What do you do if you can't pinpoint your genre?

[Cynthia]

I recently finished writing the first in a new series and for the first time in a long time I'm going the traditional publishing route.

It's a post-apocalyptic, end-of-the-world type of novel in the same vein as Hunger Games or Divergent but not YA.

Initially I was going to pitch it as dystopian but after leafing through Writer's Market I didn't see that as an actual genre. So now I don't know exactly how to label it. There are elements of sci-fi but it's set in the not-too-distant future. I also have some creatures (mostly zombies) and magic powers but it is in no way a fantasy in the traditional sense.

I was thinking urban fantasy or paranormal thriller.

Any thoughts?

[Lenita]

If it's post-apocalyptic, end of the world it would be futuristic sci-fi. I wrote a futuristic sci-fi novella (not published yet) about dolphins evolving. It definitely falls in that category.

[Cynthia]

Lenita wrote: "If it's post-apocalyptic, end of the world it would be futuristic sci-fi. I wrote a futuristic sci-fi novella (not published yet) about dolphins evolving. It definitely falls in that category."

So like a sub-genre of sci-fi then?

Ha, ha, so weird! I've never written sci-fi before but those elements just sort of landed in the story as I was writing it. Amazing where the writing journey can take you.

[Lenita]

It is sci-fi if it's post-apocalyptic, end-of-the-world. However, though it is futuristic, I realize saying that would just be redundant. All sci-fi is futuristic, so your genre would just be sci-fi.

[Josh]

Lenita wrote: "It is sci-fi if it's post-apocalyptic, end-of-the-world. However, though it is futuristic, I realize saying that would just be redundant. All sci-fi is futuristic, so your genre would just be sci-fi."

Well, some post-apoc stuff could be fantasy I suppose. Simplest choice is Sci-Fi unless the focus is on weird magic and such rather than any semblance of realism.

Just my thoughts, naturally.

[Cynthia]

Josh wrote: "Lenita wrote: "It is sci-fi if it's post-apocalyptic, end-of-the-world. However, though it is futuristic, I realize saying that would just be redundant. All sci-fi is futuristic, so your genre woul..."

The magic is a byproduct of the main story. It's more altered genetics than witch or mage type magic. I'll lean loosely towards sci-fi on this one.

[Jim]

Cynthia,

The lines that once separated traditional genres into specific categories have blurred considerably during the past decade. Many readers are becoming less concerned with genre; allowing general story line, sub-plots and primary plot to influence their purchasing and reading choices more than anything.
Publishers now, more often than not, do not include a genre description in the publisher/copyright/disclaimer page; leaving it up to the vendor or librarian to use their own discretion to determine shelf placement.

Based upon your description, I would categorize your series as Science Fiction/Post Apocalyptic; however, as the author, your choice is the one that matters.

I wish the series and you success!

[G.]

Any story that is placed in a future where the technology is more advanced than ours is sci-fi. That said, remember what Carl Sagan said: Any ET civilization that we might make contact with would probably be much older--perhaps millions of years older--than ours. Their technology would seem like magic to us. Example: Can you imagine showing a caveman how your smart phone works? That person would undoubtedly think it was magic.

[Cynthia]

Jim wrote: "Cynthia,

The lines that once separated traditional genres into specific categories have blurred considerably during the past decade. Many readers are becoming less concerned with genre; allowing g..."

Thank you Jim.

I agree with you. Genre has so many cross-overs these days. The only reason I'm trying to pin one down is because for the first time in a long time I'm going to pitch my work to publishers and I'm trying to figure out who to approach.

[Cynthia]

G. wrote: "Any story that is placed in a future where the technology is more advanced than ours is sci-fi. That said, remember what Carl Sagan said: Any ET civilization that we might make contact with would p..."

Most publisher of fantasy usually do sci-fi as well. So it probably wouldn't be too much of a problem. As long as my query and synopsis are concise and to the point.

[TammyJo]

My agent tells me that the biggest problem she encounters with my work is that it isn't genre and middle or large publishing houses are very trapped by the idea of genre. I've been published by several presses, they are fine, but I'd like to move out of that. However I won't write genre; I write stories in whatever way is best for that particular story.

[G.]

TammyJo wrote: "My agent tells me that the biggest problem she encounters with my work is that it isn't genre and middle or large publishing houses are very trapped by the idea of genre. I've been published by sev..."
If you write something--anything, in any style or form--it falls into some kind of genre. Genre is a general term and comprises all forms of writing. So I don't understand your comment that you "won't write genre." If you mean you won't confine yourself to a particular genre, then I agree with you. Many of the greatest writers in history have written everything from short stories through novellas to novels, with maybe some poetry thrown in for good measure. To each their own.

[TammyJo]

I'm repeating what my agent says. I write cross-genre often and I don't limit what I write and to most big and medium size publishers, that means that I do not write genre. Apparently they dislike that because of marketing or something.

[Jane]

Cynthia wrote: "I recently finished writing the first in a new series and for the first time in a long time I'm going the traditional publishing route.

It's a post-apocalyptic, end-of-the-world type of novel in t..."

Hi
I started out writing historical fiction and now also write SF/sci-fi. I opt for Speculative fiction (SF) for the stories that are more dystopian and sci-fi for the more intergalactic ones. Might that distinction help?

[G.]

G. wrote: "TammyJo wrote: "My agent tells me that the biggest problem she encounters with my work is that it isn't genre and middle or large publishing houses are very trapped by the idea of genre. I've been ..."
So what she's really saying is you do not write single-genre but rather cross-genre (e.g., action comedy, romantic fantasy, tragicomedy). I wonder why the publishers don't like that sort of thing? Famous example: William Blake's Marriage of Heaven and Hell.

[Christine]

I would suggest you describe your novel as Speculative Fiction and include a brief description. A good agent will be able to determine how to categorize and sell the work.

The term "Speculative Fiction" is a broad umbrella that covers several genres, including horror, science fiction, and fantasy. It's based on speculation about other worlds and other worldly characters and events.

If you decide to use Science Fiction, you will need to specify if the work is hard science, soft science, cyberpunk, or time travel. These are the normal categories for sci-fi.

Good luck with your series.

[Lenita]

Or post-apocalyptic.

[Christine]

Lenita wrote: "Or post-apocalyptic."

Post-apocalyptic would be considered "soft science" in most cases.

[Cynthia]

Thanks Jane and Christine.

I was going to lean towards speculative fiction at first. What swayed me was Writer's Markets' definition of it. They made it sound like it was more fantasy than anything else.

But I think you're right, I can pitch it as speculative and mention it is set in post-apocalyptic world.

On the plus side maybe it can cross many genres for better exposure :)

[Josh]

Most stuff does cross genres a bit; genre being one part categorization for libraries, one part marketing. :D

My setting could be called "post apocalyptic fantasy" as the world has a distant, advanced civilization in its past, which is the basis of most of the magic. But that is so distant it may as well just be fantasy. No idea how to exactly pin the genre yet.

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

I'd go with Urban Fantasy because of mixed elements mentioned (setting is near future post-apocalyptic earth, some general science if you are mentioning genetics but not hard science if zombies or magic are explained as the result of genetic mutations that seem instantaneous in terms of usual evolutionary time rather some illness contracted, ...)

Many books categorized as Urban Fantasy have a mix of fantasy, supernaturals, science fiction, horror, speculative fiction, mystery, magic, technology not necessarily explained in detail or that may as well be magic, crime drama, paranormal, and other genre elements n some combination or other. Saying "speculative fiction" or "science fiction" may come with different expectations on how much what-if and hard science are n the book.

UF is also a bestselling genre/category that publishers are interested in. I wouldn't say "paranormal" unless very romance-based or the science and tension are very light. YA dystopian is still popular but unless a lot of YA themes, settings and characters I'd avoid. "New Adult" is also a bit of a mongrel term although not itself a genre that you might be able to add to description if appropriate -- crossing between YA and regular genres if character ages or circumstances (just starting out in new life, place, career, etc.) warrant. Publishers appear to be receptive to New Adult books attempting to keep the attention of "aging" fans of Twilight, Hunger Games, Harry Potter, etc.