What Sub-Genre Is My Novel?

amyers27 · Aug 10, 2009

[I hope this is the right forum for this...if not, I'm sorry!]

A bit about my novel:
It takes place "now," so to speak, or the very recent past. Briefly stated, it's a love triangle in an academic setting with three narrators that takes place over about eighteen months in all of their lives. Adultery, May-December romance, a little sex, some spirituality, some family stuff, chick-lit-friendship-type things going on...but one of the narrators is male, and all of my readers, including one agent who's reading the revised ms as we speak, thinks the male narrator really stands out (in a good way).

Is it...

Literary fiction?
Contemporary fiction?
Upmarket fiction?
Women's fiction?

What do you think? I'm wondering which genre makes the most sense for querying and pitching.

Thanks!

kaitlin008 · Aug 10, 2009

From your description, I think you'd be fine calling it contemporary.

Libbie · Aug 10, 2009

My vote's on contemporary.

Kalyke · Aug 10, 2009

If it is well written, it could be literary fiction. If it is more based on an interesting plot or a gimick, it could be contemporary.

Danthia · Aug 11, 2009

Sounds contemporary or literary. If there's a defined goal and stakes in there, probably contemporary. If it's more abut the emotional journey and growth of the characters, it might lean toward literary. You'd be safe saying "my novel, TITLE" if you weren't sure. The line between contemporary and literary is thin and changes depending on who you ask.

MsGneiss · Aug 11, 2009

Use Her Name said:
If it is well written, it could be literary fiction. If it is more based on an interesting plot or a gimick, it could be contemporary.

Oh, that's hardly fair!

James D. Macdonald · Aug 11, 2009

Use Her Name said:
If it is well written, it could be literary fiction. If it is more based on an interesting plot or a gimick, it could be contemporary.

"Literary" is not a synonym for "well-written."

Straka · Aug 11, 2009

Throw in an alien. Then there would be less ambiguity.

yakkity · Aug 11, 2009

Adultery, May-December romance, a little sex, some spirituality, some family stuff, chick-lit-friendship-type things going on

From the elements you've listed, I think your novel falls within the neo-sensation category. (I discovered this sub-genre today while researching my synopsis, and my novel (which features a forced marriage) fits the criteria as well--I think.)

Is anyone here familiar with the neo-sensation genre?

Wark · Aug 11, 2009

James D. Macdonald said:
"Literary" is not a synonym for "well-written."

Amen!

happywritermom · Aug 11, 2009

I was equally confused with my novel. Then my agent came up with "contemporary with a literary edge."

lucidzfl · Aug 11, 2009

My novel is squarely in the middle of the "Never going to be published" Genre.

amyers27 · Aug 11, 2009

yakkity said:
From the elements you've listed, I think your novel falls within the neo-sensation category. (I discovered this sub-genre today while researching my synopsis, and my novel (which features a forced marriage) fits the criteria as well--I think.)

Is anyone here familiar with the neo-sensation genre?

Just made myself familiar. It's uncanny!

Marsh, Kelly A. (1995) The neo-sensation novel: A contemporary genre in the Victorian tradition. Philological Quarterly 74:1 (99).

What Sub-Genre Is My Novel?

amyers27

writing when not teaching

kaitlin008

Seeing newness all the time

Libbie

Worst song played on ugliest guitar

Kalyke

Danthia

MsGneiss

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

Straka

Bored Fanatic

yakkity

"what?"

Wark

Mark Brockman

happywritermom

lucidzfl

Back from the dead

amyers27

writing when not teaching