Okay, every time you walk into a bookstore you encounter signs above the shelves: horror, mystery, romance. Many of these genres are self-explanatory. But there are many other genres out there: children’s, fantasy, sci-fi, thriller, etc. Some of their definitions might not be as clear as others.

I’ve compiled a list of a bunch of genres and their definitions to simplify things.

Children's or Independent Reader: Children’s or independent reader books are for kids, usually from toddlers to about eleven years old. They usually feature characters (human or animals) in the same age range. A lot of the books aimed for the lower age range have many pictures and are simple in writing and/or theme. But don’t mock this! Because the Harry Potter series falls into independent reader genre and those books are simply among the best books ever written!  

Horror: Horror is one of my favorite genres. Horror books evoke a specific mood. With ghosts, creatures, and blood-and-guts, horror books allow the reader to tremble as they turn the page. The characters are usually found trying to escape some horrible misfortune and must, by some clever means, work together to solve their problems. Second Coming, my first novel,is a horror novel. Check it out to see what I mean.

Thrillers: Many readers confuse this genre with the above. To remedy this, just think of thrillers as suspense or action novels. These books grab the reader and lead them through a rollercoaster ride of emotional trill. There may be fighting, there may be a little bit of mystery or romance—whatever it is, these books keep the reader turning the page. My next book, Luke’s Situation, is a thriller. Because of the situation in which Joe finds himself, the reader is sucked into the story, forced to flip page after page if they want to find out what happens to Joe and his friends.

Fantasy: Fantasy is fantastic! Fantasy books contain elements that people do not encounter in every-day life (ex. Magic, elves, trolls, etc.). The settings may be in our world or someplace else (usually green with lots of animals :P ). The characters in fantasy tales can often use magic, talk to animals, or have some specific talent. Some of the best books are fantasy books. They allow the reader to get lost in a world that they wish they could stumble upon.  

Science Fiction:  Think metal and nuts and bolts. Often these books are set in space or a far-away planet. Sci-fi encompass a lot of science, so it’s not surprising that these books—like Jules Verne’s From the Earth to the moon--somewhat predict the future. The characters may face problems we face in everyday life (or not), but they typically face them in a society set in the future. If not, the characters can just hop into their time machines and go there!

Mystery: It is what it is—a mystery! In these books there’s either a crime or an unsolved murder that the protagonist must try to solve before they come to the end of the book. What makes these types of novels fun is that the reader gets to solve the mystery along with the character as they flip through the pages.

Romance:  How sweet! Even though many books include feelings of the heart between characters, these books make it their main focus. Whether it be between a vampire and a werewolf or a burly fireman and a lonely housewife, there is love in the air. They may have to overcome certain obstacles, but in the end these characters usually find happiness.

Westerns:  “Draw, padner!” That says it all. Think cowboy boots, hats, and six-shooters. This genre is defined by a specific time and place, usually between 1800 and 1890 and in western parts of the US (some may take place elsewhere, however). In these books there’s usually an outlaw, a hero, and in some even the damsel in distress.    

Young Adult:  Just like the children’s genre, young adult books are usually written about characters that fall into the “young adult” age (typically twelve to eighteen). In these types of books, the characters can find themselves in a variety of settings: fantasy, sci-fi, or even horror. There are plenty of issues for them to contend with throughout the books, so they’re wildly entertaining. Sometimes the characters even fight an internal struggle when they realize they like someone and they can’t tell them.

Literary: The best way to define this genre is to ask the reader to think about poetry. Literary fiction is not exactly poetry, but it deals with prose. The author uses eloquent words to fashion a tale—despite the genre—that makes the reader cry out for more. Characters in these tales may find themselves in emotional situations, but it is how these situations are described and how the characters deal with them that makes these types of books so entertaining.  

Experimental: Here we go, let’s try to do something new here. Let’s push the envelope, let’s play devil’s advocate, anything to grab the readers’ attention and get them to run away with an idea. This is typically what experimental fiction does; it goes against convention—either in style or how the words physically appear on the page—to grab the reader and either tell a story a get a point across.

Note: There are many other genres and sub-genres, but these are the ones you’ll typically come across as a reader. Remember, as a writer, if you are going to contact an agent, there are specific agents that represent specific genres. Do not—and I repeat DO NOT—send your horror manuscript to an agent representing romance novels! You’ll will be regarded as a novice writer and laughed at!

For those of you interested in querying (or contacting) agents for your manuscript, please read my post on that subject next week.