Did you know that while there are more than a dozen and a half fiction genres, each fiction genre has sub-genres? Add all those up and you wind up with more than a hundred.
Why should you care? Because understanding your exact genre and sub-genre will help you market your book to readers, whether you’re self-publishing or pitching your novel to publishing houses. “Knowing the correct sub-genre only improves a writer’s chances, because it shows an understanding of the market that not every writer has,” reads the editor note in the Writer’s Digest article “114 Fiction Sub-Genre Descriptions for Writers.”
Wait–114 fiction sub-genres? Well, the article identifies 14 different kinds of romances and 20 types of thrillers. So it adds up quickly. While the article basically just presents a long list of briefly described sub-genres, that list might just spark some creative ideas even as you hone your sense of the market.
Having a strong sense of your genre can also help you meet reader expectations on everything from characterization and viewpoint to plot and mood. For a deeper look into your basic genre, you might want to check out Writers Write‘s “The 17 Most Popular Genres In Fiction – And Why They Matter.” As Amanda Patterson writes:
“As an author, genre controls what you write and how you write it. It describes the style and focus of the novel you write. Genres give you blueprints for different types of stories.”
In addition to revealing information about lesser-known genres–such as explaining the difference between young adult and new adult fiction (coming-of-age plots geared toward 12- to 18-year-olds vs. plots featuring college-aged characters and storylines) and what speculative fiction is–the article delineates the main characteristics that readers look for in each genre. Definitely worth a look, especially since you can click on the links in your fiction genre and find out even more.
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