Genre Help: Paranormal vs. Urban Fantasy

[LisaAnn]

Just to make things crazy, I usually consider ghosts as "magical realism." This just keeps getting more convoluted, doesn't it? 

[jennykacz]

Magical realism is INCREDIBLY hard to define, but I would throw ghosts in there too. My WIP has a character who is a ghost, but that's not revealed until the final chapter. Other than that, there's no real supernatural element, just a little sparkle. I definitely think it's more magical realism than paranormal. The ghost isn't the point - the relationship between the characters is. In my UF, the supernatural element is the point. The relationships just back it up.

[LisaAnn]

The ghost isn't the point - the relationship between the characters is. In my UF, the supernatural element is the point. The relationships just back it up.

Well said! 

[AshK]

Another Goodreads article: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/426361-urban-fantasy-vs-pnr

[KalenO]

Magical realism is INCREDIBLY hard to define, but I would throw ghosts in there too. My WIP has a character who is a ghost, but that's not revealed until the final chapter. Other than that, there's no real supernatural element, just a little sparkle. I definitely think it's more magical realism than paranormal. The ghost isn't the point - the relationship between the characters is. In my UF, the supernatural element is the point. The relationships just back it up.

Yup exactly.  I think one of the key overlooked elements of magical realism is it treats magical as something inexplicable/undefined.  It's magic in the sense that its an intrusion on the real world, a violation of the natural order of things and its treated/regarded as such.  With urban fantasy, paranormal or most any other kind of fantasy, magic has its own origins, rules and order to how it works.  With magical realism....the magical element is just there, and its about the characters reacting to it without needing to understand it.

[rnpudel]

I'm having this issue too. I combined a few creatures from folklore to create one unique creature. They look like humans but can change (not shape shifters), and have super human abilities. There is romance in this one, but she's also fighting against her deadly side. So it's not just about romance. It takes place on an island in WA state, so not in a city.

I've been calling it paranormal romance, but wonder if UF better suits it, or maybe even dark fantasy. I've been reading that dark fantasy can take place in our world and is more about fighting the evil inside. So there's another one to throw into this thread: Dark Fantasy. 

[MittensMorgul]

To make this very interesting thread even more confusing, I recently had someone suggest that my novel isn't UF, but CONTEMPORARY fantasy. I don't get the difference there, but I've started querying as contemporary/urban fantasy.

It takes place in a real, modern city (well, three cities actually, Boston, Miami, and Washington, DC), and the relationships aren't the central focus (though they are important to the story). The characters getting together isn't the main focus or the ultimate goal of the story, though. There is a serial killer involved, and the main characters are paranormal critters. I have no idea what the difference between contemporary fantasy and urban fantasy is, though! I just hope the agents I'm querying do!

[jennykacz]

I've been told that contemporary fantasy encompasses urban fantasy, paranormal fantasy, etc as long as it is set in modern times. I've queried mine as either UF or CF and it doesn't seem to make a difference. I kind of like contemporary fantasy because it seems broader and because I'm not 100% sure mine fit in either UF or PF, I feel like broader might be better.

[rnpudel]

I've been told that contemporary fantasy encompasses urban fantasy, paranormal fantasy, etc as long as it is set in modern times. I've queried mine as either UF or CF and it doesn't seem to make a difference. I kind of like contemporary fantasy because it seems broader and because I'm not 100% sure mine fit in either UF or PF, I feel like broader might be better.

Does yours have romance in it too?

[jennykacz]

There is romance, but I could cut it out and it wouldn't alter the plot. The story, yes, but not the plot, if that makes sense. I've taken to adding "with romantic elements" after the genre because it's not mentioned at all in the query.

I think someone earlier in the thread talked about where the conflict lies. My romantic relationship is about working together, not working to get together, so it's definitely not paranormal romance ;)

[MittensMorgul]

jennykacz: That's the same situation my characters are in. There is a building romantic tension throughout the story, but it doesn't change the overall plot. I don't query it with the romantic element, though. I used to, until an agent who read my full was really disappointed that the romance wasn't central to the plot. She decided to pass on it...

[rnpudel]

Hum. My plot doesn't center around the romance, but the guy helping the MC plays a big role and the kiss a lot.  So, I think I'd better keep that romance part. I  just worry that agents aren't wanting paranormal romance. Mine is a bit darker than the average paranormal romance, so I hate implying something that it's not. Thus the DARK FANTASY. Hum.

[jennykacz]

I don't know if mine is quite dark enough for dark fantasy (dead girl, soul-sucking protagonist, mind-control), but I like the way it sounds I've been saying "YA Urban Fantasy with romantic elements" hoping that sums up the whole story. I felt dishonest not including anything about the romance in the query because it does take up a lot of the story.

[rnpudel]

Mine is girl from folklore (type of creature) who fantasizes about tearing into men's flesh as a tasty snack bc it was the meal of her predatory foremothers.