How do you define "paranormal"? > Likes and Comments

Hello forum friends!

So... how do you define paranormal? Do you take the word literally: any non-human, non-natural creature or entity that appears in the normal world? Do you have restrictions for the category? When I think of paranormal, I primarily think of ghosts, demons and angels. But I'm probably bringing a bias to the question.

What do you think?

Thanks,
AC

The suffix para- is borrowed from the Greek and quite literally means beyond. In normal modern usage, it can imply either something which is abnormal (as in paranoia) or of a higher status or training (as in paralegal).

Therefore, a paranormal novel is one in which any situation or character is beyond normal.

That's excellent insight Anna, thank you. By that definition, the category paranormal romance is very broad.

Within the context of paranormal romance, would you narrow the definition so as not to frustrate readers who come with certain expectations?

'...would you narrow the definition...'

Paranormal pretty much encompasses the world of myth. So a selkie, fae, gargoyle, fairy, or witch would be paranormal, while Iron Man would not (although his arch-rival the Mandarin might be) because his 'power' is based upon technology.

Star Wars has a paranormal element due to the Force...
Star Trek does not. It is 'hard' science fiction...

To me, paranormal means anything that has non-human characters (or human characters that are heavily involved in the supernatural world like the Shadowhunters in TMI and TID).

Anna wrote: "'...would you narrow the definition...'

Paranormal pretty much encompasses the world of myth. So a selkie, fae, gargoyle, fairy, or witch would be paranormal, while Iron Man would not (although h..."

I couldn't agree more!

The word 'normal' with 'para' put in front of it.

I think of Paranormal as something that would be created by magic. Anything biologically created would be sic-fi. But that's just me.

Do ghosts exist? If so, are they paranormal? Or just natural, since they'd be of human origin? I don't know - I'm just asking. :)

Adam wrote: "Do ghosts exist? If so, are they paranormal? Or just natural, since they'd be of human origin? I don't know - I'm just asking. :)"

LOL Adam!!! Since ghostbusters call themselves paranormal researchers I guess the answer would be yes. But you raise a good point. The prefix para technically means beyond, not un-, so ghosts are beyond-normal I guess.

A.C. wrote: "That's excellent insight Anna, thank you. By that definition, the category paranormal romance is very broad.

Within the context of paranormal romance, would you narrow the definition so as not to ..."

I wish someone would. I have been trying to find ghost books on here everywhere but all I end up getting are paranormal romance books. When I hear " paranormal" I think of ghosts primarily.

Anything abnormal that can't be explained by science. But, when I think of it, I think vamps, werewolves, ghosts, demons, angels, witches, fairies, etc Mythical creatures, other than gods.

To me, paranormal means anything set in the real world that deals with mythical creatures. So if the story takes place in the real world and involves, mermaids, demons, vampires, angels, selies, fae, were-creatures, etc. then it's paranormal.

In a fantasy workshop I once attended, the instructor was asked the difference between fantasy and paranormal. He said that the two genres were pretty much interchangeable except for one thing: fantasy incorporates magic.

I tend to think of it this way:

Paranormal is set in the REAL world but involves creatures beyond mere human. So witches, mages, weres, ghosts, faeries, etc etc.

Fantasy is set in an imaginary world and can involve all sorts of things, but usually is magic heavy in some way or other.

A. wrote: "I tend to think of it this way:

Paranormal is set in the REAL world but involves creatures beyond mere human. So witches, mages, weres, ghosts, faeries, etc etc.

Fantasy is set in an imaginary w..."

I agree.

There is such a fine line between genres sometimes. It's yet another thing to make readers and writers pull at their hair sometimes. I'm still trying to find in which one to put mine.

@A. I love the way you put it. It simplifies everything.

But then comes Urban Fantasy... /sigh
I think the ones creating the genres love to mess with our minds.

Yes. Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Fantasy I'm still not sure where those two differentiate. LOL They seem very similar and I see books like The Dresden Files listed under both.

Anyone have a clear distinction between these two?

Man, I've been trying to find a good break between urban fantasy and paranormal romance forever. It's especially frustrating when you're trying to market a book that could, logistically, be either.

Best I've come up with thus far is that urban fantasy focuses more on external plot, whereas paranormal romance focuses more on romance, but even this doesn't seem to be hard and fast.

One thing I read said the best way to define it would to be take out the romantic elements. If the book still works, its Urban Fantasy. If the romance subplot is needed than you have Paranormal Romance.

I think the two are really very close, really. Our book has romantic elements, yes, but they aren't the main focus of the story. Still, the book wouldn't quite be the same without them. Sure, we'd still have a story, but I don't think it would have the same impact. Out of 600 pages I think between 10-15 are actually steamy scenes, but the romance itself drives many of the choices and decisions made. So we are deciding to go with teh Paranormal-Romance genre for marketing

So not all Paranormal-Romances have to be jam-packed with intimate scenes, I think, they can still have a good story to them too.

What if the story is closer to urban fantasy, but not happening in a city?

It would be contemporary fantasy. I've noticed that some authors use these two subcategories of Fantasy interchangeably these days, but contemporary fantasy stories take place in a modern or present-day setting in our world, not just within a city.

Thank you C.G.!

Anna wrote: "'...would you narrow the definition...'

Paranormal pretty much encompasses the world of myth. So a selkie, fae, gargoyle, fairy, or witch would be paranormal, while Iron Man would not (although h..."

I love this definition, especially the Star Wars/Trek comparison. I think you've just explained why there is such a divide between Trekkies and people who prefer Star Wars. I myself have always loved Star Wars and now i know why.

I personally see Urban Fantasy as a subcategory of Fantasy. Urban Fantasy can also have some sub-categories within itself, Paranormal Romance being, by far, the most common. Paranormal Mystery can be another one.
I personally don't care much whether the story takes place in a city or not. If it's contemporary, takes place in the world we know, and has shifters, were-beings, vampires, faes and the like, it is Urban Fantasy.

Paranormal used alone has a completely different meaning to me, however, and it's own subcategories such as horror for instance. Paranormal, to me (once again used alone)implies some relation to the spirit world (ghost, angels, demons...) and can be contemporary or not.

I haven't seen this specific comment, so I'll add my opinion.

Paranormal and Supernatural are 100% interchangeable to me. Either of them could entail magic, vampires, demons, ghosts, etc.

I do think some people use Paranormal as short for Paranormal Romance, but I don't think that's accurate. One is a romance book, the other isn't.

For me paranormal is anything that ain't normal (not including the lacks of Bieber and Cyrus). Magic, demons, superheroes, vamps, ghosts: they all fit into the category in my head.

I'm inclined to use the terms UF and Paranormal interchangeably. I like the factoid about the etymology of the root 'para.' In my world, 'other' is 'other.'

Andy wrote: "For me paranormal is anything that ain't normal (not including the lacks of Bieber and Cyrus). Magic, demons, superheroes, vamps, ghosts: they all fit into the category in my head."

That's how I see it also...lol

This is a great discussion! The plethora of genres makes it easier to find the books I want to read, but it's also making it hard for me to figure out where mine sits!

I'm thinking of it as paranormal romance because it is set in the real world and has psychics, parallel dimensions, astrology etc, it also has energy based beings. And there's a romance.

I think this fits the definitions some of you have given, but what do you think?

Would you class a historical novel that has a paranormal bent (eg. vampires in 1820) as a paranormal book. Would that have to be a paranormal book or a historical book?

Trying to work out where to fit Henry James.. (or does he bypass the argument and wind up in the 'Classics')

@ Claire Yes I would say it fits in both categories. I just read a book that fit into both categories.

@ Amanda. Cool. I just took a look at the synopsis of that book you mentioned. Damn I think belonging to this group is going to lighten my wallet. :)

Supernatural definitely makes me think ghosts-something that exists after being dead, on another plane. If I picked up a 'Supernatural' book, I would expect a haunting.
Paranormal makes me think creatures.
Zombies are a tricky one: if they've been raised from the dead by a curse or magic or something then I'd call them straight-up horror. BUT if they're the result of a flu-shot gone wrong, like in most cases nowadays, then they're sci-fi to me. But Sci-fi horror.

I just published a book that I class as Paranormal romance, however, the 'thing' she is, stems from greek Mythology, so I guess technically it's a mythological romance. But it belongs in the hands of someone who reads Twilight, or Fallen etc etc, not with someone wanting to learn about the fall of Troy, so I labelled it as Paranormal Romance for the genre it suited, not on a technicality.

I like what everyone's saying. Helps me a lot. Have trouble classifying my novel -- it doesn't have vamps or ghosts, but it has plenty of other elements (shape-shifter, witch, immortals, parallel dimensions, etc.)

I'm curious how people might draw the line between Fantasy and Parnormal?

For me, Fantasy is something parallel to Dungeons & Dragons: wizards, colorful magic, dragons, brave quests, etc.

What think you?

I think I would class fantasy as in a completely different world, whereas paranormal is usually in this world, but there's more here than we realised.

Does that sound right?

Don't mix fantasy with urban fantasy. They're not the same.

How would you define Urban Fantasy? I've always imagined it as Fantasy or Paranormal in an urban environment. Is that right?

From what I gather, urban fantasy is set in our world, except with things that may or may not exist. (I say may or may not because some people believe in ghosts, and demons etc, others don't.)
Dresden Files is a great example of the genre. If you never heard of it, here's a short general description. Harry Dresden is a mage (or a human who can cast spells) who is hired by other people to solve mysteries. The police is aware of those beings lurking around but won't admit it publicly. Instead, they have a special force to take care of these and keep it secret. They often go to Dresden to help them catch the bad guys.

The line between paranormal and UF (or contemporary fantasy if it's not in a city per say) is thin. The main difference is that the UF/CF doesn't always have a HEA like Paranormal. They also follow one MC through the series as where paranormal will have different MC. (Some may come back as background characters.)
UF/CF is often told in first POV, while Paranormal is more third POV.

Again, to help blur the line even more, there are exceptions to both.

So unless you are talking about Paranormal Romance, which is quite easier to 'spot'. The others may just continue to blend together and be called whatever the readers/authors decide to call it. :P

That's really helpful, thanks!

S.K. wrote: "Supernatural definitely makes me think ghosts-something that exists after being dead, on another plane. If I picked up a 'Supernatural' book, I would expect a haunting.
Paranormal makes me think cr..."

I've had a hard time deciding how to classify my novel. Right now I'm calling it paranormal. But it has ghosts.

Like you, I associate paranormal with creatures (vampires, shapeshifters, demons, vampires).

The other thing is how do you draw the line between paranormal and horror?

Hmmm... if the Greek suffix of "para-" means beyond, then the word paranormal explains itself. Beyond what we call normal, basically. Taken in that vein, there area number of things that could qualify under this title.

To me, the only boundaries are one's imagination. What is your definition of 'normal'? The things almost everyone can see, feel, hear, or taste could be called normal. Anything beyond that which certain person(s) can detect would start to qualify for the title.

I personally classify psychics, ghosts, hauntings, post-cognition, pre-cognition, and a number of other phenomenon under the 'paranormal' label.

should vampires,werewolves and shape shifters, be classed as paranormal?

Not according to this....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranormal

I believe those creatures should be strictly in the horror category,and zombies as well,if not at least Supernatural.

Fairies and such, are Fantasy.

The definition of paranormal seems to have shifted once folks commonly associated it with paranormal romance.

As a fantasy romance author, I had an odd situation discussing the definition of paranormal with a beta reader. My book, Shadows of Serenity, has a ghost. She didn't think that qualified my book to be called paranormal, insisting it needed a vampire or were-creature. Yet, paranormal researchers are essentially ghost hunters.

What do you all think? Are ghosts paranormal?

To me yes, ghosts are paranormal. In fact, although I add vampires and weres in the same 'gang', when I stop and think about it, ghosts are closer to paranormal than the other two.

It seems though that people automatically associate paranormal and romance. I find it sad because there's so much more to paranormal than just romance.

I agree, G.G. There is much more to paranormal than romance.

How do you define paranormal that's a difficult question
The definition of changes for people to people
For me the paranormal is like a parallel universe same like ours with only one exception: The exception is that in that universe all the kinds of supernatural creatures exist.
As I said I can explain completely how I feel about paranorma nor the definition of it because I believe that inour world does not exist.
I think of it like sth unbearrable that will always be in our hearts even if we dont want it there
To sum up there is a thin line between real and paranormal world and every person has its ways to describe it and his limits. Paranormal is sth that while lives with us in our real lifes it will always sth unreachable for us.