On Castle Gate’s Facebook Page, we’ve been talking about genres for the last couple of weeks. So we thought we’d add to the discussions here on the blog.
ADVENTURE –The plot involved an exciting undertaking of some type which involves physical danger, generally revolving around the exploration and conquests of the protagonist. The key element is action, often in an unusual setting, and many times the conflict is man against nature.
CHICK LIT – These are light, amusing stories about the type of issues the average female deals with throughout life: romance, career, family, friends, etc.The key element is the humorous way the protagonist deal with whatever the plot brings her way.
FANTASY – A fantasy involves a world created by the author which includes mythic-type creatures and magic. The plot is generally an adventurous story, and often pits good against evil. Many times these stories involves some type of quest, sometimes personal, sometimes political.
HISTORICAL – The story’s setting is in the and recreates the the conditions of a past era. Often they include major historical figures or events. It involves the blending of true historical facts with a fictional story.
LITERARY FICTION – The writing style in this type of novel is generally considered to be elegant and lyrical. This type of book appeals to a broader scope of readers than genre fiction, and often deals heavy, complex issues. The focus is more on the writing and the issue than on plot and action.
MYSTERY – These stories involve a crime and the process of figuring out “whodunit.” The protagonist is generally a detective or some other type of investigator. The emphasis is on the crime, the clues, and finding the criminal.
ROMANCE –As the name implies, these stories revolve around the evolving love between a man and a woman. This genre, more than any other, tends to be stylized and must follow certain rules, including a happily-ever-after ending. The focus is the relationship between the hero and heroine, and the plot involves overcoming conflict that could drive the couple apart.
SCIENCE FICTION – A science fiction story involves a futuristic world created by the author which is dominated by science rather than magic. Settings often include far-flung planets and unusual species, but many times takes place on Earth in the future.
SPECULATIVE FICTION –This is a catch-all phrase for all stories with unrealistic or imaginary settings or characters. It includes fantasy and science fiction, as well as all supernatural, super-hero, and paranormal stories.
SUSPENSE/THRILLER –Although these stories often include some type of crime, the defining factor is life-threatening danger, sometimes only against the protagonist but many times jeopardizing the entire world. The key to these novels is the suspense and tension, with a high emphasis on an action-filled, twist-turning plot.
WOMEN’S FICTION –These novels tell the story of woman’s journey as she battles adversity in an overwhelming issue affecting her life. The themes tend to be deeper than in other genre fiction and sometimes lean towards literary fiction. The necessary key here is that the female protagonist grows and changes throughout the book.
For some fun talk about what you like and don’t like in each genre, come join the discussion with us on Facebook: Castle Gate Press Facebook Page.
Michael Vetter says
My ADVENTURE books for young boys are more RETRO-FUTURISTIC because they place inventions such as mechanical computing, heliography, cryptography, high-speed elevators, celestial navigation, steam propulsion, metal-working tools, and pocket-sized gadgets in Old Testament Biblical times. (The STEAMPUNK genre is mostly set in Victorian times although it is not necessarily limited to steam engines.)
Suzanne Hartmann says
You make a good point, Michael. There is a great deal of overlap between the genres, especially in the historical genre, where just about every other genre can be a sub-genre if the setting takes place in the past. This becomes even more obvious when we look at the multitude of sub-genres, which is what we’ll be discussing here over the next few weeks.