As I work through the first draft of my WiP, I realize identifying a genre to describe my work will be an ongoing process. My style tends toward literary fiction, in that I explore the human condition through character-driven storytelling. I'm a fan of lush descriptions, a poetic voice. On the other hand, the plot I've devised is riddled with suspense. The stakes are high, life-threatening. Each character is plagued with conflict borne from psychological tensions. Oh yes, and there's romance in there too. Is there a blanket genre that covers all those characteristics?
Perhaps there is. Perhaps, I'm writing a work of commercial fiction.
AgentQuery.com says, "Commercial fiction uses high-concept hooks and compelling plots to give it a wide, mainstream appeal...Like literary fiction, the writing style in commercial fiction is elevated beyond generic mainstream fiction. But unlike literary fiction, commercial fiction maintains a strong narrative storyline as its central goal, rather than the development of enviable prose or internal character conflicts." (Read all their genre definitions HERE.)
The verdict's still out. Hopefully, my beta readers (*waves to DL!*) will help me categorize my work before researching agents. And that, my dear friends, is still in the (near?) future.
Does your WiP fall gracefully under one genre heading? Have you found an umbrella genre that pretty much covers your work's characteristics? Do you wish there was a genre called "Other?"
Does your WiP fall gracefully under one genre heading? Have you found an umbrella genre that pretty much covers your work's characteristics? Do you wish there was a genre called "Other?"
42 comments:
I had this same problem! I eventually settled on paranormal romance, but there are so many different aspects of the story it feels like I'm cutting something off to narrow it down.
Ultimately, I'm sticking with PR, until I get an agent. If he/she and the publisher decide to call it something else I will leave that decision safely up to them.
Finding out what genre a story/novel is seems impossible to me at times. My short stories tend to be very cross-genre, so it's hard to pick one or sometimes two to label it. My novels are a bit easier, although they have elements of other genres, too. Then, once you get into a genre, there are sub-genres. If you're writing a mystery, you have to be concerned what type of mystery: a cozy, whodunit, thriller, suspense, etc. Same with fantasy, horror, and sci-fi. It's a never ending process. Sometimes I go with an umbrella genre as mystery, fantasy, etc. until I hear otherwise.
I think part of it might be also what you want to characterize the novel, too. If you want to market it as lit fic, then you should call it lit fic. If you want to showcase the suspense, maybe consider 'thriller' or something like that. *shrugs* It's a difficult process sometimes.
I'm with you on this one. I don't know if I write mainstream fiction, commercial fiction, chic lit, or what. I'm also not completely convinced it should matter so much, but what do I know? I'm just the writer.
There have been points where I wondered what genre I was writing. Those manuscripts/short stories are my OTHER pile for now. As for my current WIP - I am thankful it falls into a category rather simply though it can cross over...ah well.
;o)
Great post.
Oh I left you an award over on my blog!
Visit My Kingdom Anytime
Yes, I think we've all been through that. I started thinking I was writing literary, because my story focused on relationships rather than a plot driven theme.
In the end I got it critiqued and I was told that no one would know where to put it on a shelf. They said I had a slightly women's fictiony voice, but the plot didn't fit with that. They said my style lended itself toward literary, but my prose wasn't poetic enough.
So I came to a crossroads. I had to choose. I ended up choosing women's, and I'm glad I did. I think I ended up with a strong story. The reason I chose women's was becasue there was no way I could force my voice to become more literary, but I certainly could make my writing more plot driven and lighten it up a little. It worked. :)
so far i've been safe under the "fantasy" umbrella. I hope it stays that way
I can understand your dilemma, and hope that "commercial fiction" will work for you! :]
Previously, I had always been able to categorized. However, my current WiP is a mix of high fantasy, dystopian, and steampunk -- which all fall under the "fantasy" umbrella, but since that categorization is so huge, I'm not sure about just calling it "fantasy." I hope to figure it out by the time I'm done with the draft!
I am usually under the fantasy umbrella, but I keep sticking my hand out to feel the raindrops. I like to meddle with mystery elements particularly ... and my infamous novella is best described as a fantasy / romance / courtroom drama / mystery. I will also fight anyone tooth and nail who says fantasy can't be character-driven. ;-)
I think you're right about your WIP falling under commercial fiction. My work tends to cross genres as well. Right now I'm writing a Space Opera, which is kind of Sci fi, romance, adventure.
Nice and tidy - chapter books and PB's! :-)
I'm under the mystery umbrella, it's noir. But it's a lighter version, so I hope it flies.
The commercial definiton just might cover it. But if the supsnse or romance is more prominent it could fall into one of those catgories. Good luck!
My little book is mostly mystery but also suspense and thriller, so the whole stick-to-the-genre thing for me is a pain in the neck.
Wow, I think you may have named my genre too! From the description, I'd say my WIP falls into the "commercial fiction" category! Thanks, Nicole!
My novel fits neatly into the horror genre, and I'm grateful for my niche. I know trying to figure out exactly where you fit can be nerve-wracking! Good luck on finding out where your WIP stands.
This has been one of my biggest problems with my second novel. It's sorta older YA and it's a Superhero love story. I have a hard time fitting it into any one category.
Women's Fiction or Contemporary Women's Fiction. I have a heart for women's issues.
"Other" would be an awesome catagory. I'd benefit from a class geared specifically toward determining which genre to apply to my work.
My latest idea (I haven't even got a word count for it yet) is definitely genre-challenged. It's got space travel and suspense mixed in with some New Age/religious spiritual stuff. I guess it all goes under the speculative fiction umbrella, but it's a YA, too. I'm not going to worry about it, though, until I get around to writing it. So many ideas, so little time.
Mine is really easy to categorize... it's medieval romance. However, I do feel for all of you writers who have troubles with this. It's not easy =)
It's very tricky. The biggest difference between commercial and literary will be that commercial generally reaches a wider audience. That said, I write (commercial) YA fantasy, usually with a literary bent, but my fantasy generally is guided by an element of romance. I think it's perfectly normal for your story to fall under several different genres--it will make it far more marketable and commercial, but the key is to be able to identify the primary genre as this will allow you to identify your primary audience--and this, I think, more than anything, should be guiding how you write your story.
Mine is firmly chick lit. The bets piece of advice I heard was to picture a bookstore. Now, where's your book?
Good luck - it's a tough one.
Your sense of genre may change several times until you have a completed AND revised manuscript. Will the plot end up pulling the narrative so hard, you find yourself cutting a lot of the poetic prose for the sake of pacing? Or will the poetry dictate slowing the plot and going deeper? Time will tell. Be patient with yourself and your manuscript, and it will become clearer.
I have always struggled with genre categorization as well.
My natural style is very literary, and character driven. However, my latest WiP, which I'm editing right now, took a quick suspense/thriller/mystery turn on me, with a little bit of romance.
I think it very well may be classified as Commercial Fiction.
Another wonderful post, Nicole.
~Lola
I've been scratching my head over this question in regards to my WIP since I started it. I'm hoping the genre will clarify itself as I progress, but I'm 50,000 words in and so far so not good. Maybe my beta readers will be able to help. *crosses fingers* Good luck to you!
Hell no, not really. Luckily my MC is a teenager so I can just call it YA. Check my post here if you want to read about one of my worst blunders ever regarding genre.
"young-adult commercial-fiction/literary-fiction/fantasy crossover novel" I actually wrote that. In a letter. To an agent.
Sure it was before I had any clue what I was talking about, but he schooled me pretty quickly. It's still hard to decide though. If my MC was twentysomething or even an adult I would have no idea what to call the genre of my novel.
Thanks for bringing this up Nicole, but no thanks for making me have to think about this again. J/K!
The QQQE
Defining your genre is an ongoing issue even after you have an agent (or sometimes even after you have a book deal!)
My editor happily refers to what I write as "romantic comedy," but when my agent first started pitching it, several editors turned up their noses and said romantic comedy wasn't selling well and that we should call it "humorous women's fiction" or something like that. Same book, but editors who weren't interested in looking at it before were suddenly wanting to read it once we called it something else.
At any rate, good luck picking your genre. Sounds like commercial fiction to me, but I'm definitely no expert!
Tawna
I know exactly what you mean. I had a hell of a time figuring out the genre for my first book. These days I decide on the genre beforehand and go from there because it's so much easier.
I would advise that you step back from your book and decide what atmosphere it conveys. That will give you your genre. Whether suspense/mystery, historical, literary, mainstream, romance, sci-fi, fantasy, spiritual or whatever, it will become apparent if you step back from it and look at it with an impartial eye.
Jai
So far science fiction is still sci-fi - although sometimes fantasy is lumped in with it.
Good luck with the genre of your book!
I encountered that with a novel I just finished. I'm still not quite sure where it goes. But I love readers for that very reason! (love your template too, by the way!)
I struggled with that more for my first book. Thats one reason why it sits patiently on the shelf. But for my second one I took a bead on a particular genre (Mystery/Suspense) and word count, nevering straying from that target. That was SOOOO much easier. :)
Oh gosh you're killing me! I have been having trouble with this one... I believe that I am YA Fantasy novel writer but I also don't know if it's directly under there... not to mention my husband says that I need to work on making my MC younger because right now she's in her 20's... to make my book work she does need to be younger! Back to the drawing board I suppose!
I've heard that these categories are more fluid than they used to be. And if an agent is interested, but thinks it fits better in another category s/he will switch it. I think I even heard that some books are down for two categories.
I'm wrestling with the one I'm working on now. Besides, "Fantasy", I'm not sure where to put it yet.
Good luck!
I wish there was a genre called "Gut" or "Mental", because that's how I tend to write. But, there is no such thing, of course, and I'm quite sure there never will be.
Thank you for stopping in at my place and leaving such kind words. Truly appreciated!
Nevine
Ohh, I have struggled in this area too. I wanted my MS to fall under literary fiction, but started to think it might be more suited to women's fiction.
I think I had commercial confused with mainstream. Oops. I wouldn't mind if my book was commercial. I would just rather call it literary. I like the character driven more than the action driven novel, which often gets a literary nod. (Glad to hear an earlier commenter say that an agent might change the genre if needed.)
All I know is, I want my book on the same shelves with Margaret Atwood and Sue Miller and Jodi Picoult and Mark Haddon and Christopher Bohjalian. Is that too much to ask?!
Nope - my ms doesn't fit well into one genre either: ya, steampunk, mystery, romance, coming of age, adventure... *sigh*
Oh yes! Great topic.
Both my completed novels have elements of multiple genres. I classify one as contemporary romance, even though it has a little bit of women's fiction and a little bit of YA in it. The second is commercial fiction with kind of a chick lit and a tiny bit of sci fi in it. My next book seems like a mix of romance and women's fic. Gosh, why is this so hard?
Totally hear ya. Glad you can relate, but sorry that you're still stuck on this yourself.
I'm one who would vote for an "other" category. I've settled for women's fiction for now but it easily could figure into mainstream/commercial. I'll worry about it more once its complete.
I thought mine was YA historical fiction. But it's really YA historical romance. The genre thing can be tricky, for sure.
When you write an agent presenting your book for the first time, genre is important -- to the agent. He/She is the one that is going to have to explain to an economically harassed editor why he should gamble on an unknown.
Think what author writes novels most like yours. If you think through this, you will come up with at least one name. Me, I write like William Falkner {Yeah, right. Don't believe me, huh? I don't even believe me.}
If you think Charlane Harris or Christopher Moore, then you know what aisle you walk down to find your novel and what general genre to tell the agent. Or just tell the agent whose work your novel is most like.
What we are trying to do is make the impression that we want to make the agent's life as easy as we can. Giving the agent a concise genre up front is the first step in our query letter winning the agent over.
Just a thought. And I have been known to be wrong. Of course that was sometime last century ... ah, not buying that one either?
Come check out my latest post. I've put up the query that got an agent to ask for first a partial, then a full manuscript. Nothing else. But prayers work miracles.
Have a great tomorrow. Roland
I certainly wish there was an "other" genre.
My first professional beta reader said about my book "It has much of the thriller, or novel of espionage about it, but is also an effective character piece and romance."
So I just call it a thriller, but somehow, that doesn't seem to do it justice.
Al
Publish or Perish
It just needs to be saleable.
Publisher do NOT do this for fun. You might, but they don't.
I have one book in the Horror genre, and I modeled it after the big guys like King and Koontz et al.
Another one fits neatly into the Sci Fi cat.
Another one is a simple Character Fiction, inspired by Cormac McCarthy's The Road, and in whatever genre you'd call that. American Fiction, maybe.
And another one is an original novel written without a clear inspiration that's best described as fiction with a light dose of fantasy. Fic-fant, probably, or general fiction, and I don't think this one has a shelf.
As someone said: WHAT SHELF is your book on?
If there ain't a shelf, then that's exactly where your book is.
Oh, btw, shelf or no shelf, none of my books are published. Go figger. ;)
I guess they have to be ~good~, too!
- Eric
I don't have that problem but I do have the problem of staying under one umbrella. I don't read on genre so I don't write one genre. I have some fantasy ideas, horror, paranormal suspense, thriller, mystery, historical fiction, magical realism and science fiction. In other words, I apparently dream and imagine big. When I go, I go all out! I think I'll write under different names though.
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