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Book Genres
- Thread starter noamag
- Start date
novella
Active Member
This site has a few lists, without definitions:
http://www.sevenoaks.wa.edu.au/linkpage/reading/read4.html
Then you can go to bartleby and look them up:
http://www.bartleby.com/65/sc/scifi.html
That's what I'd do.
http://www.sevenoaks.wa.edu.au/linkpage/reading/read4.html
Then you can go to bartleby and look them up:
http://www.bartleby.com/65/sc/scifi.html
That's what I'd do.
Hi, Noamag!
Here's an article that I did up for my website that addresses this very issue. Of course, this is from a writer's perspective, but it might give you some of the info you need! Good luck with your project!
WHAT ARE GENRES, AND HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WRITE?
Genre writing can be confusing even to those with multiple books on the shelf. Typically, a "genre" is where a book will be placed on the shelf in a bookstore. For example, you probably couldn't walk into the Horror section of a bookstore and find an offering by Nora Roberts. However, you will find most everything that Stephen King has written on those shelves. Because westerns can contain romance, and science fiction can include horror, it's difficult for a new writer to decide which publisher to offer their manuscript to for the best chance at being published. Here's a short list of some of the genres, and the elements that MAKE them part of that genre. I'll use well-known movies to illustrate what elements that are most prevalent create the primary genre.
Action: The plot must contain problem-solving by the H/h (Hero or heroine) a threat of danger to third parties, and constant movement toward the stated goal. An example would be the Die Hard movies.
Adventure: The plot must contain physical hazards to the H/h, travel to other, sometimes exotic locales for the H/h, a threat of danger to third parties AND to the H/h, plus the stated goal (or an undiscovered-at-the-opening secondary goal) must be achieved. Raiders of the Lost Ark is an example of an adventure.
Chick-Lit: This is a relatively new addition to genre books. It contains a combination of romance and feminist styles with humor. It usually has an urban setting and comedic situations about real life and love. A chick-lit would The First Wives' Club.
Children's. Children's books are targeted to the 5-12 age-group, and have situations that include overcoming loneliness, working together as a team, adventure where there is no actual risk of loss of life, moral values, light romance and humor. There are often talking animals in fantasy settings. An example is (although it's a cartoon) Home on the Range.
Contemporary: This isn't quite a category. You can have contemporary horror, contemporary paranormal, contemporary mysteries, etc. Mostly, this is a "here and now" description that means that the setting of the book is on this earth, in this time, and usually (but not always) in an urban setting.
Erotic: As a category, erotica is considered romance, but there is no requirement that there be a HEA ("Happily Ever After" or where the characters wind up in love and planning to live their lives together), or that the H/h have sex only with each other. Third parties may flow through the plot, but normally the language is rated R or above. Red Shoe Diaries is an example of erotic.
Experimental: Edgy, and can be annoying to some because one of the primary goals is to shock the consciousness. Examples would be Pulp Fiction or Mulholland Drive.
Fantasy: A key requirement of a fantasy world is "world-building". Usually action based, it must be set on another world, or in an alternate reality not like our existing reality. The rules must make sense for the created reality, but do not have to apply Earth physics. The Chronicles of Riddick or Dune are examples of fantasy (even though they have science-fiction elements).
Feminist: The plot must contain a device which allows a female to move from a subjugated position to one of authority. Some might consider 9 to 5 or She-Devil to be feminist stories, in addition to comedy.
General: General fiction is sort of the dropping grounds of anything that is not genre fiction. It usually requires "internal" conflict (dealing with feelings created by real-life health or emotional situations) and learning lessons about life and death. On Golden Pond is an example of general fiction.
Horror: The plot must contain earthly or otherworldly threats to the H/h that end in death or torture of third parties and continual threat of death to the H/h. This need not have a "Happily Ever After" (HEA). In other words, in horror, the H/h may die and the bad guys win. An example of this would be Stephen King's The Shining. Several key characters don't make it out alive.
Humor. Also called Comedy, this style of book has the main goal to make the reader laugh. It's often combined with romance, action or science fiction/fantasy to achieve the humor vehicle of outrageous actions. Austin Powers and Men In Black are examples of humor.
Literary: The plot must contain vivid descriptions of setting and expansive plots and characters where the problems solved are internal, rather than external. An example of this would be Out of Africa.
Mainstream: Again, mainstream is more a description of "type". Most hardback and paperback books are mainstream fiction, from comedy to action to thrillers.
Mystery: The plot must include the solving of a single problem (usually involving murder, but not required). Other problems may also be inserted and solved, but the one problem (i.e., finding the killer) must be resolved. Murder on the Orient Express is an example of a mystery.
Paranormal: A paranormal novel includes elements of legend, whether shapeshifters, vampires, mummies, etc. They often include horror elements or romantic elements based on existing folklore or legends, but they are always set in our current reality, whether past or present, and use creatures that are rumored to exist or existed in the past based on handed-down legends. American Werewolf in London and Dracula are examples of paranormal (but are often shelved in horror or fantasy.)
Romance: There are as many sub-genre of this as there are other categories, but the three requirements of a romance are that there is one Hero and one heroine, that the Hero and heroine falling in love is the *primary* goal, and that they end up together in an HEA. Although many consider Gone With the Wind a classic romance, it actually doesn't fit the requirements because the H/h don't end up together. A better example would be Pretty Woman.
Science-Fiction: The key elements of science-fiction, whether hard science or soft science is the requirement that the science be Earth-based. Usually the key elements include either a future time or a brilliant inventor in a past time, or even time-travel. Examples would be 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea or Star Trek. Even War of the Worlds would qualify, because the science, although from a distant planet, was understandable to the human mind.
Suspense: Thrillers differ from suspense in the level of action. Suspense novels generally have less action involved. Rear Window is a classic suspense.
Thriller: The plot may be intellectual or physical in nature, but the *threat* of world domination, world destruction or some other major catastrophe that involves people beyond the H/h or their friends/family must be a primary plot device. An example of this would be Enemy of the State.
Western: There are two sub-categories of westerns. Historicals include anything pre-1910, anywhere in the world. An example would be The Piano. True westerns are set from the period of 1830-1900 in the western United States. A Historical would be Wuthering Heights (again, often considered a romance, but a key element is missing). An example of a Western is The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly.
Women's: Again, this contains many different sub-genre, but usually it entails family oriented stories that span one, two or three generations and usually contain internal problem solving and familial relationships. Fried Green Tomatoes is an example.
Young Adult: Young Adult books are targeted to children aged 12-18. They can include any other genre, from westerns to fantasy, but the H/h are typically the same age as the reader and the situations don't generally include sexual romance. An example is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
These are only a few of the many genres available to write, but hopefully will give a guideline of publishers to target.
**********
Hope this helps!
Here's an article that I did up for my website that addresses this very issue. Of course, this is from a writer's perspective, but it might give you some of the info you need! Good luck with your project!
WHAT ARE GENRES, AND HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WRITE?
Genre writing can be confusing even to those with multiple books on the shelf. Typically, a "genre" is where a book will be placed on the shelf in a bookstore. For example, you probably couldn't walk into the Horror section of a bookstore and find an offering by Nora Roberts. However, you will find most everything that Stephen King has written on those shelves. Because westerns can contain romance, and science fiction can include horror, it's difficult for a new writer to decide which publisher to offer their manuscript to for the best chance at being published. Here's a short list of some of the genres, and the elements that MAKE them part of that genre. I'll use well-known movies to illustrate what elements that are most prevalent create the primary genre.
Action: The plot must contain problem-solving by the H/h (Hero or heroine) a threat of danger to third parties, and constant movement toward the stated goal. An example would be the Die Hard movies.
Adventure: The plot must contain physical hazards to the H/h, travel to other, sometimes exotic locales for the H/h, a threat of danger to third parties AND to the H/h, plus the stated goal (or an undiscovered-at-the-opening secondary goal) must be achieved. Raiders of the Lost Ark is an example of an adventure.
Chick-Lit: This is a relatively new addition to genre books. It contains a combination of romance and feminist styles with humor. It usually has an urban setting and comedic situations about real life and love. A chick-lit would The First Wives' Club.
Children's. Children's books are targeted to the 5-12 age-group, and have situations that include overcoming loneliness, working together as a team, adventure where there is no actual risk of loss of life, moral values, light romance and humor. There are often talking animals in fantasy settings. An example is (although it's a cartoon) Home on the Range.
Contemporary: This isn't quite a category. You can have contemporary horror, contemporary paranormal, contemporary mysteries, etc. Mostly, this is a "here and now" description that means that the setting of the book is on this earth, in this time, and usually (but not always) in an urban setting.
Erotic: As a category, erotica is considered romance, but there is no requirement that there be a HEA ("Happily Ever After" or where the characters wind up in love and planning to live their lives together), or that the H/h have sex only with each other. Third parties may flow through the plot, but normally the language is rated R or above. Red Shoe Diaries is an example of erotic.
Experimental: Edgy, and can be annoying to some because one of the primary goals is to shock the consciousness. Examples would be Pulp Fiction or Mulholland Drive.
Fantasy: A key requirement of a fantasy world is "world-building". Usually action based, it must be set on another world, or in an alternate reality not like our existing reality. The rules must make sense for the created reality, but do not have to apply Earth physics. The Chronicles of Riddick or Dune are examples of fantasy (even though they have science-fiction elements).
Feminist: The plot must contain a device which allows a female to move from a subjugated position to one of authority. Some might consider 9 to 5 or She-Devil to be feminist stories, in addition to comedy.
General: General fiction is sort of the dropping grounds of anything that is not genre fiction. It usually requires "internal" conflict (dealing with feelings created by real-life health or emotional situations) and learning lessons about life and death. On Golden Pond is an example of general fiction.
Horror: The plot must contain earthly or otherworldly threats to the H/h that end in death or torture of third parties and continual threat of death to the H/h. This need not have a "Happily Ever After" (HEA). In other words, in horror, the H/h may die and the bad guys win. An example of this would be Stephen King's The Shining. Several key characters don't make it out alive.
Humor. Also called Comedy, this style of book has the main goal to make the reader laugh. It's often combined with romance, action or science fiction/fantasy to achieve the humor vehicle of outrageous actions. Austin Powers and Men In Black are examples of humor.
Literary: The plot must contain vivid descriptions of setting and expansive plots and characters where the problems solved are internal, rather than external. An example of this would be Out of Africa.
Mainstream: Again, mainstream is more a description of "type". Most hardback and paperback books are mainstream fiction, from comedy to action to thrillers.
Mystery: The plot must include the solving of a single problem (usually involving murder, but not required). Other problems may also be inserted and solved, but the one problem (i.e., finding the killer) must be resolved. Murder on the Orient Express is an example of a mystery.
Paranormal: A paranormal novel includes elements of legend, whether shapeshifters, vampires, mummies, etc. They often include horror elements or romantic elements based on existing folklore or legends, but they are always set in our current reality, whether past or present, and use creatures that are rumored to exist or existed in the past based on handed-down legends. American Werewolf in London and Dracula are examples of paranormal (but are often shelved in horror or fantasy.)
Romance: There are as many sub-genre of this as there are other categories, but the three requirements of a romance are that there is one Hero and one heroine, that the Hero and heroine falling in love is the *primary* goal, and that they end up together in an HEA. Although many consider Gone With the Wind a classic romance, it actually doesn't fit the requirements because the H/h don't end up together. A better example would be Pretty Woman.
Science-Fiction: The key elements of science-fiction, whether hard science or soft science is the requirement that the science be Earth-based. Usually the key elements include either a future time or a brilliant inventor in a past time, or even time-travel. Examples would be 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea or Star Trek. Even War of the Worlds would qualify, because the science, although from a distant planet, was understandable to the human mind.
Suspense: Thrillers differ from suspense in the level of action. Suspense novels generally have less action involved. Rear Window is a classic suspense.
Thriller: The plot may be intellectual or physical in nature, but the *threat* of world domination, world destruction or some other major catastrophe that involves people beyond the H/h or their friends/family must be a primary plot device. An example of this would be Enemy of the State.
Western: There are two sub-categories of westerns. Historicals include anything pre-1910, anywhere in the world. An example would be The Piano. True westerns are set from the period of 1830-1900 in the western United States. A Historical would be Wuthering Heights (again, often considered a romance, but a key element is missing). An example of a Western is The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly.
Women's: Again, this contains many different sub-genre, but usually it entails family oriented stories that span one, two or three generations and usually contain internal problem solving and familial relationships. Fried Green Tomatoes is an example.
Young Adult: Young Adult books are targeted to children aged 12-18. They can include any other genre, from westerns to fantasy, but the H/h are typically the same age as the reader and the situations don't generally include sexual romance. An example is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
These are only a few of the many genres available to write, but hopefully will give a guideline of publishers to target.
**********
Hope this helps!