More Genre Confusion

rwam · Oct 13, 2006

Okay, so I'm still confused what genre my novel is, at least at the conscious level (I really think it's a tweener), and my 10 beta readers aren't helping me break the tie. However, feedback's been good, and I know agents hate when you compare your book to another that's successful, but when I think of which book out there is most like mine, I keep coming back to "Peace Like A River". Again, I'm not saying mine's as good. I am saying that if agents deem my novel as having merit, then if someone liked Peace Like A River, they'd probably like mine.

So, two questions....
1) If you've read PLAR, which genre would you say it falls into? Mainstream/Commercial/Literary/Inspirational?
2) Is there an easy way to find out which genre PLAR (or any book, for that matter) has been published/marketed under? I'm thinking it would be way-cool for all of us who can't decide which genre our novel falls into if we knew it was comparable in style, voice, plot, depth, etc to Book XYZ and we had access to a database/website that had genre/publisher/agent info for Book XYZ....that would be handy info, wouldn't it?

Rob

alleycat · Oct 13, 2006

I read Peace Like a River a couple of years ago. I would classify it as general fiction. I looked on my local library site and on Amazon. Amazon too classifies it as general or popular fiction. My library did not listed it under any of several genre types they use, so by default, they too have it as general fiction or just literature.

I think of PLR as being somewhat similar to some of Barbara Kingsolver's books, although with difference outlook.

rwam · Oct 13, 2006

So, what does "general" fiction equate to? Mainstream? Commecial? Literary? Or is it a genre unto itself?

Cathy C · Oct 13, 2006

If it's general fiction, it's BOTH mainstream and commercial, so you can call it any of the three and reach the correct agent/editor.

Literary fiction is its own category of fiction, and is the OPPOSITE of commercial fiction.

rwam · Oct 13, 2006

Thanks Cathy!

Jennifer Robins · Oct 23, 2006

genre

I have a novel with a small publisher. It is about Astral-Travel and is a thriller. They are thinking it is science Fiction, but I don't. Writing about the supernatural paranormal has subjects that are not fiction even though the story is. I don't see how that can be science fiction. Am I right?

Jennifer

PeeDee · Oct 23, 2006

Jennifer Robins said:
I have a novel with a small publisher. It is about Astral-Travel and is a thriller. They are thinking it is science Fiction, but I don't. Writing about the supernatural paranormal has subjects that are not fiction even though the story is. I don't see how that can be science fiction. Am I right?

Jennifer

Not especially, I don't think. That just means you fall more into the category of "science" than "fiction" perhaps. After all, so much of good science fiction over the years has had elements that are scientifically sound and real, for that matter. Not all sci-fi is fantastic.

Jennifer Robins · Oct 23, 2006

My novel is about a college student who learns how to astral-travel (leave his body) but it corrupts him. He spies on his friends, even commits murder and ends up in his coffin after being buried alive and can't get out.
This is only a snip of what is there, but I hope it give you an idea. Some might say it's a type of King novel or Koontz.

Jennifer

PeeDee · Oct 23, 2006

Jennifer Robins said:
My novel is about a college student who learns how to astral-travel (leave his body) but it corrupts him. He spies on his friends, even commits murder and ends up in his coffin after being buried alive and can't get out.
This is only a snip of what is there, but I hope it give you an idea. Some might say it's a type of King novel or Koontz.

Both of them have done novels that are sci-fi, after all. Quite a lot of them.

Carrie in PA · Oct 23, 2006

I completely suck at picking genres. I think when my book is done, I'll just do the dartboard method to figure out where it goes.

ChaosTitan · Oct 23, 2006

Jennifer Robins said:
My novel is about a college student who learns how to astral-travel (leave his body) but it corrupts him. He spies on his friends, even commits murder and ends up in his coffin after being buried alive and can't get out.

I'd call it a paranormal thriller.

Jennifer Robins · Oct 23, 2006

chaostitan said:
I'd call it a paranormal thriller.

The only other catagories they offer that would fit is suspense or horror. I wish they had thriller at least.

Jennifer

ChaosTitan · Oct 23, 2006

Jennifer Robins said:
The only other catagories they offer that would fit is suspense or horror. I wish they had thriller at least.

Jennifer

If they don't have thriller, I'd ask for paranormal suspense over horror. I've seen novels with supernatural elements in the Mystery/Thriller section of the bookstore, so if you feel strongly that your novel is not SF or Horror, go with that.

Del · Oct 23, 2006

SiFi broken into elements is science and fiction, which would indicate to me that it would have to be about fictionalized science (if this makes any scense). Space ships, transport machines, maybe even milkshakes that cause mutations.

Paranormal is not a science. It is closer to religion (faith) if compared. My novel deals with the paranormal and although it is largely a romance tragedy, I consider it horror because it also deals with something that could be called a haunting.

I really don't know where to put most of my stuff. I think any story that fits snuggly into one genre' is probably somewhat shallow. I prefer a complex plot when I read so I guess the confusion about genre' is a good thing.

Jennifer Robins · Oct 23, 2006

Delarege said:
SiFi broken into elements is science and fiction, which would indicate to me that it would have to be about fictionalized science (if this makes any scense). Space ships, transport machines, maybe even milkshakes that cause mutations.

Paranormal is not a science. It is closer to religion (faith) if compared. My novel deals with the paranormal and although it is largely a romance tragedy, I consider it horror because it also deals with something that could be called a haunting.

I really don't know where to put most of my stuff. I think any story that fits snuggly into one genre' is probably somewhat shallow. I prefer a complex plot when I read so I guess the confusion about genre' is a good thing.

You are absolutely right. I have to talk to my publisher about this, because I felt sure it didn't belong in SCFi

Thank you all for you help,

Jennifer Robins
www.jenniferrobins.com

More Genre Confusion

rwam

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PeeDee

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Jennifer Robins

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PeeDee

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Carrie in PA

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ChaosTitan

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ChaosTitan

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Jennifer Robins

paranormal interest