War
Tight description, snappy dialog, developed characters equals minimalism for me. This is my favorite example.
This is my dark side. Bad things happen. It’s not what you think, but it is monster hunting. These stories are written at racecar pacing by design.
If I knew a way to speed them up more, without cutting details or characters or action, I would. I’m thrilled with how these have come out and for me they represent a balance between world building and never slowing down.
Winter’s Line
Eriq is happy growing legumes and apples and finding love. Instead, he finds himself sharpening his skills and seeking revenge.
It’s ultimately about his relationship with Jericho. They become steadfast friends and comrades in arms.
Codename: Bear
Joshua had problems any college kid had. Ramen or tuna for dinner. Things change when a secret law enforcement agency recruits him.
It’s about being on a team, risking their lives, and camaraderie. The characters are why people enjoy it, not because of my amazing wonderful combat action, did I mention it’s amazing?
Juxta, Magi
Epic fantasy, but it’s still minimalist compared to most
A twelve-year old boy is trying to build a future from nothing but thieves’ tools. The king makes an unbeatable offer.
In the end, it’s about friendship and necromancers and battles. It’s also about not bogging down with heavy description.
Copyright Geoffrey C Porter
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