For me, a story's genre is like a painting's frame. The story fits into the frame and meets the expectations of the viewer. You won't see a portrait or landscape if you're in a gallery featuring abstract work. But, if you do, you'll notice something added to or taken away from that depiction. However, the frame around the picture could be similar.
Like the contents of the picture, framed by the viewer's expectations, most stories can fit into a specific genre. Go to a bookstore, and you'll see books shelved under different levels. Some stories are not as easy to classify and cross genres, like a Romance with Comedic elements. There are Horror stories with Thriller elements, etc.
Here are some of the genres available to storytellers. A loose definition of genre is a category that groups novels with similar themes, tones, or styles. Choosing a genre can help novelists meet their readers' expectations and follow some conventions and guidelines for their writing. However, novelists can also experiment with mixing genres or creating new ones to express creativity and originality.
Historical Fiction
I write Historical
Fiction because I believe we can learn and be entertained by the actions of
people from our past. Historical fiction is a genre that sets the story in a
specific period in history. Historical fiction novels often use actual
historical events, people, or places as a backdrop for their fictional plots
and characters. Historical fiction novels can also explore alternative
histories or historical fantasies. Historical fiction novels usually require
extensive research and accuracy to create an authentic and immersive historical
setting.
Some examples of
historical fiction novels are:
- War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
- The Pillars of the Earth by Ken
Follett
- Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Literary Fiction
Literary fiction is a
genre that focuses on the artistic and literary merit of the writing rather
than on the plot or entertainment value. Literary fiction novels are usually
character-driven, exploring their protagonists' inner lives, emotions,
motivations, and conflicts. Literary fiction novels often deal with complex and
universal themes, such as identity, morality, society, culture, and history.
Literary fiction novels are known for their stylistic sophistication, rich
language, symbolism, and ambiguity.
Some examples of
literary fiction novels are:
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper
Lee
- The Catcher in the Rye by J.D.
Salinger
- The Handmaid's Tale by
Margaret Atwood
- Beloved by Toni Morrison
Mystery
Mystery is a genre that
revolves around a crime or a puzzle that needs to be solved by the main
character, usually a detective or an amateur sleuth. Mystery novels often
involve clues, suspects, red herrings, twists, and turns that keep the reader
guessing until the end. Mystery novels can also incorporate elements of other
genres, such as thriller, horror, romance, or historical fiction.
Some examples of mystery
novels are:
- The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur
Conan Doyle
- Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha
Christie
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
- The Da Vinci Code by Dan
Brown
Thriller
Thriller is a genre that
creates suspense, excitement, and tension for the reader. Thriller novels often
feature a protagonist in danger or under threat from an antagonist or a
situation. Thriller novels usually have fast-paced plots, high stakes, action
scenes, and cliffhangers. Thriller novels can blend with other genres like
mystery, crime, spy, horror, or science fiction.
Some examples of
thriller novels are:
- The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas
Harris
- The Bourne Identity by Robert
Ludlum
- The Hunger Games by
Suzanne Collins
- The Girl on the Train by Paula
Hawkins
- The Martian by Andy
Weir
Horror
Horror is a genre that
aims to frighten, disturb, or shock the reader. Horror novels often feature
supernatural or monstrous entities, such as ghosts, vampires, zombies, or
demons. Horror novels can also explore psychological or realistic horrors, such
as serial killers, cults, or diseases. Horror novels usually have dark
atmospheres, graphic descriptions, and themes of death, fear, and evil.
Some examples of horror
novels are:
- Dracula by Bram Stoker
- Frankenstein by Mary
Shelley
- The Shining by
Stephen King
- The Exorcist by
William Peter Blatty
- World War Z by Max
Brooks
Romance
Romance is a genre that
focuses on the romantic relationship between two or more characters. Romance
novels often follow a formula of attraction, conflict, resolution, and happy
ending. Romance novels can also vary in tone, setting, subgenre, and level of
explicitness. Romance novels are among the most popular and diverse genres for
novelists and readers.
Some examples of romance
novels are:
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane
Austen
- Gone with the Wind by
Margaret Mitchell
- The Notebook by
Nicholas Sparks
- Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L.
James
- The Fault in Our Stars by John
Green
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre that
uses elements of magic or the supernatural to create an imaginary world or
reality. Fantasy novels often draw inspiration from mythology, folklore, fairy
tales, or legends. Fantasy novels can also be divided into subgenres, such as
high, low, urban, dark, or epic. Fantasy novels usually have complex and
creative world-building, magic systems, and characters.
Some examples of fantasy
novels are:
- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
- Harry Potter by J.K.
Rowling
- The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S.
Lewis
- Game of Thrones by George
R.R. Martin
Science Fiction
Science fiction is a
genre that uses science or technology to imagine a future or an alternative
reality. Science fiction novels often explore the consequences or implications
of scientific discoveries, inventions, experiments, or phenomena. Science
fiction novels can also deal with themes such as space exploration, time
travel, alien encounters, dystopias, or utopias. Science fiction novels usually
have realistic or plausible scientific explanations for their scenarios and
events.
Some examples of science
fiction novels are:
- 1984 by George Orwell
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
- Dune by Frank Herbert
- The Foundation by Isaac
Asimov
- The Handmaid's Tale by
Margaret Atwood
These are some of the
most popular and influential genres for novelists, but they are not the only
ones. Novelists can also explore other genres, such as western, comedy,
adventure, young adult, graphic novel, or memoir. Novelists can also mix and
match genres to create unique styles and voices. The most important thing for
novelists is finding the best genre that suits their story and audience.
Research aided by BART.
Comments