So you’re brainstorming a novel and you come across a problem: you don’t know what genre this book should be in. Should it be a daring adventure with knights and dragons or a hair-raising novel with jumpscares at every turn of the page? And what exactly is a genre anyway? Well, you’ve found the right post!

According to Merriam-Webster, a genre is a category of artistic, musical, or literary composition characterized by a particular style, form, or content. We could go on all day about all three of those categories, but for now, we’re just going to stick to the ten most common genres in literature. Let’s get started!

Fantasy

• Key Elements: Magic systems, mythical creatures (elves, dragons, etc.), fantastical settings (often with a unique set of rules), quests, and often a struggle between good and evil
• Identifying Features: Look for the presence of the supernatural or things that defy the known laws of nature. A lot of the time, world-building in fantasy novels is extensive and detailed. Characters may also have special powers and a destiny that drives them forward.
• Literary Examples: The Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien) and Harry Potter (J.K. Rowling)

Science Fiction (Sci-Fi)

• Key Elements: Futuristic technology, space exploration, time travel, alien encounters, social commentary on scientific advancements, usually explores “what if” scenarios
• Identifying Features: Focuses on plausible technology and scientific concepts, even if it seems beyond our current reach. Settings can range from Earth in the future to distant galaxies.
• Literary Examples: Dune (Frank Herbert) and 1984 (George Orwell)

Romance

• Key Elements: Central focus on a romantic relationship between two (or more) characters, emotional journey, obstacles to overcome, usually a ‘happily ever after’ (HEA) or ‘happy for now’ (HFN) ending.
• Identifying Features: The plot revolves around the development of a romatic relationship. The emotional connection between characters is very important. Look for tropes like “enemies to lovers”, “friends to lovers”, or “forbidden love.”
• Literary Examples: Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) and Romeo and Juliet (William Shakespeare)

Thriller

• Key Elements: Suspense, high stakes, a fast-paced plot, twists and turns, an involvement of danger, crime, or espionage.
• Identifying Features: The primary goal is to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. The protagonist is often facing a dangerous situation, and the reader is kept guessing about the outcome.
• Literary Examples: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Stieg Larsson) and And Then There Were None (Agatha Christie)

Mystery

• Key Elements: A crime or puzzle to be solved, clues, red herrings, a detective or investigator, a process of deduction.
• Identifying Features: The central question is “whodunnit?” or “how was it done?” The reader is invited to solve the mystery along with the protagonist.
• Literary Examples: The Sherlock Holmes stories (Arthur Conan Doyle) and Murder on the Orient Express (Agatha Christie)

Horror

• Key Elements: Fear, suspense, the supernatural or montrous, often explores dark themes, aims to evoke a strong emotional response (terror, dread).
• Identifying Features: The goal is to scare the reader. Look for elements like ghosts, demons, monsters, psychological terror, or graphic violence.
• Literary Examples: Frankenstein (Mary Shelley) and Dracula (Bram Stoker)

Historical Fiction

• Key Elements: Set in the past, incorporates real historical events/figures, blends fictional characters with historical context.
• Identifying Features: The setting is crucial. The author has done research to accurately portray the time period. The story might involve real historical events or have fictional characters interacting with historical figures.
• Literary Examples: The Book Thief (Markus Zusak) and Jasper and the Riddle of Riley’s Mine (Caroline Starr Rose)

Contemporary

• Key Elements: Set in the present day, deals with current issues and themes, often realistic and relatable characters.
• Identifying Features: Focuses on everyday life and contemporary concerns. The character and situations are often things the reader can easily deal with.
• Literary Examples: The Fault In Our Stars (John Green) and Where the Crawdads Sing (Delia Owens)

Literary Fiction

• Key Elements: Focus on character development, explores complex themes, often uses rich language and imagery, may be experimental in form or style.
• Identifying Features: Emphasis on artistic expression and deeper meaning. The writing style is often more sophisticated. The plot might be less important than the exploration of character and theme.
• Literary Examples: To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee) and The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald)

Young Adult (YA)

• Key Elements: Focuses on teenage protagonists and themes relevant to adolescence (coming-of-age, indentity, relationships, family).
• Identifying Features: The protagonist is usually a teenager. The story deals with issues and experiences common to young adults. The tone and language are often geared toward a younger audience.
• Literary Examples: The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins) and Divergent (Veronica Roth)

Obviously this is just a starting point when it comes to genres and there are many more we could talk about, but I hope this helps you out with understanding some basic elements of each genre. Happy writing!