I apologize for the half-wit question in advance, but is the main difference between paranormal and fantasy that the elements of romance surpass the elements of fantasy in the the story? I'm sending out queries on my ms and am a little perplexed on how to market it. There is a love plot that is integral to the book, but beyond that, it reads more like a fantasy IMO. Clarification would be much appreciated.
- Status
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2005
- Messages
- 28,750
- Reaction score
- 2,937
- Location
- right here
- Website
- www.veinglory.com
Paranormal is a subset of fantasy. Fantasy has speculative elements that are not based purely on science. Paranormal specifically involver preternatural beings such as vampires and werewolfs. Both paranomral, and fantasy in general, may or may not also be romance which is a story about a romantic relationship with a happy ending. So some stories could be marketed either as a fantasy, or as a romance, if the two elements have roughly equal weight.
My understanding:
Paranormal means that it's set in the real world, contemporary or historical, with the addition of a subset of Fantasy elements like vampires, werewolves, psychics, witchcraft or the like--things that are commonly understood and need little explanation to the average reader. Paranormal Romance means that the main throughline is still the romantic interpersonal plotline with a guaranteed happy ending for the main romantic couple.
Fantasy Romance means that it's set in a world that's not necessarily our world with far more "hardcore" Fantasy elements at the core of the story. Such Fantasy elements usually need more set-up than paranormal elements, so more of the book focuses on that instead of the romantic conflicts.
Hope that helps.
Paranormal means that it's set in the real world, contemporary or historical, with the addition of a subset of Fantasy elements like vampires, werewolves, psychics, witchcraft or the like--things that are commonly understood and need little explanation to the average reader. Paranormal Romance means that the main throughline is still the romantic interpersonal plotline with a guaranteed happy ending for the main romantic couple.
Fantasy Romance means that it's set in a world that's not necessarily our world with far more "hardcore" Fantasy elements at the core of the story. Such Fantasy elements usually need more set-up than paranormal elements, so more of the book focuses on that instead of the romantic conflicts.
Hope that helps.
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2008
- Messages
- 1,255
- Reaction score
- 189
- Location
- Pacific Northwest
- Website
- www.forlorn-hope.net
My take on it is... Paranormal shouldn't be confused with Fantasy, except Urban Fantasy. Urban Fantasies are set in a contemporary setting and usually mirror the real world, like a paranormal would. The only real difference is the world building that separates it from being a paranormal and it becomes an urban fantasy.
A regular Fantasy is its own world. Middle Earth for example... I havent seen it done(not that it hasn't), but I suppose it would be possible to make a Paranormal Fantasy... take a vampire or other such creature you might find in paranormal and put them in a fantasy world and ta-da... Paranormal Fantasy!
My point is, a fantasy involves a make believe world. A paranormal involves make believe creatures, but in a real world setting. Sorta... *lol* I hope that helps you more than confuses.
A regular Fantasy is its own world. Middle Earth for example... I havent seen it done(not that it hasn't), but I suppose it would be possible to make a Paranormal Fantasy... take a vampire or other such creature you might find in paranormal and put them in a fantasy world and ta-da... Paranormal Fantasy!
My point is, a fantasy involves a make believe world. A paranormal involves make believe creatures, but in a real world setting. Sorta... *lol* I hope that helps you more than confuses.
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2005
- Messages
- 28,750
- Reaction score
- 2,937
- Location
- right here
- Website
- www.veinglory.com
Genres overlap, bookshelves don't. So although all paranormals are all fantasy, they don't have to be shelved in the fantasy section (which can be a bit low traffic) if they are also romance, mystery or whatever. They are shelved where (the publisher/agent etc think) they will sell best.
Thanks guys. I think I got it now. Just one more question: I read somewhere (in a reputable place, I think
) that when querying an agent one must either choose fantasy or romance, not "fantasy romance" as the genre. The reasoning behind this was if a writer can't choose one or the other, he/she hasn't defined what the book is primarily about. Do I have to choose one or is fantasy romance an actual subgenre of romance that agents accept? Thanks again for the input (and not telling me to scratch around on the web for the answer)
) that when querying an agent one must either choose fantasy or romance, not "fantasy romance" as the genre. The reasoning behind this was if a writer can't choose one or the other, he/she hasn't defined what the book is primarily about. Do I have to choose one or is fantasy romance an actual subgenre of romance that agents accept? Thanks again for the input (and not telling me to scratch around on the web for the answer)
I don't see why you couldn't put fantasy romance
Or your agent might get a surprise from either the romance or the trolls... It's a common enough subgenre that's almost a genre of its own.
People sub Sci Fi horror or Historical Romance or any number of combos.
Or your agent might get a surprise from either the romance or the trolls...
It's a common enough subgenre that's almost a genre of its own. People sub Sci Fi horror or Historical Romance or any number of combos.
Hmmm--"Fantasy Romance" is a subgenre of Romance. Otherwise there wouldn't be a Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Subgenre Chapter of RWA. Duh.
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2005
- Messages
- 1,711
- Reaction score
- 936
Fantasy romance is fine. Mind you, it's not a huge subgenre, but it's a definite one. Look at CL Wilson's books or Jade Lee (Or Linda Winstead-Jones) to get an idea of what qualifies as 'fantasy romance'.
HTH.
HTH.
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2005
- Messages
- 28,750
- Reaction score
- 2,937
- Location
- right here
- Website
- www.veinglory.com
If they accept either fantasy or romance you can send them your fantasy romance so long as it emphatically meets both requirements. But the best thing to do would be to look for agents whose clients specifically write fantasy romance.
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2005
- Messages
- 9,907
- Reaction score
- 1,835
- Location
- Hiding in my writing cave
- Website
- www.cathyclamp.com
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2005
- Messages
- 3,421
- Reaction score
- 373
- Age
- 55
- Location
- New Yawk
- Website
- www.jackiekessler.com
Thanks guys. I think I got it now. Just one more question: I read somewhere (in a reputable place, I think
You don't have to mention a genre at all in the query letter. I didn't, when I queried for HB. Still got offers.
You **do** need a killer query letter that hooks the agent's interest. You don't want to include a sub-sub-sub genre that makes it seem like your book is hard to place. If you're not sure whether your novel belongs shelved in the SF/F section or the Romance section, leave the genre out.
That being said -- if the romance is the heart of the story and it ends in an HEA, and the story is set in a traditional fantasy world (a la Tolkien, Eddings, Brooks), you probably have a romantic fantasy on your hands. If if the romance is the heart of the story and it ends in an HEA, and the story is set in a modern-day world, you probably have a paranormal romance on your hands. If the romance is **not** the heart of the story, and especially if it doesn't end in an HEA, then you probably have an urban fantasy (if it takes place in the modern world) or a traditional fantasy (if it takes place in a traditional fantasy world).
Okay, rather than start a new thread...I has a question
What would you call it when it's in a fantasy world, the romance is the heart of the story but no HEA? ( think fantasy meets Romeo and Juliet. Kinda. A romantic tragedy if you will)
And where the heck can I shop it?
What would you call it when it's in a fantasy world, the romance is the heart of the story but no HEA? ( think fantasy meets Romeo and Juliet. Kinda. A romantic tragedy if you will)
And where the heck can I shop it?
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2005
- Messages
- 3,421
- Reaction score
- 373
- Age
- 55
- Location
- New Yawk
- Website
- www.jackiekessler.com
No HEA? It's fantasy then. Yes, it's a love story. But it's not a romance. (Sounds all sorts of awesome, by the way.) What other struggles occur besides the h/h falling in love and then (apparently) dying? Is there any Good versus Evil element?
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2005
- Messages
- 1,711
- Reaction score
- 936
QFT.
There's a lot of 'romantic' fantasy on the shelves, but that doesn't make them romances. Look at Marillier, Carey, Shinn, etc.
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2006
- Messages
- 3,336
- Reaction score
- 628
- Location
- Middle TN
- Website
- www.elainegolden.com
Must have an HEA (or the promise of an HEA) in order to be a romance. Otherwise it's simply romantic [fill-in-the-blank]. Tragedy between the h/h (a la Romeo and Juliet) is an automatic disqualifier for romance.
Sounds like you should target fantasy lines for submission.
Okay, that's what I thought, thanks guys
There's a whole war going on in the background. Then the poopy hits the fan and my h/h actually cause a war all on their lonesome
Actually, it's more Helen of Troy.....
Only it doesn't end so well.
Good v Evil v Morally Different
There's a whole war going on in the background. Then the poopy hits the fan and my h/h actually cause a war all on their lonesomeActually, it's more Helen of Troy.....
Only it doesn't end so well.
Re: Fantasy Romance...I've heard that the subgenre known as "romantic fantasy," means that the fantasy part is a little more pronounced than the romance part, a la Paula Guran's anthologies. They are extremely good, by the way. Hard to find a story I didn't like in either antho.
Re: Urban Fantasy...it's almost always contemporary and set in, natch, urban settings, but the difference here is that the story sometimes bleeds over into alternate worlds, like Fairy. Think Emma Bull's War for the Oaks, or anything by Charles de Lint.
Re: Urban Fantasy...it's almost always contemporary and set in, natch, urban settings, but the difference here is that the story sometimes bleeds over into alternate worlds, like Fairy. Think Emma Bull's War for the Oaks, or anything by Charles de Lint.
I'm so glad this question was raised.
I have several completed pieces which are fantasy romances (or romantic fantasy). I just haven't been sure how to sub them. I'm going through them now, making sure they're tight enough to submit (I'll never be satisfied), and I'm embarassed to say I impressed myself all over again with what I'd written. I've never written anything since that came close or captured my imagination and muse in the same way.
I have several completed pieces which are fantasy romances (or romantic fantasy). I just haven't been sure how to sub them. I'm going through them now, making sure they're tight enough to submit (I'll never be satisfied), and I'm embarassed to say I impressed myself all over again with what I'd written. I've never written anything since that came close or captured my imagination and muse in the same way.
- Status