So Many Fiction Genres to Choose From

When I say fiction genres, do your eyes cross, or do you cringe? (Or does your nose go in the air?) Do you know what genre fiction is? Or more basically, what a genre is?

Let's start at the bottom and work our way up. It's not too steep a climb, I promise.

Genre means (quoted directly from Miriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition): a category of artistic, musical or literary composition characterized by a particular style, form or content. Geez, I think I need a dictionary for my dictionary.

In plainer terms, it just means "kinds" or "styles".

So fiction genres are fiction styles. You know what I mean, don't you? Romance, fantasy, science fiction...


Sixteen and Counting...

When I thought about it, I came up with sixteen varieties of genre fiction, many of which are more recent innovations (and some closely related to each other). Even if fiction has been around as long as mankind has. (Who can doubt that hunting stories of ancient times were elaborated to make the "heroes" seem more heroic, after all?)

But we didn't start categorizing our fiction genres until more recently. There were simply fiction, and non-fiction. (You do know the difference, right? Those little white lies you tell are fiction, not non-fiction...)

For instance, science fiction books really weren't written until the mid-1800s. Ever heard of Jules Verne? H.G. Wells? They're credited with inventing science fiction.

Women weren't slacking either, even if they often had to publish under a man's name (a pseudonym) to get published at all. Jane Austen didn't rake in millions with her early romance genre novels, but they were popular nonetheless, and still are today.

Of course, if you want to get stuffy, you can write a literary fiction book . Literary fiction is often considered the opposite of genre fiction. I'm no good at that. I'm too down-to-earth and imaginative. Not serious enough. (You noticed? Oops.)

This is for the serious types. People who write things with "literary merit". And I've nothing against their lovely prose, as long as they don't denigrate my desire to entertain more fancifully with fiction genres.

Maybe you'd rather try writing adventure fiction . Yeah. I love adventure. My novels are full of adventure, even if that's not the genre they'd fall into.

Or how about crime fiction books ? This is a newer genre, too, though the stories of Count Dracula are a form of crime fiction. This one is not always separated from mysteries, even though some crime fiction doesn't really create a true mystery.

If you dig history (there I go with the punny stuff again), you can write historical fiction books , or even historical fiction books for children . The historical fiction genre has been around a long time. (Think the Illiad.) And it's one of my favorites.

One of the fiction genres closely related to historical fiction, western fiction books are more specifically focused on a time and culture in the US. These became popular in the late nineteenth century, when people glamorized the life of the cowboy. (I don't know how saddle sores and beans for every meal is glamorous, though I like reading about it. Maybe because I don't have to live it!)


But Wait, There's More...

Then there's one of the biggest fiction genres today: the children's fiction book market. Just don't forget, kids are a lot smarter (most of the time) than we give them credit for. Don't try to write "down" to them!

Especially if you choose the older variation of kids' fiction and write fiction books for teens . That's an even narrower line to walk, so you don't offend those touchy egos. But again, a huge market, if that's your passion in fiction genres.

Maybe you like Stephen King. (Oooh! I get goosebumps just thinking about his novels!) Then the horror novel is for you. (Maybe you just enjoy scaring the "bleep" out of people.)

Not too far removed from horror is the craft of writing thrillers . Often, the monster in these books is someone in human guise. Maybe that's scarier...

Or if you enjoy solving (or creating) puzzles, maybe you'll write mystery fiction books . Be sure all your clues are there, but not too prominent. I hate figuring out the end halfway through a book, don't you?

Another newer genre that's become quite a market is women's fiction books . Otherwise known as chick-lit. While there may be some crossover into the romance genre here, it's definitely not styled at all like a romance. The women tend to be strong and independent (and modern romances know they need to use this some, too). And there may not be a "hero" except for the woman herself.

Maybe you have an overactive funny-bone. Like me. In conversation, I come up with punch lines two days late. But in fiction... beware! Fiction humor books are a wonderful genre, because you're making people laugh. And that's always good!

But maybe you want to stick to things you know. Then you can write realistic fiction books . Just be sure if you're basing them in a particular setting you know that you get the details right, and don't make any of your characters resemble your irritating neighbors enough they recognize themselves. That'll only get you trouble.

Me, I like a fantasy fiction book best, though not the sword and sorcery so much as a subtler variety. And like many books today, mine tend to fall across lines of the fiction genres. They include romance, adventure, thrill, mystery, fantasy and a good dose of humor. While this makes them harder to categorize, it also makes them a lot more fun to write.

And don't think I've given you a complete list. I'm not sure there is such a thing!

But whichever of the fiction genres you prefer (maybe more than one), above all, enjoy writing in it. That's the whole point, isn't it?