Genre definitions

[Liz Hillsman]

Perhaps it is just the agent blogs I read, but several of those folk seem to be quite taken with how genres are defined. I've seen blog entries about the difference between commercial fiction and literary fiction. I've also seen entries about the differences between historical fiction, historical romance and romantic historicals.

At a certain point, are we splitting hairs, or are the genres changing? How do we as writers define what we have written?

I'd say my current WIP is an urban fantasy. A label that didn't exist five years ago. It also has a romantic element and a strong mystery element.

Do these labels need an overhaul?

I know as a former librarian, when I would order new YA fiction, I'd often stare at the computer screen in utter confusion over which genre label to select for the book spine. If I selected a label for each story element, a patron wouldn't be able to read the title!

[Karla Brandenburg]

Now this is an interesting thread - my latest ms was rejected because they didn't know how to slot it. They loved the story, but it picks up pieces from several different genres (this is where I plop myself into commercial fiction). There's a hint of supernatural, but it doesn't overwhelm the story. There's a romance, but it doesn't dominate. There's suspense, but not enough to classify it as such. It's women's fiction, except she gets her man in the end. Hmph. One agent suggested I redirect it into one of those genres, but then it isn't the story I wrote, so here I sit wondering where to pigeon hole the work. Or do I even want to? As I'm still in edit mode, I suppose it bears consideration, but where do you sell your work when it doesn't fit neatly into someone's little brown box?

[Liz Hillsman]

Karla, I agree this poses a problem. Some stories just don't fit into one category. They cross genres and mix and blend several different elements. I think the agents have an underlying concern about how the book will be marketed and even shelved in a store. I know I ran into this shelving dilemna at Barnes and Noble this week. I've been reading Colleen Gleason's Gardella Vampire Chronicles and wanted to buy the second book. I looked first in sci-fi/fantasy. Then I looked in commercial fiction. Finally, I looked in Romance and there it was. Now, I wouldn't classify this as a Romance. It has romantic elements, but it is just one aspect of the story, not the driving force.

Good luck with labeling your book:)

[Nikki Leigh]

This is one of the many things I like about e-publishers. If I (and I do) write a book that falls into several genres, that's fine. Fictionwise even allows us to enter several different genres for each ebook listing. The print edition needs to be classified as one particular or sometimes two genres -- like romantic/suspense or historic romance etc, but I still get to write the stories that I want to tell :) I've gotten spoiled and I'm not sure I could conform to the traditional publishing mold -- but I don't see that as a bad thing :) Best wishes in figuring out the best genre for your novel :)

Nikki Leigh

[Karina Kantas]

I understand completely.

I had such a hard time categorizing In Times of Violence, that I contacted genre.com

The staff there were very helpful and after three of four emails, where I answered their questions and gave them short synopsis of my book, they came to the conclusion that it would fall under the genre Urban Thriller.

I've been using this genre title ever since. My following two novels are also in the same genre.

[kendall R. Furlong]

I am having some trouble classifying my novel, so your post was very interesting. However, when I went to genre.com, it was a re-insurer of some kind. Do you have the correct URL?

Thanks