How do I define my book?

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kelliewallace

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I’ve started writing a post apocalyptic novel set twenty years from now in a post economic world. When the time comes to target agents, I want a solid understanding of its genre. I came across a previous post written a year ago or so by an older writer who penned a dystopia but their characters were older, and did not really fit in the YA arena. They were having issues defining their book.

Now I am too. My two MCs are 20 years old. There is no swearing in the book, just gentle kissing. But there is sex scene (not described, just mentioned) At first I was going to sell it as a dystopia/speculative fiction but now not so sure. I’m wondering if it would be better suited as an Sci Fi. I can’t make up my mind. What really defines those genres?
 

lolchemist

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You could always drop down their ages to 16-18 and call it YA Dystopian.

(Haha sorry, I have no real advice, I write YA/MG so...)
 

rwm4768

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Figure out what kind of story you want to tell. What's the dominant feature? Post-apocalyptic and dystopian can both easily fall under sci-fi.

Also, what's a post-economic world? No matter what level of civilization you have, there will always be economics. The only way you could have a world with no economics is if you had no scarcity.
 

kelliewallace

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Mmm..You have both addressed good issues. In my novel, the US and European collapse (which is not so far from the truth if you think about it) plunging the world back a hundred years. People live in colonies. A global riot stripped the world of its resources. Im still writing it so I will most definitely change some things during the editing process. If I find I am not getting any bites with my 20 year MCs, I will most likely drop their ages.
Thanks for the help, guys :)

Thanks, triceretops. It's nice to know there is someone out there with the same thinking. Im sure there are NA Dys out there too. I hope so!
 

JulianneQJohnson

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Study the genre qualifications, and make the best guess you can. Some genre qualifications are a little vague, and it's hard to decide where exactly your book stands. I'm still not certain if I've written a paranormal thriller or a supernatural mystery, and the opinions I've gotten on it contradict each other.
 

MakanJuu

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I suppose this would be something that will become clear with time. Thing's begin jumping out at you & eventually a bigger picture forms?

Mine's aiming for New Adult Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal/ Character Drama. Took me awhile to gain it down that specifically.
 

Animad345

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Finish it. Then sort out genre problems.

On the other hand, if you think that it would work in your favour to have slightly younger/older MCs, take that into consideration now. Nothing wrong with twenty-year-olds, but it is 'awkward' in that it's neither YA nor adult.

Don't worry about it too much. Write the story.
 
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