What Genre do I Write?

[Luxuria]

So, I would like some help figuring out what genre I write. It's always been kind of a problem- especially when I looked for agents ages ago. I know that you might think it's easy to figure out what genre I write. Maybe I don't even have a genre or whatever. But let me give you a rundown of elements in my stories that might help figure this out:

• Settings are either Modern (2010s?) or a historical setting (like Rome or WWII).
• Characters are usually magical in some way, sometimes immortal and all.
• Most of the protagonists are morally grey? I think? Maybe more evil, than grey? I am not sure.
• The antagonists are actually what sometime might consider the 'good guys' or are somehow more evil than the good guys.
• Medical and event realism. Aka, Consequences are real? It's hard to explain, but characters don't get off scott-free for stuff. Even if they are the protagonists.
• In-Story/historical Politics that are a very big part of the story.
• Taboo topics tend to be part of all my stories.
• Gay and Lesbian characters who are just part of the story- no coming out stories or whatever. They are just there in a story.
• Little or not romance - usually just a side-note, not a main part of the story.
• The magical elements can been seen by everyday people. No fog or secret societies, etc.

So, you can see where I am confused about what genre I write. Because it has so many different elements? I don't think it's Dark Fantasy or Grimdark, because it's not high-fantasy. It's usually more like an urban fantasy? I donno. Anyway, what are your thoughts? I am genuinely confused and would like help figuring this out.

 

[Homer Potvin]

Aside from the non-Latin connection, magic realism might be close. It's a vague genre for sure, but real settings + normal magic is gets you most of the way there.

 

[Luxuria]

Aside from the non-Latin connection, magic realism might be close. It's a vague genre for sure, but real settings + normal magic is gets you most of the way there.

Well, honestly, in a lot of my books, the magic is not normal. But not hidden like in some books that have it so normal humans can’t see it. But yeah, I can see some magic realism. But the thing is, the magic is still extraordinary.

 

[mel]

So, I would like some help figuring out what genre I write. It's always been kind of a problem- especially when I looked for agents ages ago. I know that you might think it's easy to figure out what genre I write. Maybe I don't even have a genre or whatever. But let me give you a rundown of elements in my stories that might help figure this out:

• Settings are either Modern (2010s?) or a historical setting (like Rome or WWII).
• Characters are usually magical in some way, sometimes immortal and all.
• Most of the protagonists are morally grey? I think? Maybe more evil, than grey? I am not sure.
• The antagonists are actually what sometime might consider the 'good guys' or are somehow more evil than the good guys.
• Medical and event realism. Aka, Consequences are real? It's hard to explain, but characters don't get off scott-free for stuff. Even if they are the protagonists.
• In-Story/historical Politics that are a very big part of the story.
• Taboo topics tend to be part of all my stories.
• Gay and Lesbian characters who are just part of the story- no coming out stories or whatever. They are just there in a story.
• Little or not romance - usually just a side-note, not a main part of the story.
• The magical elements can been seen by everyday people. No fog or secret societies, etc.

So, you can see where I am confused about what genre I write. Because it has so many different elements? I don't think it's Dark Fantasy or Grimdark, because it's not high-fantasy. It's usually more like an urban fantasy? I donno. Anyway, what are your thoughts? I am genuinely confused and would like help figuring this out.

I'd say urban/historical fantasy, mixed with magical realism, as Homer said up-thread. I don't see why you can't combine the genres a bit and play with their associated tropes/conventions, I think it'd turn out very interesting!

Well, honestly, in a lot of my books, the magic is not normal. But not hidden like in some books that have it so normal humans can’t see it. But yeah, I can see some magic realism. But the thing is, the magic is still extraordinary.

Magical realism can still allow for that, since it's magic being presented in everyday life, but I think some mixture with urban/historical fantasy can work just as well. If anything, it'd give you a lot of freedom! My two cents!

 

[Luxuria]

I'd say urban/historical fantasy, mixed with magical realism, as Homer said up-thread. I don't see why you can't combine the genres a bit and play with their associated tropes/conventions, I think it'd turn out very interesting!

Okay, thank you do much. True, there's nothing wrong with combining genres. I am glad it sounds interesting.

Magical realism can still allow for that, since it's magic being presented in everyday life, but I think some mixture with urban/historical fantasy can work just as well. If anything, it'd give you a lot of freedom! My two cents!

Really? From the quick google search, Magic Realism seems to be magic that merely a part of life. But no one talks about it in the story? Like, no explanation. Which makes sense, but I always explain the magic system and I suppose I mean 'realistic' as in fire magic needs air and kindling. Other types of magic are tied to science concepts/possibilities. But it's not sci-fi?

 

[mel]

Really? From the quick google search, Magic Realism seems to be magic that merely a part of life. But no one talks about it in the story? Like, no explanation. Which makes sense, but I always explain the magic system and I suppose I mean 'realistic' as in fire magic needs air and kindling. Other types of magic are tied to science concepts/possibilities. But it's not sci-fi?

To be fair, magic realism is pretty broad. I read a short story that used animated paper animals and it was explained, so if you feel so inclined, you can do that, too. Maybe some characters don't understand how different types of magic work, so you can use that as an avenue to explain your magic system to the reader. Again, with combining the genres, you're free to use/explain your magic system however you like.

 

[Luxuria]

To be fair, magic realism is pretty broad. I read a short story that used animated paper animals and it was explained, so if you feel so inclined, you can do that, too. Maybe some characters don't understand how different types of magic work, so you can use that as an avenue to explain your magic system to the reader. Again, with combining the genres, you're free to use/explain your magic system however you like.

I figured Magic Realism would be very broad. That short story sounds interesting. Anyway, yeah. I always make sure to explain the magic and the rules. Which happen to be somewhat hard magic- with a few exceptions. Anyway, you're right. I can explain things however I wish.

 

[Stuart Dren]

Are you looking for something more specific than fantasy?

I would say modern settings could be called urban fantasy. If your historical settings are real-world, I would call those historical fantasy.

Magical realism makes me think of literary fiction, Murakami etc. Not a bad thing, but consider if that's the kind of expectation you want to set.

 

[Jay King]

I don't think my work fits into any genre category. I write about people and mostly universal experiences.

 

[slimeclown]

I don't think my work fits into any genre category. I write about people and mostly universal experiences.

Sounds like contemporary literary fiction? Which is, in a sense, the absence of genre, although these days you see many literary fiction authors blending it with genre. Likely to make them more marketable.

 

[Jay King]

Yes, I believe you are right.

 

[slimeclown]

So, I would like some help figuring out what genre I write. It's always been kind of a problem- especially when I looked for agents ages ago. I know that you might think it's easy to figure out what genre I write. Maybe I don't even have a genre or whatever. But let me give you a rundown of elements in my stories that might help figure this out:

• Settings are either Modern (2010s?) or a historical setting (like Rome or WWII).
• Characters are usually magical in some way, sometimes immortal and all.
• Most of the protagonists are morally grey? I think? Maybe more evil, than grey? I am not sure.
• The antagonists are actually what sometime might consider the 'good guys' or are somehow more evil than the good guys.
• Medical and event realism. Aka, Consequences are real? It's hard to explain, but characters don't get off scott-free for stuff. Even if they are the protagonists.
• In-Story/historical Politics that are a very big part of the story.
• Taboo topics tend to be part of all my stories.
• Gay and Lesbian characters who are just part of the story- no coming out stories or whatever. They are just there in a story.
• Little or not romance - usually just a side-note, not a main part of the story.
• The magical elements can been seen by everyday people. No fog or secret societies, etc.

So, you can see where I am confused about what genre I write. Because it has so many different elements? I don't think it's Dark Fantasy or Grimdark, because it's not high-fantasy. It's usually more like an urban fantasy? I donno. Anyway, what are your thoughts? I am genuinely confused and would like help figuring this out.

In my opinion, a lot of this doesn't significantly impact the genre. Here are the things that do impact genre:

• Settings are either Modern (2010s?) or a historical setting (like Rome or WWII).
• Characters are usually magical in some way, sometimes immortal and all.
• Little or not romance - usually just a side-note, not a main part of the story.

These would make your story a (adult? you didn't mention age, so I'm assuming) fantasy. As far as sub-genre, these things are potentially relevant:

• Settings are either Modern (2010s?) or a historical setting (like Rome or WWII).
• Most of the protagonists are morally grey? I think? Maybe more evil, than grey? I am not sure.
• The antagonists are actually what sometime might consider the 'good guys' or are somehow more evil than the good guys.
• Characters are usually magical in some way, sometimes immortal and all.
• Taboo topics tend to be part of all my stories.
• The magical elements can been seen by everyday people. No fog or secret societies, etc.

Modern fantasy, historical fantasy, dark fantasy is what these things say to me. The other bullet points I'd say are themes that don't impact the genre. However, it can be used for marketing/pitching.

 

[Luxuria]

In my opinion, a lot of this doesn't significantly impact the genre. Here are the things that do impact genre:

• Settings are either Modern (2010s?) or a historical setting (like Rome or WWII).
• Characters are usually magical in some way, sometimes immortal and all.
• Little or not romance - usually just a side-note, not a main part of the story.

Ah, thanks! I appreciate it. That's true. Those 3 points do impact genre and Fantasy does seem to fit.

These would make your story a (adult? you didn't mention age, so I'm assuming) fantasy. As far as sub-genre, these things are potentially relevant:

• Settings are either Modern (2010s?) or a historical setting (like Rome or WWII).
• Most of the protagonists are morally grey? I think? Maybe more evil, than grey? I am not sure.
• The antagonists are actually what sometime might consider the 'good guys' or are somehow more evil than the good guys.
• Characters are usually magical in some way, sometimes immortal and all.
• Taboo topics tend to be part of all my stories.
• The magical elements can been seen by everyday people. No fog or secret societies, etc.

Haha, yeah. My books are very much only for adults. I didn't think about mentioning age, but I suppose you're right. The problem I have with labeling it directly 'adult' is that people expect romance and sex in adult books. Which my books have very little to none of that. All sex is basically off screen.

Modern fantasy, historical fantasy, dark fantasy is what these things say to me. The other bullet points I'd say are themes that don't impact the genre. However, it can be used for marketing/pitching.

Yeah, I figured I wrote Dark Historical Fantasy awhile a go. But then I looked into dark fantasy and felt like it didn't fit. Because my characters are not fighting some ancient evil- they are the ancient evil? But I suppose Dark Fantasy does fit- but there is a lot of inter-world politics and no questing. Quests to 'save the world' never happen in my story.

 

[Luxuria]

Are you looking for something more specific than fantasy?

I would say modern settings could be called urban fantasy. If your historical settings are real-world, I would call those historical fantasy.

Magical realism makes me think of literary fiction, Murakami etc. Not a bad thing, but consider if that's the kind of expectation you want to set.

Yes, I honestly am. Because Fantasy is such a huge category.

That's true. Both of those fit well. Urban does seem correct for some of my stories.

I understand that about Magical Realism, but it's just something I tend to do in my stories. I wouldn't say these are literary fiction at all, though.