Writing Lessons & Advice: Literary Genres
Key ingredients of a typical story are setting, characters, plot, and theme. A story’s plot can have unique qualities that ultimately define a story (further details in this lesson). In the same way, many of the other ingredients in a story help define its genre, or its category within the world of literature. Here are several common literary genres and what gives them the distinction:
Fiction- depicts imagined characters, settings, or events either partially or entirely.
Non-fiction- depicts real, existing facts, events, people, etc. Typically, journalistic, academic, or researched.
Action/Adventure- entails aspects of high-stakes, high-energy, fast-paced events, occasionally mystery or suspense, or presents danger or excitement. Typical characters may be superheroes, spies, pirates, fantastical beings, or others associated with the phenomenon.
Children’s- a broad grouping of any material intended for youth; often intended to entertain or instruct; the language or content in particular may be short or simplistic for young, developing readers and may also include illustrations. Fairy tales have a tradition as children’s literature.
Comedy- entails fun, fancy, and excitement; meant to entertain or even cause laughter; often ends on a positive note. May spoof, parodize, or satire, or look like a sitcom, rom-com, slapstick, or dark comedy.
Coming-of-age- also known as Bildungsroman; often character-focused with respect to personal growth and/or change.
Crime/mystery- centers on crime and/or investigations. Central characters may be law enforcement, investigators, specialists, victims or others involved with solving mysteries or in the justice system. Crime/mystery may overlap with action/adventure.
Historical fiction- intertwines history and the imagined. Examples: The Jack-and-Rose relationship in the Titanic film is a made-up love story set against the real early twentieth century maritime disaster. While the novel, “Dear George, Dear Mary'' by Mary Calvi, fictionalizes a love story between two real people: George Washington and New York City heiress, Mary Eliza Philipse. Also, The American Girl book series sets fictional characters in various points of U.S. history— Kirsten lived in the 1850’s; Samantha in the early 1900’s, Felicity in the 1770’s, and many more. A historical overview of the time period follows the main story in these series.
Horror- intends to disturb, frighten, or scare; generally focuses on themes of death, demons, evil spirits, and the afterlife.
Romance- gives primary focus to a love story between two people, often has a satisfying and optimistic ending.
Science fiction- includes imagined elements of natural or social sciences; time travel, space exploration, and the futuristic are common in this genre.
Speculative fiction- diverges from realism or merely imitates the ordinary. May also include supernatural, utopian, dystopian, futuristic, fantasy, or horror stories or elements.
Just like the plotlines, genre classifications do not have strict cookie-cutter criteria. What’s a time travel or space travel story without some action, adventure, or even mystery? Children often love superheroes, pirates, and fantastical things too. Again, this lesson just skims the surface on common genres, so I recommend delving into the source material or further researching your favorite to read/write or any of interest to you.
Hope this helps you better understand what makes certain stories! Check out the story elements and plot lesson if you haven’t already for more elements to consider!
If there’s a topic you want me to cover in the future, you’re welcome to reach out to me on the web chat features or socials!
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