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Did you think we were done talking about genres? Think again! I am back at it here to bring you five more genres that your book might fall under. If this is your first time reading anything about genres, or trying to figure out which genre is right for your book, head on over to part one of this mini-series. In the first two blogs I cover a total of ten different genres. There I discussed what genres and subgenres are, and looked at how genres interact with each other. For our concluding blog on genres, we will focus the remaining five genres.
Mystery
Cozy mystery
Paranormal & Supernatural
Thriller
Western Fiction
Mystery
As we discussed in Part I and Part II each genre has different characteristics that make them unique. One of the most prominent traits that mystery books have in common is their plot structure. Mystery books are often formatted around one central mystery that the main character, or characters, have to solve. These stories are often labeled “who-done-its.” In these scenarios “it” is a crime that can vary in severity from petty theft, all the way to murder. The plot of these stories usually follows the structure of discovery, investigation, conflict, and then the resolution. Common characteristics that mystery novels share are clever detectives, violent crimes, hidden schemes, discovering clues, and interviewing witnesses. The atmosphere of mystery books is often dark, hazy and raining. This adds to the tension around the mystery that took place. Although this dreary atmosphere is not always the case, many mysteries are set in tranquil and beautiful places. A story that occurs in an otherwise perfect place is Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile. As you can see, the setting of mysteries might be ever changing, but they always have the one trait in common: needing to solve who committed a crime. To wrap up the mystery genre, here are a few further examples of mystery books you might have heard of: Murder on the Orient Express, The Postman Always Rings Twice, The Hound of Baskervilles and The Big Sleep.
Subgenres of Mystery: Detective Mysteries, Cozy Mysteries, Caper Stories
Cozy Mystery
Above I classified Cozy mystery as a subgenre of mystery. It is true that cozy mystery is a subgenre of mystery, but with the rise in popularity of Cozy mysteries I believe it’s important that we define properly what it is. Cozy mysteries are sort of how they sound, cozy. Cozy mysteries differ from your general mystery in that they are more lighthearted; there is less gore, blood and overall violence. You could read Cozy mysteries in a cabin in the middle of the woods without feeling the need to close all your curtains and lock all your doors. Occasionally authors will have a more humorous tone when approaching how to solve the mystery. There is less focus on the actual gruesome crime that was committed, and more focus placed on the journey that the characters go through to discover “who-done-it.” These mysteries are typically being solved by regular people, no clever detective here, just your average Joe trying to uncover what is happening. As you can imagine, this allows the story to be much less severe, and gruesome. Don’t get me wrong though, these are still engaging and gripping mysteries that will have you wanting to know exactly what happened. They just aren’t quite as violent and intense. Some Cozy mysteries that are worth checking out if you think your book fits into this genre include: Arsenic and Adobo, A Killing in Costumes, and A Deadly Inside Scoop.
Paranormal & Supernatural
In Part II of this series, I classified Paranormal as a subgenre of horror, which is true there are a lot of paranormal books that can also be classified as horror. However, that does not mean all paranormal stories have to be horror. Let’s look at a movie for an example. E.T. is definitely paranormal but doesn’t really have elements of horror. Since paranormal can stand on its own I think that it is important to define it separate from horror. The same can be said for the Supernatural genre.
Now you might be wondering why I’ve classified Paranormal & Supernatural together. Some people consider Paranormal and Supernatural to be two different genres. Technically they are, but they have many similar characteristics which is why I determined it would be easiest to classify them together. Paranormal & Supernatural stories typically have an irregular event happen that can only be explained through the existence of something otherworldly. This genre differs from science fiction and fantasy because paranormal and supernatural are normally based in the real world and intertwined with elements of the otherworldly. Their plot structures, like most other genres, can vary. One structure that is often used is as follows: discovery of something unusual, investigation, conflict, and resolution. Characteristics and tropes often found within this genre are: aliens, ghosts, vampires, werewolves, and general otherworldly abilities. A few books that fall under this genre are, The Shining, Obsidian, I Am Number Four and Twilight.
Subgenres of Paranormal: ghost-stories, vampire, werewolf, alien invasions, and time travel.
Thriller
Like the genre above, the thriller genre is often categorized as a subgenre of other larger genres. It is regularly combined with horror. I like to think of thrillers as stories that keep you suspended on the edge of your seat. Many of these stories will leave you with goosebumps on your arms, and a feeling of unease. Some common tropes found in thrillers include big confrontations, conspiracies, dangerous stunts, and risky situations. While thrillers are full of action, don’t get them mixed up with action & adventure books.
The action & adventure genres are usually filled with scenes where there are physically dangerous situations. Conversely, thrillers' main goal is to make the reader feel anxious and unnerved. This feeling can be accomplished through all sorts of means, one tactic that is employed quite heavily in thrillers are psychological tropes. Some psychological tropes that are common include stalkers, toxic relationships, and unreliable narrators. These tropes create a spooky feeling in the story that gets readers on the edge of their seat without needing to constantly put the protagonist in physically dangerous situations. A few books you might have heard of that are considered thrillers include The Running Man, The Silent Patient, and The Silence of the Lambs. Below I only have listed one subgenre of thriller. This is because thrillers themselves are often considered subgenres of other genres. There are lots of mystery and horror stories that are simultaneously considered thrillers.
Subgenres of Thriller: Psychological-Thriller
Western Fiction
Western fiction started off as a subgenre of historical fiction. However, as the audience for this genre grew, so did the number of stories being produced in this genre. For this reason, although Western fiction is technically a subgenre of Historical fiction, I’ve determined it large enough that it must be discussed. This genre is normally set in the American frontier somewhere between the start of the gold rush all the way through to the late 1990s. The plot of these stories varies from book to book. A protagonist on a quest of revenge, or a protagonist with a goal to reach a specific destination are two common plot structures that Westerns follow. Books that are classified under Western fiction often take elements of Mystery and Adventure genres to implement within the stories. Common characteristics that can be found in Western fiction include, cowboys, settlers, outlaws, horses, cattle, and long journeys. Some books classified in this genre include Lonesome Dove, Butchers Crossing, and True Grit.
Just A Reminder
Before I leave you there is one note that is essential to remember. While finding your genre is important for your book, that doesn’t mean you should box all your future writing into that singular genre. Just because whatever genre you chose is the genre that feels the best now doesn’t mean that it’s a genre you must stay for all your future projects. There are many professionals who cross genres throughout their career as writers. Going back to the first blog post in our series I used music to define what genres are. Let's take a moment and look at Taylor Swift. Ms. Swift is a great illustration of successfully crossing through different genres of music. She started in country, crossed over into pop and then dipped a toe into indie-folk. She did not stick to just one genre and it worked in her favor. Thanks to her ability to transform through different genres she has grown as a musician and has been more successful throughout her professional career. This translates similarly for authors. Always remember that flexibility and adaptability are two traits that not only improve your writing but also make you a strong author.
To Wrap Things Up
In the past few posts, we’ve defined genre and subgenres, looked at how genres interact and discussed fifteen different genres. Within each genre I talk about plot structure, common characteristics that shape the genre, tropes and the many subgenres within each genre. If you have found that your book fits into one category, then I am happy to have helped you take a step in the right direction. Perhaps you have found that your book fits into more than one genre, and if that is the case, even better. This allows you the flexibility to choose the genre you prefer while also reaching a larger target audience. If you are still unsure which genre is right for you, that's okay. Try taking a look at some subgenres that are within the genre closest to what feels right. Maybe there you will find something that matches your story. If not, you can always treat this as an opportunity to create a genre of your own making.
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