• Read this stickie before posting.

    • In order to reduce the number of new members requesting a Beta reader before they're really ready for one, we've instituted a 50 post requirement before you can start a thread seeking a Beta reader.
    • You can still volunteer to Beta for someone else; just please don't request someone to Beta for you until you're more familiar with the community and our members.

Need help identifying a genre for my novel

Status
Not open for further replies.
stevejohnson

stevejohnson

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 18, 2006
Messages
100
Reaction score
15
Location
Pahrump, NV
Website
www.storybase.info
I've written a novel about the politics in a small town and how that results in the death of 4 people. The book is written in the omnicient 3d person so the reader can experience the thoughts, emotions, and motivations behind the various characters.

It's not a murder mystery, although there is some mystery to who killed who and why.

It's not really a suspense/thriller because the suspense never really builds like James Patterson's Along Came A Spider

It's not a chick-lit, even though three main characters are strong women.

And it sure isn't Sci-Fi as there isn't a single illegal alien... make that extra-terrestial - in the book.

I am willing to send sample chapters (or the whole dang thing) to anyone who can help me identify what genre it is.

Thanking you in advance for even reading this post...
 
Cathy C

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!
Kind Benefactor
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 5, 2005
Messages
9,907
Reaction score
1,835
Location
Hiding in my writing cave
Website
www.cathyclamp.com
Hi, stevejohnson!

Okay, first--have you had the opportunity to read the workshop I have posted about deciding genres? It's over in the romance forum, so you might not have noticed it, but the FIRST lecture is about the various genres that exist, and it might give you some guidance.

Next, let's start by asking a few questions about the book:

1. Who are the MAIN CHARACTERS you follow? Are they the people who are investigating the murders, or those whose lives were touched by the deaths?

2. What is the POINT of the book? Are you spearing small town politics and how people take strange offense at the wrong things (or even the right ones) that can influence their behavior (ala Animal Farm?)

3. What sort of RESOLUTION do the main characters achieve? Is it discovery of the plot in the political system that caused the deaths? Is it change resulting FROM the deaths? Is there no change at all and people just accept that things are the way they are?

4. When is the book set? Is it contemporary (1911-present), or historical (pre-1910) or futuristic/alternate reality (current, but different timeline?)

Let's start here and we'll pare it down to your best fit. :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.