Trying to determine genre

[omega12596]

Okay, I've searched through the ever-expanding AWWC and I didn't see a thread on this (I only went back three pages in any sub-forum and/or threads, so I apologize if this is somewhere farther back, LOL)

How in the heck do you classify a work that incorporates at least three different genres? Currently, I write erotica for the e-pub Changeling Press and they determine where and how my work is 'shelved'.

However, I have two full length mss. which don't fit any one category. They're fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal, action-adventure, mystery, and a little graphic sex. They're set in a slightly futuristic, alternate reality.

I've seen suggestions that recommend 'labeling' for what has the greatest weight in the work. The truth is, the only one that isn't strong throughout is the sex.

Anyone have any suggestions? I'm trying to find an appropriate agent for these works, in between deadlines, and I want to nail this so that I don't get overlooked.

[blacbird]

You're a bookstore manager, and you just took delivery of a box of a dozen of this book. Where in your store would you put it?

caw.

[Danger Jane]

I would probably call that sci-fi.

[omega12596]

Hmm, what bookstore? All the Barnes and Noble's in my city shelve LKH right next to Linda Howard's thrillers. Heck, King and Koontz are shelved in 'fiction'.

LOL, that's why I asked. Going that route just confused me more :)

[Phouka]

My local bookstore has a whole section of "paranormal" sci-fi/fantasy (ala Hamilton, Ward, etc). They seem to be classified as horror, since they have paranormal elements. However, I"ve found some of them in the romance section, too.

But, there are so many books showing up with vampires, werewolves, spectres, etc, that I wonder if they will be subclassed into their own genre?

I seem to have a WIP that has the same things in it. I'd say fantasy (since that seems to be the broadest category) or horror. Is there such as thing as paranormal fantasy?

[sunandshadow]

If it was romantic and had a happy ending you could call it futuristic romance. Those often have mystery, action/adventure, fantasy, and paranormal elements.

[Anya Smith]

Definitely Sci-fi.:D

[katiemac]

Either sci-fi or fantasy. I'd say more sci-fi. "Mystery" and "action" may exist, but once you hit unusual territory you're not shelved on mainstream racks anymore.

[AdamH]

However, I have two full length mss. which don't fit any one category. They're fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal, action-adventure, mystery, and a little graphic sex. They're set in a slightly futuristic, alternate reality.

What's the predominate genre/theme in the novel?

Maybe take the 6 categories you think it falls under and number then in order of importance and predominance. For example,

Paranormal 1
Action-adventure 2
Graphic sex 3
Sci-Fi 4
ect...

Maybe that would help to break it down easier for you. Just an idea. Hope it helps! :)

[Garpy]

The thing is...if there's even the slightest whiff of SciFi in a book, that's it, blat!! straight into SciFi/Fantasy section. Doesn't matter what else is going in the book. However, for some reason, some authors who write what is quite clearly Science Fiction (Michael Crichton for one) seem to manage to stay out of that ghetto and get displayed up front with all the other 'grown up' books.

One thing I've heard is that publishers like books that crossover genres, I guess because it basically allows them to sell into multiple markets. So one thing to Big Up is the fact that you are hitting across a few genres, but I would definately play down the Science Fiction element, or at least call it 'Speculative Fiction', otherwise, that's all the agents/editors will latch onto.

[veinglory]

Sci fi / fant is a pretty good ghetto- I have read that other than romance it shifts the most books per square inch of fiction shelf space.

[badducky]

I'd definitely put it under "Auto-biography"...


What? Isn't everyone having sex in the future? I know I am!

[triceretops]

I have one book that I have tagged SF/thriller because it has Alien or Starship Troopers type of action. I have another Robison Crusoe type which I tag SF/adventure. Take your pick. There is now such a thing as SF/romance, and it is really becoming popular.

Tri

[JA Konrath]

Not trying to state the obvious, but how do you expect to sell a book without a specific genre catagorization?

How good the book is doesn't matter if the publisher doesn't know what shelf to put it on.

Books that fall into specific genres are tough to sell. Books that straddle genres are even tougher.

[omega12596]

Well, JA that's a good question. If I look at other authors whose work is somewhat similar, or as close as I can get, the spines say FICTION.

Maybe a better question would have been how do you classify Laurell K Hamilton(both of her series' from beginning to end) Kim Harrison, Kelley Armstrong, and/or Repairman Jack of F. Paul Wilson's creation?

[omega12596]

What's the predominate genre/theme in the novel?

Maybe take the 6 categories you think it falls under and number then in order of importance and predominance. For example,

Paranormal 1
Action-adventure 2
Graphic sex 3
Sci-Fi 4
ect...

Maybe that would help to break it down easier for you. Just an idea. Hope it helps! :)

Thanks, Maddwriter. If it were heavier on the sex/romance I could push it as a sci-fi paranormal. That's probably where it will end up even though that is less than twenty percent of the story.

LOL, ah, well I'll get it eventually. When I wrote it the idea was to incorporate all the elements of my favorite genres into one. If I'd known what a PITA it would have been, I might not have.

ROFL, who am I kidding. Yeah, I would have.

Thanks again everyone for your time and advice. I really appreciate it!

[Cathy C]

Heck, this is a piece of cake! You're making this WAAAY too difficult. Here, let me help you out:


They're fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal, action-adventure, mystery, and a little graphic sex. They're set in a slightly futuristic, alternate reality.


Step 1: Fantasy requires magic. Does it have any?

Step 2: If it has magic, it's NOT science fiction. Science fiction requires the USE of science in both the plot and resolution of the plot.

Step 3: Paranormal requires EXISTING legend (vampire, werewolf, mummy, etc.) You can have paranormal as part of fantasy, but not part of science fiction (except in very rare cases, like genetically engineered legendary creatures, but you still have to solve it with science.)

Step 4: Action adventure and mystery mean nothing, because of the fantastical elements. Those are merely what the PLOT is about, not the genre.

Step 5: Graphic sex means nothing, unless sex IS the plot. If sex is not the primary plot and sex does not resolve the plot, it's not erotica. It's just a sexy XXX [fill in blank when we're done.]

Step 6: Alternate reality requires RULES. You've created a world that your characters must adhere to. This is the second requirement of fantasy--world-building. So far, you've got two in that category.

Step 7: Futuristic is the alter-ego of science fiction, and are sold as the same thing. But it requires EARTH future, using our past as the goal and extrapolation of potential elements of things we have now (think Star Trek.)

So, if you have magic involved, you have fantasy. If you use science to solve the plot, you have science fiction.

But neither of these matter much, because you'll be shelved in the same spot in the bookstore (science fiction/fantasy) and the same companies publish them, such as DAW, Roc, Tor, Bantam/Spectra, etc. The readers won't know the difference until they see what sort of cover you've been given.

Does that help? :)

___________

ETA:
Laurell K Hamilton(both of her series' from beginning to end)- categorized as Dark Fantasy, shelved in either Horror or Fantasy (depending on the store)

Kim Harrison - categorized as contemporary alternate reality, shelved in fantasy

Kelley Armstrong - categorized as contemporary alternate reality, shelved in fantasy

and/or Repairman Jack - categorized as Dark Fantasy, shelved in either Horror or Fantasy (depending on the store.)

[omega12596]

Heck, this is a piece of cake! You're making this WAAAY too difficult. Here, let me help you out:



Step 1: Fantasy requires magic. Does it have any? Yes

Step 2: If it has magic, it's NOT science fiction. Science fiction requires the USE of science in both the plot and resolution of the plot. What about parapsychology? As in psychic pheonomena? I lay out both in the plot, how the science and the magic work together, or not, as the case may be.

Step 3: Paranormal requires EXISTING legend (vampire, werewolf, mummy, etc.) You can have paranormal as part of fantasy, but not part of science fiction (except in very rare cases, like genetically engineered legendary creatures, but you still have to solve it with science.) Okay, Got that. Yes, its all things that go bump in the night.

Step 4: Action adventure and mystery mean nothing, because of the fantastical elements. Those are merely what the PLOT is about, not the genre. Thank you!

Step 5: Graphic sex means nothing, unless sex IS the plot. If sex is not the primary plot and sex does not resolve the plot, it's not erotica. It's just a sexy XXX [fill in blank when we're done.] Okay, its not primary, nor does it resolve. Got ya, LOL!

Step 6: Alternate reality requires RULES. You've created a world that your characters must adhere to. This is the second requirement of fantasy--world-building. So far, you've got two in that category. Okay, I've done that as well, so we're looking at fantasy, LOL.

Step 7: Futuristic is the alter-ego of science fiction, and are sold as the same thing. But it requires EARTH future, using our past as the goal and extrapolation of potential elements of things we have now (think Star Trek.) Yes, it is EARTH future.

So, if you have magic involved, you have fantasy. If you use science to solve the plot, you have science fiction. Both solve the plot. In fact if a particular character didn't have the science, then the resolution wouldn't fly.

But neither of these matter much, because you'll be shelved in the same spot in the bookstore (science fiction/fantasy) and the same companies publish them, such as DAW, Roc, Tor, Bantam/Spectra, etc. The readers won't know the difference until they see what sort of cover you've been given.

Does that help? :)



___________

ETA:
Laurell K Hamilton(both of her series' from beginning to end)- categorized as Dark Fantasy, shelved in either Horror or Fantasy (depending on the store)

Kim Harrison - categorized as contemporary alternate reality, shelved in fantasy

Kelley Armstrong - categorized as contemporary alternate reality, shelved in fantasy

and/or Repairman Jack - categorized as Dark Fantasy, shelved in either Horror or Fantasy (depending on the store.)

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!

[Cathy C]

Parapsychology is one of the squishy nether regions. It's definitely paranormal, but whether it would be shelved in fantasy or science fiction depends on one thing:

Do you want the reader to believe it's REAL and COMMON in your world? See, in our current reality, psychic phenomenon is perceived as "possible." But there's no proof it's real. Hence The Amazing Randi having an unclaimed million dollars that's been sitting for nearly a DECADE waiting to be claimed.

But if, like in the movie "Minority Report", psychics are real and useful and integrated into society, then it's BECOME science. We've harnessed something we currently have an inkling of. Hence, science fiction. But it's not magical. It's just an extension of existing brain power.

If it's magical, meaning that the person has MORE than mere extrasensory abilities--not only being able to sense things, but use them as a magical defense or weapon, then the science takes a back seat and you've got fantasy. Science can exist, but the use of MAGIC creates a new reality that is separate and apart from our current one.

You just have to pick which one is MORE than the other. If you took away her magic, would your character still have psychic powers?

Our March release has a psychic heroine that battles sentient parasites that infect humans. It's paranormal, and were it not for the fact that the primary plot is romance, it would be shelved in fantasy, rather than science fiction. We've granted her SPECIAL powers in her own reality that go beyond science into magic.

Make sense?

___________
ETA: BTW -- you might enjoy reading the lecture I have stickied over in Romance about "Master and Servant" subgenres. It addresses this very question of sorting out the primary genre from a blending of elements:

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19337

[Phouka]

Cathy C, that was one of the clearest explanations of the differences in the big, squishy sci-fi/fantasy/paranormal/horror bucket that I've seen. Thanks!