Genre, Genre, Who's Got the Genre?

[AnyaHarker]

I've been going round and round on this (and am posting a blog with my frustrations on the area tomorrow) but I'm about to throw my hands up when it comes to putting a genre on my current YA novel.

It's a novel dealing with sorcery and other magical elements (which makes me want to call it a fantasy) -- HOWEVER there are definite romantic elements and I know a major romance subplots isn't what I often find in my fantasy novels so I start leaning toward paranormal romance as there are elements of that genre in this -- HOWEVER it's originally set in NYC, then goes to a few made up cities which lends toward urban fantasy. 

I've been circulating various blogs and wiki and I finally got close to calling this thing an Urban Fantasy as it sorta covers everything (and I also read a post on here and, quoting LisaAnn, she had a fabulous litmus test of "Are my main characters opposed and working hard to get together, or are they together and working hard to face an outside opposition?" ) in the novel in a nice, neat package.

I can say they're apart, THEN together and working hard to face an outside opposition. And if you're confused by the time you've reached this point in the post... welcome to my past several months. I know an agent/editor will ultimately label it what it SHOULD be, but I don't want to query agents who don't represent a genre and be THAT person who can't follow simple directions.

I think I'm close to calling this an Urban Fantasy -- or should I simply call it Fantasy with romantic elements? 

[AshK]

I, too, am a victim of Genre Agony. Here's how I'd figure it out:

Is the world real with fantasy elements? Try UF. Is it an imaginary world? Go with Fantasy.

If the romance is predominant, then you might call it Paranormal and push it as a romance genre.

Is the focus the romance between the characters and does it meet the standard requirements for a romance? If so, it's Paranormal Romance. If there is no happy ever after ending, or is missing any of the other rules of a romance, then call it Paranormal With Romantic Elements.

However, you can have romance in Fantasy and Urban Fantasy novels without tacking on the 'romance' tag. You just have to figure out what is the main story line--the adventure or the relationship.

You can seach RWA (Romance Writers of America) websites for the traditional rules of writing romance. Romance readers are very picky when it comes to romance books so you don't want to mistakenly call it a romance if it's not.

Look at RWA contests and go through the different category descriptions. That might also help you pin your genre down.

[LateToTheParty]

Call me Captain Oversimplification, I think the predominant theme should determine your genre. AK has excellent advice in this as well. I would've thought Jacqueline Carey's first novel was straight-up fantasy, and then it won a couple of romance awards. Go figure.

[AnyaHarker]

Thanks, Ash. That does help break it down a bit more. I've just been going around and around with this lately and am ready to throw a few genres and the manuscript at the wall and see which one sticks the best.

 

Thanks. I will check out RWA. I've read enough romance novels in my life that I have a fairly good idea of the general plotline that usually comes with it. I'm just straddling a bunch of genres right now so it's hard to market it FIRST, y'know?

[Magic_Seeker]

    Maybe I'm cynical this morning, but -

If the agent loves fantasy, label it Fantasy.

If the agent specialized in UF, call it UF.

If the agent wants romance, call it romance.
It's easy to change out your query to fit what the agent wants to see. 

[AshK]

I just read a post from an agent who said not to sweat the genre - AT ALL. Because it can change...the agent him/herself might change it if they want to pitch it to a particular publisher who is hot for a particular genre and you work has some elements of the flavor-of-the-month genre.

SO TRUE.

I queried on a paranormal chick-lit to an agent who submitted it as paranormal romance. I won fantasy and romance contests alike. I signed with a publisher who is putting it out as urban fantasy.

And it's all the SAME BOOK.

Go with your gut, give it a label, and let the buyer call it whatever they want. 

[ClaudeDancourt]

   Maybe I'm cynical this morning, but -

If the agent loves fantasy, label it Fantasy.

If the agent specialized in UF, call it UF.

If the agent wants romance, call it romance.
It's easy to change out your query to fit what the agent wants to see. 

I am not sure this is wise. The agent expects you to know the genre of your novel, and may reject you if you mislabel it just to please. I love your question, because I asked exactly that to someone yesterday. I came up with the following :
1) A romance has to be focused on the characters, what takes them apart and what brings them back together.
2) If your novel focus more on the paranormal aspect, and the relationship between the characters is not the main plot, then it is fantasy.

Here is an extract from Wipikedia about the Urban Fantasy genre. I am looking at the moment for more reference, btw.
 

Urban fantasy describes a work that is set primarily in a city and contains aspects of fantasy. These matters may involve the arrivals of alien races, the discovery of earthbound mythological creatures, coexistence between humans and paranormal beings, conflicts between humans and malicious paranormals, and subsequent changes in city management. Several characters of urban fantasy are shown to have self-esteem issues or tragic pasts. These matters often tie into the larger story or the development of the protagonist.

[ClaudeDancourt]

Check it out :
http://www.yafantasyguide.com/for-writers/identifying-your-fantasy-novels-genre.htm

[AnyaHarker]

Claude, I found that link last night actually! But thanks anyway for it.

It is really hard when you have elements of multiple genres simply by nature of the work. You write it first and it isn't until you have to label it that you run into the problem.

I do like what Wiki has to say on it -- and that really is what I'm finding I tend to write in. It's not a dark/gritty fantasy. BUT at the same time, the tragic past really does develop my character.

It's interesting how, no matter what site you look on, you get a slightly different response or definition. It's both a good and a bad thing! Means that you have a lot of leeway with where the genre is concerned and labelling your stuff UF -- but at the same time, everyone has an idea of what UF is.

Catch-22. Gotta love it!