Question: Choosing genre

[izi 出久]

How do you go about determining the genre for a story whose genre you didn't choose to begin with? I found this article, but it's a bit overwhelming. In my case, if I say my story is sci-fi, many sci-fi readers will be bummed, because I only hint at the science behind certain aspects (and it isn't science, per se. The innate human ability to electroform, for instance, is not a thing. Sorry, Kilatra). I know @BarbaraUS was talking about this a bit with her dystopian? thriller. Thought maybe we could all glean some wisdom from a Litopian thread

144 Genres and Subgenres for Fiction Writing

From fantasy to western—and everything in between—we cover the major genres and subgenres available to readers today. We also included a few links to books within that subgenre if you find one that catches your interest in particular. Happy reading! Fantasy Horror Mystery Romance Science Fiction...

www.servicescape.com

 

[Serra K]

Going through the list, your story sounds like Mythic Science Fantasy, but then it could also be...wait. It's a long list

 

[izi 出久]

It's a long list

It's a long fucking list. I just put it there as an example. There are so many. Every time I land on one, I'm like "Oh, but wait..."

 

[izi 出久]

This is also a common-ish topic in pop-ups. Choosing the right (or wrong, as the case often is) genre.

 

[izi 出久]

Mythic Science Fantasy

I've been calling it this, but, in preparation for this week's pop-up, I looked up the definition of Speculative Fiction. And now I'm thrown back into uncertainty.

 

[Serra K]

Speculative Fiction

"Speculative Fiction" published on by Oxford University Press.

oxfordre.com

After a quick browse of this I am now thinking speculative fiction is an umbrella term for a multitude of sub-genres. Specificity of genre might or might not work in your favour. I guess if in doubt speculative fiction covers all bases.

 

[CageSage]

Only 144? Try this: Tropes - TV Tropes
Have a look around to find what resonates with your story - a warning, though, it's a time-suck. If you have two choices to 'seek', enter the genre into the search bar and see what pops out.

 

[RK Wallis]

I'm a bit of a Story Grid addict. So I'd decide the genre you're writing first (they describe it differently for writers: Genres of Writing: Definition, Examples, and Reader Expectations.) After working out the writer's genre, then I'd consider the reader/marketing genre.

 

[Hannah F]

I haven't read much of your story @StaceyDale, but it seems to me to be epic fantasy. Fantasy doesn't exclude sciency things like electroforming. What are your comparative titles? (If you like X, you'll like mine.) You could google them on Amazon and see what genres they list them under. Most books on Amazon are listed under a number of sub-genres.

 

[izi 出久]

I haven't read much of your story @StaceyDale, but it seems to me to be epic fantasy. Fantasy doesn't exclude sciency things like electroforming. What are your comparative titles? (If you like X, you'll like mine.) You could google them on Amazon and see what genres they list them under. Most books on Amazon are listed under a number of sub-genres.

I think it's Dune-ish Star Wars-ish Red Rising-ish (not really quite like these, but if I have to compare)

 

[izi 出久]

I'm going to look these up

 

[izi 出久]

Alright not Star Wars if that is space opera. Definitely not Space opera.

 

[BarbaraUS]

I'm a bit of a Story Grid addict. So I'd decide the genre you're writing first (they describe it differently for writers: Genres of Writing: Definition, Examples, and Reader Expectations.) After working out the writer's genre, then I'd consider the reader/marketing genre.

Everything @RK Capps said above!! The considerations for drafting and marketing are different. And, here is perhaps a more basic list to start with, @StaceyDale.
For example, Story Grid lists just 12 "basic" content genres. Whether or not this is true I don't know: Which genre am I writing in? but I didn't immediately see how science fiction or fantasy fit in.

Someone has thought about this here:

Discovering the Necessary Elements of Your Story's Genre — Writership

After my post on Why I love Story Grid , one writer asked about applying the Story Grid to science fiction or fantasy stories. My answer was too long to include in a comment, and I figured others might have this question, so I’ve shared my thoughts here. The commenter said that the Story Grid is a

writership.com

------
I know my "global genre" has an external genre of "thriller." My character's internal genre is the 'ol hero's journey. Also have a bit of romance, humor, etc.

But - for reader/marketing purposes, I could describe my novel as an adventure thriller or something else (won't say dystopian, as that elicits a sense of doom and gloom and this is not a doom and gloom climate story).

And a story may not cleanly be in one genre or another.

 

[Hannah F]

Have you read N.K.Jemisin, The Inheritance Trilogy. Would that be a comparatison?

 

[izi 出久]

Have you read N.K.Jemisin, The Inheritance Trilogy. Would that be a comparatison?

I have not. Going to check it out.

 

[Hannah F]

The Poppy Wars Trilogy by R.F. Kuang (which is too graphically violent for me, but an award winning series)

 

[RK Wallis]

I think it's Dune-ish Star Wars-ish Red Rising-ish (not really quite like these, but if I have to compare)

Remember your comp titles shouldn't be more than 5 years old (at a stretch, some agents prefer 3). I have a folder in Scrivener I've created for comps. In there, I have my Beauty and the Beast meets Lord of the Flies for me, then I have my A Curse So Dark and Lonely meets Gilded for agents.

 

[izi 出久]

Remember your comp titles shouldn't be more than 5 years old (at a stretch, some agents prefer 3). I have a folder in Scrivener I've created for comps. In there, I have my Beauty and the Beast meets Lord of the Flies for me, then I have my A Curse So Dark and Lonely meets Gilded for agents.

Oh dang. Well then, I need to do some research.

 

[Hannah F]

Oh dang. Well then, I need to do some research.

I wouldn't get too hung up on ones for agents just now - though it's good to keep reading recent titles; illustrates the present market trends - unless you're nearing submission stage. At writing stage, you want to figure out the best comp titles for you (as per @RK Capps first two).

 

[Rich.]

A good way to think about comp titles, I think, isn't to ask, 'What other books are like mine?' But rather to ask, 'What readers will like my books?' That way the comparisons become about readership instead of story. So not: 'My book is like X, Y and Z.' But rather: 'I think readers of X, Y, Z will like my book.' I reckon that's a more sophisticated way to pitch, and more appealing to an agent.

The other thing that's useful when trying to figure out what you're writing is to ask yourself: 'Where will this sit in the bookshop?' If there's not a clear-cut answer to that question, it makes pitching a great deal harder.

 

[izi 出久]

A good way to think about comp titles, I think, isn't to ask, 'What other books are like mine?' But rather to ask, 'What readers will like my books?' That way the comparisons become about readership instead of story. So not: 'My book is like X, Y and Z.' But rather: 'I think readers of X, Y, Z will like my book.' I reckon that's a more sophisticated way to pitch, and more appealing to an agent.

The other thing that's useful when trying to figure out what you're writing is to ask yourself: 'Where will this sit in the bookshop?' If there's not a clear-cut answer to that question, it makes pitching a great deal harder.

Thank you, Rich. This is super helpful.

 

[Peyton Stafford]

I think the way to think about how to pigeon-hole your creative work is to:

1. Stop writing.
2. Spend every moment combing the web for helpful articles written by people who have never authored, agented, nor published a novel.
3. Go back to university and work toward a degree, such as a Ph.D. in comparative titles in fantasy literature. If you get the doctorate, you may then apply for jobs teaching creative writing at obscure colleges desperate to attract students. This could actually lead to creative writing on your part.

That's the way to go. But whatever, no original thought allowed. Take a Bic pen and hammer it into your forehead if necessary. Only tropes and cliches are allowed. We must maintain the status quo.

 

[Peyton Stafford]

@StaceyDale Thanks. You and your creativity brighten my days. And no, I am not being sarcastic. Big hug to you.

 

[izi 出久]

I think the way to think about how to pigeon-hole your creative work is to:

1. Stop writing.
2. Spend every moment combing the web for helpful articles written by people who have never authored, agented, nor published a novel.
3. Go back to university and work toward a degree, such as a Ph.D. in comparative titles in fantasy literature. If you get the doctorate, you may then apply for jobs teaching creative writing at obscure colleges desperate to attract students. This could actually lead to creative writing on your part.

That's the way to go. But whatever, no original thought allowed. Take a Bic pen and hammer it into your forehead if necessary. Only tropes and cliches are allowed. We must maintain the status quo.

I think the issue I'm having in selecting a genre comes from the fact that, regardless who has done it before, I haven't read anything that is a retelling of judeo christian religion / mythology in high fantasy, and sci fi. With a few lgbtq+ characters. @Rich. 's advice is helpful because it encourages me to think about the type of people who would like the story, rather than the stories that are similar to mine.

 

[izi 出久]

Take that back. Both C. S. Lewis and Tolkien did it. But I have zero confidence people who love C. S. Lewis will appreciate my diverse cast haha.

 

[Peyton Stafford]

I think the issue I'm having in selecting a genre comes from the fact that, regardless who has done it before, I haven't read anything that is a retelling of judeo christian religion / mythology in high fantasy, and sci fi. With a few lgbtq+ characters. @Rich. 's advice is helpful because it encourages me to think about the type of people who would like the story, rather than the stories that are similar to mine.

You have brought up a scholarly question. When I was in divinity school, the Jews winced at the term Judeo-Christian. They did not want to pigeonhole themselves as precursors to the coming of the savior whom they did not recognize as such. Add in the non-binary characters and science fiction aspects ... you may be creating a new genre. With you all the way!

 

[izi 出久]

You have brought up a scholarly question. When I was in divinity school, the Jews winced at the term Judeo-Christian. They did not want to pigeonhole themselves as precursors to the coming of the savior whom they did not recognize as such. Add in the non-binary characters and science fiction aspects ... you may be creating a new genre. With you all the way!

It's much more just Christian. I mean, Pedra becomes all three sisters by the end, sacrifices herself for the people, and is reborn a god.... if people don't get the connection, that's cool. But I totally got the idea from the Bible. The primary difference is none of the sisters are perfect and they gay. And they're women (or identify as women). Basically, the book will be banned from a few states in the US. That's cool.

 

[Peyton Stafford]

Take that back. Both C. S. Lewis and Tolkien did it. But I have zero confidence people who love C. S. Lewis will appreciate my diverse cast haha.

Lewis and Tolkien both had day jobs with considerable prestige. I think kids who love their stories will love yours. Adults looking to pigeonhole your stories, not so much.

 

[izi 出久]

I think kids who love their stories will love yours. Adults looking to pigeonhole your stories, not so much.

Ah yes. Well therein lies the problem. Don't really want kids reading bdsm scenes with Kilatra.

 

[Peyton Stafford]

It's much more just Christian. I mean, Pedra becomes all three sisters by the end, sacrifices herself for the people, and is reborn a god.... if people don't get the connection, that's cool. But I totally got the idea from the Bible. The primary difference is none of the sisters are perfect and they gay. And they're women (or identify as women). Basically, the book will be banned from a few states in the US. That's cool.

In libraryland, there's a movement to stop book burning and witch hunting. Those few states constitute the Midwest, the South, and the Mountain States. Just to spice up the trilogy, have you thought of adding some Biblical quotations between chapters?