Genre (pronounced ZHON-RAH) is a French word defined by Merriam-Webster as a category of artistic, musical, or literary composition characterized by a particular style, form, or content. The genres most publishers recognize are general and few, and, as authors, we have the arduous task of fitting our manuscript into one of them. Too bad our writing isn’t so black and white. Fortunately, within most genres, there are sub-genres, thus making our job a bit easier. Here’s a list of the most common genres:
Fiction
Historical – set during historical events predating the life of the author. Publisher preferences vary regarding what dates are considered “historical”. Some draw the line at the 1960′s, while others may allow more recent decades.
Children – stories geared toward children, their level of comprehension, and what is deemed appropriate for their age group.
Young Adult (aka YA fiction) – stories that preteens and teens would enjoy and are appropriate for their age group.
Women’s Fiction – Books marketed toward women and the issues they face.
Fantasy – Involves magic or other supernatural forms. The setting is often mythical or imaginary.
Science Fiction – Stories are based on science. The setting and characters are often imaginary.
Horror – The intent of this genre is to horrify, unsettle, or frighten the reader. Characters can be real or imagined such as spirits and other supernatural beings. There is always a presence of evil in these stories.
Romance – The main plot of these stories is a love relationship between a man and a woman. Some publishers require that both characters emerge in the story within the first few chapters. Usually these stories have a happy ending. Sub-genres include Historical, Contemporary, Comedy, and Paranormal (see below).
Chick Lit – stories by women for women usually possessing a light, humorous tone. Considered more personal than General Fiction, Chick Lit explores issues most women face from dating to weight loss. Sub-genres include Mommy Lit, Marriage Lit, and Christian Chick Lit.
Westerns – Although these books can be regarded as a sub-genre to the Historical genre, not all Westerns are about the Old West. True, most of these stories are about the wild American West back when it was first settled, but many Westerns are contemporary. From ranchers to rodeo, this genre remains a favorite for both men and women alike.
Paranormal – Paranormal means “beyond” normal, or anything that cannot be explained by science and, unlike Sci Fi, the setting remains in the world as we know it. Think of Dracula, The Werewolf, and the Twilight Saga. This genre can also be a sub-genre of Romance.
Mysteries – This genre involves characters who investigate crimes and other mysterious events.
Speculative Fiction – Genres that speculate about worlds that are unlike the real world such as science fiction, horror, and fantasy.
Non-Fiction
History, Science, How-to, and Self-Improvement books fall under this category. Also Documentaries, Autobiographies, Biographies, Bible Studies, and Devotionals. Basically, any book based on fact, true events, real-life people, etc.
Other genres not listed above include poetry, plays, collections of short stories, and graphic novel (comic books).
I’d admit, my list is not conclusive. There are just too many to name, but I think I succeeded in listing the most common genres used today. You can see the difficulty facing authors in coming up with the precise genre that fits their writing. It’s important that you choose one to concentrate on, at least until you’ve got a few published works under your belt. Targeting one specific genre helps you to brand yourself in the publishing world. Don’t worry about what is hot in today’s writing market. Most established authors will advise you not to write for the market, but rather write what your heart tells you to write. The market is fickle. You’ll fare better to pick the genre you’re most interested in.
In conclusion, write to your heart’s content then look at the list of genres and see where your story fits the best.
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