What did I write?

Justin SR · Apr 11, 2012

Hey, just a quick genre question here. My story is a YA set in modern times with some fantasy elements (supernatural powers).

So is YA Fantasy a good description for when i start querying? Or should I say modern fantasy or something like that?

piano_island · Apr 11, 2012

Contemporary Fantasy or Urban Fantasy, depending...

RKLipman · Apr 11, 2012

'Contemporary fantasy', while a tag I'm fond of and like to use on my own, isn't recognized much as a genre when it comes to querying and submissions.

You're working with Urban fantasy or, more likely, paranormal.

Justin SR · Apr 11, 2012

Right, so is paranormal OK to use, then? I don't know about urban. It takes place in a city (or two) but the city isn't really important to the storyline.

kaitie · Apr 11, 2012

Urban fantasy. I wrote a book about people with supernatural powers and that's what my agent tagged as, even though it's not what I'd have called it.

Justin SR · Apr 12, 2012

Thanks kaitie!

RKLipman · Apr 12, 2012

I'd say paranormal, yes.

Sage · Apr 12, 2012

RKLipman said:
'Contemporary fantasy', while a tag I'm fond of and like to use on my own, isn't recognized much as a genre when it comes to querying and submissions.

I've had no trouble using it during querying.

RKLipman · Apr 12, 2012

Sage said:
I've had no trouble using it during querying.

Really? Interesting. I've NEVER heard it pass agents' or editors' lips... and I see so much confusion about subgenre tags that the whole thing just adds to my own, so I've avoided it.

In that case, everyone feel free to ignore me!

WalpurgisQuill · Apr 12, 2012

Isn't paranormal generally used for romance?

RKLipman · Apr 12, 2012

WalpurgisQuill said:
Isn't paranormal generally used for romance?

Not necessarily, though "paranormal romance" is certainly a category, both in YA and adult fiction.

YA Paranormal is very common. The market's a bit flooded right now, but it's a legit genre and it's still selling if you've got a unique hook and are skilled enough to pull it off.

Ashes Oh Ashes · Apr 12, 2012

WalpurgisQuill said:
Isn't paranormal generally used for romance?

Like already said, not really. There just happens to be an abundance of Paranormal Romances at the moment, which makes it seem that way.

Achromasia · Apr 12, 2012

I think Paranormal is a better label. Just based on what you've stated about it being like our world just with some supernatural elements, it would work better. To me, Fantasy means that there's something different about the world you're writing about even when you take the "strange" parts out. Of course, Urban / Contemporary Fantasy complicates things, but those stories usually describe things with a more magical bent. *shrug*

What did I write?

Justin SR

piano_island

...

RKLipman

Seasoned Veteran of Lurking

Justin SR

kaitie

With great power comes

Justin SR

RKLipman

Seasoned Veteran of Lurking

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

RKLipman

Seasoned Veteran of Lurking

WalpurgisQuill

RKLipman

Seasoned Veteran of Lurking

Ashes Oh Ashes

Honest, not Harsh

Achromasia