Genres

Subject: Genres Mon Jan 05, 2009 3:46 am

I am trying to compile a list of genres. So far I have:

fiction & literature
Mystery & Thrillers, Romance, Drama, Contemporary, Historical, Historical Romance, Medical, Horror, Fantasy, Vampire

Non-Fiction
Self-Help, Metaphysical, New Age, Spiritual, Historical

Are there any others?

Thanks for the help!

Subject: Re: Genres Mon Jan 05, 2009 5:07 am

Hi Sue,

You'll find quite a list here:

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Subject: Re: Genres Mon Jan 05, 2009 5:45 am

Don't forget the sub-genres, Sue. The last time I checked there were 13 for mysteries.

Subject: Re: Genres Mon Jan 05, 2009 6:44 am

A list of genres would long indeed. Is there a reason you are making a list?

Subject: Re: Genres Mon Jan 05, 2009 11:51 am

Thank you for the link, Shelagh. I will check it out later today.

Dick, I had forgotten about the sub-genres. Thanks for reminding me.

Yes, Cturkel, there is a reason. I am trying to find a genre for the current book I am publishing. It is a fiction novel but doesn't fit into the romance genre even though there is romance in it. It doesn't quite fit into the mystery or intrigue though, again, it has a bit of that. So I am trying to figure out where to place it.

Subject: Re: Genres Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:23 pm

Sounds like literary fiction to me. The Power of Persuasion ends on a romantic note but it isn't a romance novel. Literary fiction isn't a genre -- it's for books that don't fit into a genre.

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Subject: Re: Genres Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:23 pm

Let your publisher figure that out.

Subject: Re: Genres Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:29 pm

*cough* Sue is the publisher.

Subject: Re: Genres Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:32 pm

Cturkel,

One problem with that approach is that publishers often want to know up front whether or not your book will "fit their list," as I've seen from several otherwise positive rejections of my own book, which didn't fall into a particular category or genre.

Ann

Subject: Re: Genres Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:08 pm

Exactly. You don't even GET to the publisher without calling a genre shaot. The agents are going to expect you to tell them that.

Best way to figure it out is look at the shelf labels in a big bookstore. One thing for sure, they don't have a dozen sub-genres for mysteries. So you don't have to worry about it at this point.

Subject: Re: Genres Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:37 pm

Sue is the publisher. She is not making a pitch.

Subject: Re: Genres Mon Jan 05, 2009 5:06 pm

True. But there is a more general discussion.

Subject: Re: Genres Mon Jan 05, 2009 6:49 pm

lin, great idea! I am going to the big city tomorrow so will go to Barnes and Noble and write down the genres there and see if there is a place for this book.

BTW, I have been trying to keep a low profile as a publisher except for the questions I ask here and of a few other people I know. I hope you don't mind me asking since this is a forum for published authors, not publishers. I am a published author though, so can I stay? *smile*

Subject: Re: Genres Mon Jan 05, 2009 6:59 pm

Shelagh wrote:: *cough* Sue is the publisher.

OH mea culpa.