Your Genre Questions

When Mystery author becomes popular 
Dear Glen, Thanks for your novel planning book. I have written five romance books and a series of five mystery books. My first mystery is published in …

What genre would this be? 
Question: I wrote something but I don't know how to classify it. It's about someone who goes on telling their partner the story of their life and …

Fantasy 
Question: I'm trying to write a book like Game of Thrones, but don't want to copy it, any advice? Answer: Yes. Don't copy it. Okay, let me be …

Mystery Deja vu 
Dear Glen, Once again, Thank You for your novel planning book. I'm writing my ninth novel with its help, the fifth in mystery. While writing my mystery …

What genre is my book? 
Question: It's set in Ancient Rome and has historical elements, though it doesn't really mention anything of importance that would classify it as "historical …

Best tense to use for horror (slasher) novel? 
Question: I am an aspiring author and I'm planning to write a horror novel in the style of a slasher (think: Friday the 13th, Halloween, etc). I'm planning …

Writing Murder Mystery Questions 
Question: Does the Resolution have to be that the detective finds the killer? Or can the reader find out who the killer is by the 4th driver so that …

Fantasy with no supernatural elements? 
Hi! I‘ve been using your site since quite some time now but even with all the great information (thank you so much for this!) I’m still not sure what …

NA/YA Genre Rules 
Question: I have a hard time understanding the rules of NA and YA genres. For example, I’m writing a fantasy novel with the characters in their 20s, …

Obligatory scenes for Low Fantasy and Mystery Genres 
Question: Love your site! Could you please list the obligatory scenes for Low Fantasy and also for Mysteries (two separate lists). My current WIP …

Fantasy without Magic is still Fantasy, right? 
Question: I've created in my novel an Island with its own culture and people, completely devoid of contact with the outside world. Never does it even …

Literary Fiction on Contemplation as the Goal 
Question: I suppose the genre will most likely be a Literary Fiction since the focus is on philosophical questions. Can you suggest some works/books …

Things adults typically do, ways they act, things they say.  
Question: What are some things that are cliché in the adult world (i.e. things typical of adults that teens wouldn't know) that a YA writer could draw …

A compelling ghost story 
Question: I am trying to write a young adult supernatural/gothic ghost story. But that's as far as my mind goes - a young adult supernatural ghost story. …

SF Romance 
Question: I'm writing a novel that is basically a romance novel, but it takes place in 2025 and the protagonists are working in technology field. There's …

making fantasy relatable 
What are your thoughts or opinions on the importance of a fantasy world/setting being connected to our own real world in some way? I got to thinking …

Genres: Do you think this is possible to pull off? 
Hi! I'm currently worldbuilding a story I'm going to write in some years. English is not my mother tongue, so I'll need some time to enrich my vocabulary …

I wrote a Fiction Novel based on true events... 
Question: I wrote a Fiction novel based on a true story with a word count of 30200. Is this too short? I'm a first time Author and intend to go for self …

Writing Disaster Stories 
Hi. I am writing a novel about a disaster. There's chaos worldwide and people have nowhere to go. It's all about natural disaster, but I can't bring in …

"historical" fiction? 
Question: I am researching and writing a book on an historical figure who was born in 1896 and died in 1981. Much of what is known about him is from …

Genre Angst 
BACKGROUND INFO: I have finally accepted that -- in my series of Christian novels -- I must let the reader know in the first page or so of each title …

Teen books, adult books... 
Question: There are lots of books out there today, some are "teen books" written for teens and some are more for adults... My question is, what makes …

High or Low Fantasy? 
Question: I read a question in this section about the differences between high and low fantasy and it's got me wondering what type of fantasy some novels …

About LGBT as a genre... 
Question: My novel has a male-male couple in it. While the main focus of the story is not their relationship (it's spy/thriller/crime), and it will take …

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Comic plot and a novel plot... any differance? 
Question: I'm drawing a comic, or I might say a graphic novel. As its name might be self-explanatory (graphic novel is, well... a novel, duh) I think …

Soft Science Fiction vs. Hard Science Fiction 
Question: What is the difference between soft science fiction and hard science fiction? How do I know which one my novel falls under? Answer: In …

What Genre am I? 
Question: I read a lot and I read a lot of different genres. It is hard for me to start out writing regardless of how many good starters I feel I have …

Differences: Psychological Horror and Horror 
Question: I have a great idea for a horror novel but I am confused about the genre categorization. Is there a difference between a Psychological Horror …

is classifying my book mandatory ? 
Hello, I already posted a question regarding the sagging middle syndrome on another category of this site and again thank you for all the time and work …

Flashbacks in psychological thriller.  
Question: The main character in my psychological thriller has amnesia. I had scenes where other characters have flashbacks about parts of his life that …

Genre: Low Fantasy or Alternative History? 
Question: What genre for an MC who gets a chance to live his life over again at a very young age, and decides to use his knowledge of future events in …

Which genre? 
Question: My MC grows a pair of wings a after a spiritual journey (meeting with his inner self through lucid dreams). He is then recruited by a secret …

Writing Children's Stories  
It seems I have good Prose apparently, and I'm good at using a well-enough-defined vocabulary. However, I fear I might have issues then with the concept …

Cheesy Romance? 
Question: I have nearly finished my book, it is about a group of high school friends who graduate and go on a cruise, and on this cruise they find their …

Low Fantasy 
Question: What is the difference between high fantasy and low fantasy? Answer: There are several ways people have attempted to define these terms. …

Epic stuff. 
Hello your advice have been helpful. My question is: what makes a book or a story an epic? What are all the elements in an epic? Does an epic have to be …

Difference between YA and teen? And do word counts really matter? 
Question: Is there a difference between YA and teen novels? If so what are they? And do word counts really matter? I've looked it up on the internet …

Difference Between...YA & Adult Fiction 
Question: Hello, I'm pretty sure that you may have answered this question already but I will ask if you don't mind. Is the main difference between …

historical fiction 
Question: If I use real people from 1806 in my historical fiction, do I need to be ready to footnote it? How can I avoid doing so? Change names? Put …

Homophobic publishers 
Question: I would like to know why publishers refuse to publish novels with a GLBT theme to them? I can search the net and find gay/lesbian themed …

Paranormal Romance Questions 
Question: I was wondering if you could give me examples of story goal for paranormal romance stories. I think I'm confusing story goal with internal …

Is this Gothic fiction? 
Question: I never really put any label on my stories because I just write them for fun, but a friend of mine said he could have sworn they counted as …

Is the Epic Sci-Fi Adventure genre dead, or Is There Still Room For It in Today's World? 
Question: I am a writer with big dreams of writing an EPIC storyline. A storyline that dares to go so far as to create a new universe that runs parallel …

Concerning Suspension of Disbelief in Steam / Dieselpunk 
Question: The manuscript I'm writing is a blend of certain tropes from Low Fantasy, Diesel and Steam punks and oddly enough, SciFi. It essentially concerns …

About this genre... 
Question: OK, I'll just say it: Erotica. There, now that we got that out of the way... I just really would like an actual writer/author's explanation …

Sorry, but I MUST ask... 
Question: OK, my favorite genres to write in are mostly fantasy and occasionally steam/dieselpunk, but what I really like to do in those genres (or any …

One freakish crossover... 
Question: OK, I have this idea for a novel that I really want to do, but I really want your opinion on whether or not it's likely to work. I know in …

Humorous Fiction Question 
Hi, I am in the very beginning phases of writing. I have no real writing experience or really even know what I am doing for that matter. It has been …

Where Does Post Apocalyptic Fit In?  
Question: Where does the Post Apocalyptic genre fit in? Is it a sub genre? Is it Fantasy, Sci-Fi, or Historical-in-Reverse? Any books on writing that …

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Genre S.O.S. 
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 …

How to stress my point 
Question: OK, so my story is somewhere between fantasy and sci-fi. I find it pretty close to steampunk myself. Anyway, several elements of the culture …

The Fine Details Of Culture 
Question: For fictional races or people, making a culture to go with them is a must, but I feel like I'm missing some things and I just can't name them! …

A New Race 
Question: For my high fantasy, I want to create a world populated ENTIRELY by my own races, but I want them to be (for lack of a better word to use in …

Epics 
Question: I'm a life-long high-fantasy fan, but instead of being all about novels, my dream is to write my own epic. Not just "epic" as in really cool, …

Women's Fiction 
Question: Women's fiction is a broad audience term, but I was wondering if it is dictated by heroine's age (and vice versa)? For instance, Young Adult …

What exactly makes a "gay novel"? 
Question: I'm curious... I've heard of "gay literature" as its own genre. I'm seriously curious of what qualifies a novel to become a gay novel. I like …

Why always "off-screen"? 
Question: First things first, your site is awesome! As a novice writer, it's been a priceless resource for me. Anyway, I love writing fantasy mostly, …

Sexuality in High Fantasy 
Question: I am a die-hard fan of high fantasy, and would love to make a career of it. But more than modern pop-culture fantasy (orcs, elves, etc.), I …

Lengthy Sci-fi novel.  
Question: I finished writing my first book and reviewed and edited my draft around the 7th time now (lol lost count I guess). I verified the guidelines …

including research in a non- fiction book 
Question: How do I include research into my book. My book includes case studies. Do I add it the the bottom of the case study, if it is applicable, …

Writing A Fantasy Novel How To Avoid Writer's Block In This Genre 
Hello..... I am a 20 year old wannabe author...... I have written a few short stories.... on different types of genres... but now I want to have a …

What if it includes gay characters? 
Question: What if it has gay characters? Answer: If the story is written to appeal to a gay audience, then you would use gay or LGBT as just another …

re: Stuck Between Two Stones: Fiction or Nonfiction? 
Hello Glen- first, let me give you a bow and hats off on such an outstanding website. Truly it's a writer's very own cloud in heaven! Well, I am finally …

Medieval/Fantasy Setting 
Question: I'm a 16-year-old who has an interest in writing. So I'm already planning for this novel, in which a centaur is the hero/heroine and the clan …

How much sex is too much? 
Question: If I never go into specifics...how much description is too much for my book to stay young adult, as far as sexual encounters go? Answer: …

How to write a semi-autobiographical story about perseverance, politics, self-reflection and metaphysics? 
Question: I know the question is kinda vague,sorry. I guess what i want to know is how to find a story goal that can carry the average reader(and anchor …

Nonfiction Help 
Question: I've always been interested in the way that we are all influenced by the expectations of society on us. I have been brainstorming and writing …

Space Opera 
Question: ok i guess this would fall under a sci-fi/action genre. i did a prompt in my college writing class about space pirates and was not having my …

Can you write a topic that's YA but not teenager-y? 
Question I'm writing a story, and I want it to be directed towards generally teenager age readers, but I am terrified of it being put in the same class …

Finding a story goal in a parody novel. 
Question: I absolutely love humor and recently found the inspiration to write a novel-length parody on the adventure and fantasy genres. I've worked …

Novel problem: how to explain superpowers 
Question: First of all, I would just like to thank you for all the tips and information put up on this site-it has truly helped me better organize and …

Children's Animal Stories 
Question: I hope you can give some advice. I would like to write a fictional children's book about animals and perhaps publish it online on my website …