Introduction to Genres

Recently a new writer asked me what "genre" means. Basically a writing genre is a particular type or style of writing: mystery, romance, action/adventure, inspirational ...

Writing is usually considered fiction or nonfiction: fiction is made-up, invented by the writer; nonfiction is true. Novels and short stories are fiction, while essays, biographies, history books, and how-to articles are nonfiction. In recent years, a new genre has appeared on the scene that blurs the line between fiction and nonfiction: creative or narrative nonfiction. In creative nonfiction, the basic facts are true, but the story is written like fiction, using techniques such as plot, setting, characterization, and dialogue.

Within these three main categories - fiction, nonfiction, and creative nonfiction - are a number of genres.

Murder mysteries, action/adventure stories, thrillers, romances, science-fiction, fantasy, horror, young adult, literary novels, historical fiction, and inspirational/Christian fiction are some of the most popular fiction genres. Christian novels that fit into a certain genre can be classified as a sub-genre: Christian mysteries, Christian romances, etc.

Well-known nonfiction genres include journalism, memoirs and biographies, true crime, history, business and financial, advice and self-help, and religious. Each of these can be broken into several sub-genres; religious writings can be further broken down in Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu ... Christian writings can be further subdivided: devotionals, apologetics, Bible studies, and more.

And what about creative/narrative nonfiction? Popular genres include true crime, memoirs and biographies, literary journalism, and personal essays. Again, any of these can be written from a Christian perspective.

Although the word "genre" means a category or type of writing and thus covers every kind of writing, sometimes the phrase "genre fiction" is applied to what is also known as "commercial" or "popular" fiction as opposed to "literary fiction." Genre fiction appeals to a wide audience - the general public, while literary fiction has a narrower appeal and is often considered more high-brow. Genre fiction includes romances, mysteries, science fiction and fantasy, horror, Westerns, thrillers, and action/adventure.

Each genre has specific conventions: a romance novel is expected to have a "happily-ever-after" ending, the crime should be solved and the perpetrator brought to justice in a mystery, and the good guy always win in a Western.

Some writers wonder if they are "writing to a formula" and being less creative writing genre fiction. Not at all. In fact, it may be harder to follow the conventions of a genre than to write a story that doesn't have the restrictions of a happy ending or the solving of a mystery.

Readers choose a specific genre of fiction because they enjoy those conventions. Romance readers want to see the couple end up together, and mystery readers want to see the criminal caught. Every mystery must have a crime, usually a murder, and the crime must be solved. But there are a infinite number of ways the crime can be committed, an endless variety of characters (victim, perpetrator, and crime-solver), unlimited methods of solving the crime ... So every mystery has certain elements in common, but every good mystery is unique. Aficionados read mysteries to enjoy trying to solve the puzzle of "whodunit," and they would be terribly disappointed if they didn't find out by the end of the story.

Writers must meet the challenge of creating a new and different story that meets the conventions of the genre.