How to classify genre?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Kenderson

Registered
Joined
Jul 21, 2012
Messages
29
Reaction score
0
Location
USA
I've seen people classify their manuscripts as paranormal suspense, paranormal thriller, etc.

My question is how to classify my genre in a query letter as to not mislead an agent. My manuscript is a paranormal romance, but unlike many paranormal books I do not have a central antagonist. For example, J.R. Ward's BDB series has The Lessers, and Lora Leigh's Breed series has The Genetic Council. My characters are paranormal but my theme is more contemporary. If you took out the fact my characters are vampires and shifters it would basically be a contemporary romance.

So, when describing my genre in a query letter is it okay to put it as "paranormal contemporary romance"? Or do you think there is a better way to explain this? Thanks!
 
Last edited:

gingerwoman

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 27, 2007
Messages
2,551
Reaction score
229
Is this a comedy? Is that why it has no antagonist?
 

VanessaNorth

Purple hair, not prose.
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 7, 2012
Messages
617
Reaction score
93
Location
Atlanta-ish (NW Georgia, y'all!)
Website
www.vanessanorth.com
Is this a comedy? Is that why it has no antagonist?

Huh? I know I'm not the OP, but why on earth would someone assume that?

There are plenty of books that don't have an antagonist that aren't comedy. It simply means that there isn't a villain. That doesn't make it comedy. Hell, comedies often have villains.

A romance needs conflict--internal or external or both. It does not have to be a villain.
 

Laer Carroll

Aerospace engineer turned writer
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 13, 2012
Messages
2,545
Reaction score
367
Location
Los Angeles
Website
LaerCarroll.com
Paranormal romance is simply a romance with important paranormal elements.

Romances have all sorts of conflicts: obstacles standing in the way of the two lovers getting together in a long-term fulfilling relationship. One of the biggest kinds of obstacles are those within the two MCs. A man stereotypically is afraid of commitment, a woman may be comparing the man to her picture of the ideal mate.

Other kinds of obstacles often include the social, such as the old standby: "lovers from two worlds" such as one being very rich the other very poor. Or Catholics and Jews, Capulets and Montagues, etc.

And as to antagonists, they don't necessarily have to be malicious. They might, for instance, be perfectly worthy people who are rivals for one of the lover's hand (and other interesting body parts). Or a loving parent concerned about their child's happiness.
 

LindsayM

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jan 13, 2009
Messages
263
Reaction score
15
It's a paranormal romance. I would just explain it as such. However, without an antagonist, make sure you really define the conflict in your query. Let the agent know what the stakes are.

Seconding - just stick with Paranormal Romance. And what Vanessa said about the stakes - if there's no antagonist, you better show us where the tension lies right from the get-go.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.