Genre S.O.S.
by Jaqueline Dyer
(Riverside Ca)
Question: Okay I need a little help here cause I think I am totally lost on the genre topic of my book. I honestly don't really know how to describe the genre of my book.
There are vampires, witches, werewolves(though none but the first are in the first book)So i know that means it's a fantasy book, right?
Also though there is no sex, the only thing being the two main characters falling into each others arms half dressed in the last paragraph, I don't know how to classify it.
Please help I am beginning to get a little desperate here. I have the entire story plotted out and written, expect maybe another 6 chapters if I can manage it in order to get the word count up and fill plot holes.
Can you help me at all?
Answer: You are correct that any book with vampires could be broadly classified as fantasy. It might be more narrowly classified as paranormal or an urban fantasy, if everything else about the setting is fairly consistent with our contemporary world. If the setting is quite different, then it's a fantasy.
As for the relationship, if the love story is front and centre throughout the book and the overall plot takes a backseat to it, then you would call it a fantasy romance or paranormal romance, regardless of the amount of sex. There are such things as "sweet" romances where no sex occurs.
If the overall plot is front and centre, and the romance story or relationship throughline is secondary (for example, as with Kelly Armstrong's "Darkest Powers" trilogy), then you wouldn't call it a romance.
Don't worry too much about classification at this stage, unless you really want to target a specific audience. Sometimes it's better to write the story first and afterward worry about what niche to market it to.