With all the crossovers, subgenres, and newly defined genres in existence today, how can you possibly begin to narrow down and define your genre?
Fiction Genre Categories
Fiction and nonfiction are the two broadest genre categories, and within each, there are several narrower genres. This article focuses on fiction. So, to properly identify your novel’s genre, we are going to first narrow this down to the primary fiction genres.
- romance
- fantasy
- science fiction
- horror
- thriller
- mystery
- historical
- adventure
- women’s lit
- western
- young adult
- children
Editor’s Note: Goodreads is a wonderful resource to find examples of genres.
Genre Conventions
Many genres have conventions that your readers will expect to see in your book. For example, romance must end with a happily ever after or at least a happy for now, while sci-fi expects your story to be set in the future with advanced technological aspects and possibly space travel, and thriller readers will be searching for the shocking twists among the high stakes.
You will need to study up on your chosen genre’s conventions and either adhere to them or have a very good reason for breaking them—and then consider whether they still fit your chosen genre or have transformed into another genre altogether.
Defining Your Genre
Take a moment to consider your setting, plot, and theme. These will be your biggest guides in determining your genre. For example, is your novel set in the future (sci-fi), does your plot center on solving a murder (mystery), or is your theme love conquers all (romance)?
These elements could change as you develop your book, which in turn will affect your genre. You may start off intending to write a romance and wind up actually writing women’s lit with a romantic subplot. This is where subgenres come in.
Defining Your Subgenre
Subgenres help narrow down what readers can expect in your book. Think historical romance, sci-fi thriller, or fantasy adventure. But when it comes to blending genres, it’s important to get the order right.
Subgenre
- Represented by the first word
- Acting adjective of the duo
- A descriptive term classifying a secondary characteristic of your book within the broader category of your main genre
Main Genre
- Represented by the second word
- Acting noun of the duo
- Most prevalent in and important to your overall story
Most of us simply overlook the order of the words or take it for granted, but it actually does make a difference. Take strawberry lemonade, for instance. While this drink is primarily lemonade (noun), it adds strawberry (adjective) for a more nuanced flavor.
Example: Romantic Fantasy vs Fantasy Romance
This means romantic fantasy is different from fantasy romance. While the former is a tale of fantasy with an element of romance tossed in, the latter is a fantasy that puts a romance story at the center. Put another way, a romantic fantasy focuses on the fantastical setting with a secondary plot that happens to involve romance. On the other hand, a fantasy romance is primarily about a romantic relationship that drives the story forward and happens to be set in a fantasy world.
Here are examples of each side of this coin:
Romantic Fantasy
- Primary Plot: Freya’s magical ability, a blessing/curse from the gods, causes war among the clans as Freya must determine how she will wield her power and for who.
- Secondary Subplot: The romance between Freya and Bjorn.
- Main Theme: Free will over destiny.
Fantasy Romance
- Primary Plot: Feyre and Tamlin’s romance must overcome fear, power imbalance, trauma, and a curse.
- Secondary Plot: Power struggles ensue as the threat of war between the human and faerie realms grows.
- Main Theme: Love conquers all, or overcoming adversity through love.
So, what is your genre? Subgenre? What conventions must you follow? If you are breaking any of the rules, what is your reasoning?
Red Quill Editorial LLC
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