G is for GENRE

The plan is to make this another short but sweet one.   G is for Genre.

In one of my earlier blog entries, Square Pegs and Round Holes, I talked a little bit about the sub-genre categorization system in fiction.  Today I wanted to touch on the larger, more main header of Genre itself, all observations made here being my personal interpretation, of course. Because with the technology of online tagging and the other more formal filing systems out there, categories can be broken down to pretty diminutive levels, so in reality it is much more complex. We're keeping it simple in order to see how it works. 

 And my basic take on the system is this.  Like a funnel, a story is labeled through a series of categories, genre being the second largest classification under fiction.

 A few main genre divisions include:

            ·         Action/Adventure                        

·         Chick Lit

·         Children’s

·         Commercial Fiction

·         Contemporary

·         Crime

·         Fantasy

·         Graphic Novels

·         Historical Fiction

·         Horror

·         Literary Fiction

·         Mystery

·         Thriller Suspense

·         Romance

·         Science Fiction

·         Spiritual/Religious

·         Young Adult

From what I understand, genre is determined by the book's primary story line, and one of the most distinctive features of a best-selling novel is an unconventional, yet convincing plot.  Never before seen concepts that push the envelope in fiction make a book stand out (i.e. JURASSIC PARK by Michael Crichton, THE DA VINCI CODE by Dan Brown, THE GODFATHER by Mario Puzo).  But while this fiction really pops, it also bridges categories of genre.  From the example list alone, a reader can ask the questions: Is THE DA VINCI CODE considered Historical Fiction?  Thriller/Suspense?  Spiritual?  What's THE GODFATHER's official category - Drama or Crime Fiction?


As a writer you may get caught up in where your story belongs.  I’ve heard many editors and publishers say the same thing, don’t worry what shelf your work is going end up on until after you’ve finished your manuscript.

And while I write for the genre of Romance, I do also read a lot of Young Adult, traditional literature, Thriller and Fantasy.  And through my reading I've observed that no single label for genre is ever exact.  In the last few years I've come across a multitude of books that are a variance of more than one genre. 

 I’ve read YA with plots involving the adult themes of Gladiator-esque death competition and others that condone teen pregnancy with a vampire.  And yet they passed the test to be deemed suitable for readers aged 12 and older.  There are Paranormal Romances out there that can easily be Thriller or even Horror in some areas, Fantasy whose subtext alone could effectively rework national governments (LORD OF THE RINGS), but regardless of the cross-implication, their stamps of genre don’t change.

So genre serves an important purpose, but as a writer there’s no need to get too tangled up in the rungs of its classification.  It’s okay to walk the fence. Don't be afraid.  Just write your story and the right category will find you.

Leaving off, what books have you read that stratify two or more genres?  Any dynamic, less blockbuster titles out there that stand out in bridging genre? 

Let’s book club about it.  :0)

And please come back on Monday.  H is for HEA.

 - SNG