There are different categories of fiction, and each of them has its subgenres. Here are the types of fiction and its definition.
Speculative Fiction
Speculative fiction is a wide genre of fiction that encompasses genres that include aspects that do not exist in reality, recorded history, nature, or the current world. Instead, this kind of literature explores various topics within the supernatural, futuristic, and other creative worlds. This overarching category encompasses multiple genres, including science-fiction, fantasy, horror, superhero fiction, alternative history, utopian and dystopian literature, and supernatural fiction, as well as hybrids thereof.
1. Alternate History
Concentrates on historical events as if they occurred differently, as well as their ramifications in the present.
2. Apocalyptic
It occurs before and during a major global catastrophe, usually a climatic or pandemic natural calamity on an unprecedented scale or a nuclear holocaust.
3. Dystopian
It takes place in a severely despotic society that is often afflicted by tight control, brutality, disorder, indoctrination, and other unpleasant aspects.
4. Fantasy
Fantasy is a subgenre of literature in which magic or other supernatural aspects play a significant role in the narrative, subject, or location. Numerous works in the genre are set in fantastical realms filled with magic and magical creatures. Fantasy is usually differentiated from science fiction and horror by the absence of scientific and macabre themes. Still, there is much overlap between the three, which are all subgenres of speculative literature. Frequently, fantasy writings take place in a medieval environment.
It includes elements and entities derived from or inspired by folklore, such as legendary creatures (dwarves, elves, dragons, and fairies), witchcraft, magic, and potions.
5. Horror
Focuses on frightening tales that inspire dread. Villains may be supernatural beings such as monsters, vampires, ghosts, demons, or ordinary individuals such as psychotic and brutal killers. Frequently involves violence and death.
6. Post-Apocalyptic
The story follows communities of survivors after major natural catastrophes on a global scale.
7. Science Fiction
Features technology and other aspects that do not exist in the real world but are believed to be developed or found in the future due to scientific progress, such as sophisticated robots, interplanetary travel, aliens, space travel, mutants, and cyborgs. Numerous science fiction tales are set in the future.
8. Superhero
The series focuses on superheroes (heroes endowed with exceptional skills or powers) and their conflict with sinister forces such as supervillains. Usually has aspects of science fiction or fantasy and may be considered a subgenre of those genres.
9. Supernatural
It draws on horror and fantasy elements; it exploits or necessitates inconsistencies in the everyday natural world and materialist beliefs about it as story devices or concepts.
10. Utopian
It takes place in a frequently portrayed civilization as sophisticated, joyful, clever, or even flawless or problem-free.
Genre Fiction
Genre fiction, sometimes referred to as popular fiction, is a phrase used in the book trade to refer to fictional works created with the intention of fitting within a particular literary genre designed to cater to readers and fans familiar with that genre.
1. Crime
A literary genre in which crimes, their detection, offenders, and their motivations are fictionalized. The genre is defined by suspense and mystery. It is often differentiated from mainstream literature and other genres such as historical fiction or science fiction, although the distinctions are imprecise. Numerous subgenres exist within crime fiction, including detective fiction (as in whodunit), courtroom drama, hard-boiled fiction, mystery fiction, and legal thrillers.
2. Historical Fiction
Historical fiction is a subgenre of literature in which the action takes place in a historical context. While the word is often used interchangeably with the historical book, it may also refer to other forms of storytelling, such as theater, opera, film, television, video games, and graphic novels.
A necessary component of historical fiction is that it takes place in the past and pays close regard to the customs, social circumstances, and other aspects of the era portrayed. Additionally, authors often examine significant historical personalities in various locations, enabling readers to get a deeper understanding of how these individuals may have reacted to their surroundings. Finally, specific subgenres, such as alternative history and historical fantasy, infuse a book with theoretical or historical aspects.
3. Horror
Horror literature is written with the intention of frightening or disgusting its readers. While many horror books include supernatural elements or creatures, this is not a must. Romanticism and Gothic literature heavily influenced early horror. Contemporary horror, such as cosmic horror and splatterpunk, is often more graphic and less theatrical. Horror is often intermingled with other genres.
4. Romance
The romance book, or “romantic novel,” is mainly concerned with the connection and romantic love between two individuals and must conclude with an “emotionally gratifying and hopeful resolution.”
5. Western
Western fiction is a subgenre of literature set mainly in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in the Western United States dubbed the “Old West.” Its tales often concentrate around the life of a nomadic cowboy or gunfighter who rides a horse; they carry a pistol and/or a rifle.
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Allegory
An
allegory is a story that can be interpreted at two levels: the
primary, literal level and the secondary, symbolic level. An allegory
has a complete system of
equivalents: characters, action and often
the setting not only make sense in themselves but also represent a
second order of persons, things, concepts, or events. Allegorical
literature is distinctly different from symbolic literature. Symbols
are open-ended: they evoke a wealth of associations in the reader
which enrich his reading of the text. Allegory is not open-ended: the
symbolic meaning of the elements is well-defined. Once the
correlation between elements has been established the secondary
meaning of the text becomes immediately apparent. Most allegorical
works have religious, political or social themes. One of the
best-known allegories in English literature is George Orwell’s Animal
Farm
which draws parallels between events on a pig farm in Britain and
events in revolutionary and post-revolutionary Russia.
Anti-novel
An
anti-novel is a work which opposes, parodies or in some way
undermines the form and content of the traditional novel. Anti-novels
appear to be ordinary
novels but through the distortion or
omission of traditional elements they challenge the expectations
created in the reader by conventional novels. Laurence Sterne is
generally regarded as the father of the English anti-novel. The plot
of his masterpiece Tristram
Shandy (1760)
contains such unconventional elements as unfinished sentences, blank
pages, pages containing
just one word, and idiosyncratic syntax.
Sterne seems to suggest that the orderly chronological narration of
events which could be found in traditional novels did
not reflect
the perception of time and space which exists in the human mind.
Tristram
Shandy
is the first of many anti-novels which have as their subject
the
novel itself, and which explore the limitations of this
literary form in conveying human experience.
Bildungsroman
or initiation novel
Bildungsroman
is a German term which means ‘novel of formation or education’. The
common subject of these novels is the development of the
protagoinst’s mind as he grows from childhood to adulthood and
maturity. The first example of this type of fiction is the German
writer Goethe’s Wilhem
Meister’s Apprenticeship (1795-1796).
It tells the story of an innocent well-meaning but often foolish
young man who sets out in life unsure of what he wants from his
future. Having made many mistakes and with the help of some good
friends he finally reaches maturity and understands the direction he
must take in his life. In English literature the form has always been
popular and it has been exploited by noted writers such as Charles
Dickens (David
Copperfield
and Great
Expectations),
D.H. Lawrence (Sons
and Lovers)
and James Joyce in Portrait
of an Artist as a Young Man.
Epistolary
novel
The
story in an epistolary novel is told entirely by the exchange of
letters. The first example in English of the epistolary novel was a
translation of a French work, Letters
of a Portuguese Nun,
in 1678. It was, however,
Samuel Richardson who truly established
the form with his highly successful novels Pamela,
or Virtue Rewarded
(1741) and Clarissa
(1748). The epistolary
novel flourished in English literature from
1740 to 1800. Later writers, such as Jane Austen, incorporated
letters into their narrative but pure epistolary novels
rarely
appeared after the seventeenth century.
Gothic
novel
The
Gothic novel became popular in the late eighteenth and early
nineteenth century. They included elements which were wild, barbaric
or horrific (the term Gothic had come to mean ‘wild’), and generally
represent a reaction against the calm rationalism of the
neoclassicism of the early and mid-
eighteenth century. The action
in Gothic novels usually took place in the past, particularly the
Middle Ages and in the Catholic countries of southern Europe.
The
plot was built on suspense and mystery and often involved
supernatural elements. The atmosphere was one of apprehension and
claustrophobia. The first
important experiment in this genre was
Horace Walpole’s The
Castle ofOtranto
(1764) which tells the tale of a family curse. The influence of the
Gothic novel can be seen in the Romantic poetry of Coleridge and
Keats, the Romantic fiction of Mary Shelley and the Bronte sisters,
the short stories of Edgar Allan Poe
and the work of more recent
writers such as Iris Murdoch, John Fowles, Angela Carter and Toni
Morrison.
Historical
novel
The
historical novel draws on history for its setting and some of its
characters and events. It became popular in the late eighteenth
century and early nineteenth
century when it was associated with
the rise of nationalism, as much historical fiction of the period
created or glorified the national myths and legends.
Walter Scott
is widely considered to be the greatest historical novelist in
English literature. Between 1814 and 1832 he wrote twenty-five novels
which were hugely successful in Britain, on the Continent and in
America. His attention to detail in developing the historical milieu
was an inspiration to all writers of this
genre. For most of the
Victorian period the historical novel was considered the most
respected of literary forms and distinguished writers such as
Charles
Dickens and R.L. Stevenson explored its possibilities. In
the twentieth century the genre has often been exploited to tell
adventure stories for men and
passionate love stories for a
predominantly female readership. Barbara Cartland in 600 highly
successful novels set torrid love stories in historical contexts.
This
popular form of the historical novel is often of little
literary value and has done little to enhance the status of this
literary form.
Modernist
novel
Modernism
is a literary movement which began in the latter part of the
nineteenth century and continued until the beginning of the Second
World War. The Modernist novel is often non-chronological with
experimentation in the representation of time. Instead of plot there
is an emphasis on characters’ consciousness, subconsciousness, memory
and perception. The ideas of the philosopher Henri Bergson and the
psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud became points of reference. The
techniques of free indirect style and stream of consciousness were
widely used. Instead of offering solutions these novels often pose
questions. Henry James was a forerunner of this movement in
English
literature, while James Joyce and Virginia Woolf are two
of its greatest exponents.
Picaresque
novel
The
picaresque novel evolved from the sixteenth-century Spanish tradition
of picaresque narratives. ‘Picaro’ is the Spanish for ‘rogue’ or
‘vagabond’ and the
narratives told of the adventures of the
‘picaro’ who travelled extensively and lived by his wits. The picaro
was generally portrayed as a minor delinquent, anti-social but
likeable. He was generally a static character who showed little
change in the course of the story. There was little in the way of
plot, the story was made up of a series of episodes which were held
together because they happened to one person. The influence of the
picaresque tradition is clear in the earliest examples of English
novels. Daniel Defoe’s Robinson
Crusoe shows
many picaresque elements. Although the main character is a
law-abiding man, he is forced to live by his wits and is the
protagonist of many adventures. The episodic nature of the story also
recalls the picaresque tradition. Later writers such as Fielding and
Dickens also wrote picaresque novels while Mark Twain’s The
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
is perhaps one of the greatest examples of this literary form. In
recent times the term ‘picaresque’ has been used in a broader sense
to describe any character who is at odds with society.
Regional
novel
The
regional novel is set in a specific geographical region. The setting
is not used simply as a backdrop to the action, but the writer tries
to indicate how the
particular locality affects the personalities
of the characters and their way of thinking and acting. Thomas Hardy
novels Tess
of the D’Urbervilles
and Jude
the
Oscure,
set in the West Country of Britain which Hardy calls ‘Wessex’, are
perhaps the most acclaimed examples of this literary form.
Satire
Satire
is the art of ridiculing a subject through laughter or scorn. Satire
may be directed at an individual, or a type of person, a social
class, an institution, a political ideology, a nation or even the
entire human race. Satirists try to diminish their subject by evoking
amusement, contempt or indignation towards it. Laughter is often a
weapon used by satirists but not all satire is comic: George Orwell’s
Animal
Farm
has humorous elements but his other satirical work, Nineteen
Eighty-Four,
evokes little laughter in the reader. Although satire is often
directed at individuals, satirists claim that they target the failing
and not the human being. By attacking a particular vice they hope to
contribute to its elimination. Satire may be the governing principle
of a work, and elements of satire may be found in various other
literary forms: it exists in both prose and poetic form.
Satire
has been written in every period since the Middle Ages but the golden
age of satire is generally considered to be the century and a half
after the Restoration (1660) when Swift, Pope, Addison, Fielding and
Goldsmith produced some of the finest satirical work in the English
language.
Science
fiction
Science
fiction refers to stories that are set in the future or in which a
contemporary setting has been altered, for example by a new
invention, or by invasion of alien beings. French writer Jules Verne
is the recognised ‘father’ of science fiction, with his novel A
Journey
to the Centre of the Earth
(1864). In
England, one of the first representatives of the genre
was H.G. Wells who wrote and The
War of the Worlds
(1898).
Short
story
Edgar
Allan Poe, who is generally recognised as the father of the short
story, defined it as a ‘prose tale’ which can be read in less than
two hours and which is
limited to ‘a single effect’. Poe’s
definition emphasizes the fact that the short story writer is
restricted by the length of his work and therefore must focus
his
attention and make rigorous choices. Short stories generally
follow a standard arrangement of phases. The following terms are used
to refer to the various stages of development:
• exposition:
background information is provided;
• conflict
or
complication:
the characters have to face a problem. The problem may be conflict
with another character or characters, or it may be created by
a
non-human force such as illness, unemployment or death;
• climax:
the point of highest tension in the conflict;
• resolution:
the conflict is resolved.
Short
story writers often begin their work close to or even at the point of
climax, limiting the background details and explanation of the
conflict to a minimum.
Other writers end their stories at the
climax dedicating just a few lines to the resolution. Others still do
not follow exposition-conflict-climax-resolution paradigm, preferring
to explore other possibilities offered by this short fiction form.
Utopian
and dystopian novel
The
term ‘Utopia’ derives from the Greek words ‘outopia’ (no place) and
‘eutopia’ (good place) and is used to refer to literature which
describes a better world
or way of living. Sir Thomas More’s great
Renaissance work called Utopia
(1516), which depicts an ideal but non-existent society and political
system, is one of the earliest example of this literary form in the
history of English literature. Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s
Travels (1726),
in which mankind and society are satirised, can also be said to have
a Utopian theme. In more recent
times the term dystopia (bad
place) has been used to describe fiction which depicts an imaginary
world where the negative aspects of our world have been
carried to
unpleasant extremes. Examples of this type of fiction can be found in
Aldous Huxley’s Brave
New World
(1932) and George Orwell’s Nineteen
Eighty-Four (1949).
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Being a reader, I was always curious about reading the different types of stories. I would never miss a chance to try on different types of genres of literature and believe me, this habit adds on to the reading pleasures.
Like, you cannot eat potato fries forever, in the same way, you cannot read a similar genre of books for eternity. You got to try out on various types of genres in books.
Here is a brief etymology of the word, Genre.
The word genre is derived from the French language which means ‘a kind’.
Definition of Genre in Literature – Literary genres are termed as the classification of literary compositions such as non-fiction, fiction, and poetry. Genres are categorized on the basis of literary technique, tone, content, or even length.
The different genres of literature not only bring diversity to your reading habits but also takes you to a whole new world when you read them.
With such a variety of literary genres, you could know the creative art of writing. Furthermore, every time you let yourself dive into the different story genres you expose yourself to live many different lives.
Types of Genres Of Literature
There are different types of genres in literature which is mainly classified in two; Fiction and Non-Fiction.
Let’s spread the knowledge and share this infographic with your book lover friends!
Genres of Fiction
First of all, we will discuss ‘what is fiction?’.
Fiction is a genre of literature which is broadly referred to the piece of writing derived from the imagination of the author. It is not related to history or facts and is purely a work of story building and creative writing.
In this list of genres, we will be learning several types of fiction book genres.
1. Fantasy
Fantasy is a sub-genre of fiction category. It is mainly the work of the author’s creativity forming mental images in the reader’s mind.
In this type of writing genre, the description of the story setting and the fictional characters are vivid which beautifully ceases the reality.
These are the books which will describe the examples of the genre – The Lords of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S Lewis and many others.
2. Fable
Have you ever read a book where animals understand and speak human language?
Those books fall under the category of one of the literary genres, known as Fable.
This genre is about writing the supernatural or extraordinary powers vested in some legendary character. The narration of this type of genre is usually demonstrated with some truth.
Some of the examples of this genre; The Tortoise and The Hare by Aesop, Animal Farm by George Orwell, Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, etc.
3. Mystery
This genre deals with some suspense and crime which is disclosed at the end of the story. You will always find a bunch of suspects around the crime scene and one detective in the quest of the truth in this genre.
Genres like Crime Thriller and Suspense Thriller are included in the mystery genre of literature.
Agatha Christie is one of the popular and most acclaimed authors of the mystery genre who had written some classic mystery novels.
Other examples of this book genre are Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, The Cuckoo’s Calling by J.K Rowling, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, etc.
4. Humor
To me, humor is one of the toughest genres to use in the writings because to make someone laugh is not an easy job.
In this type of genre, the content written is light, fancy, comical, and exciting. As a result of which, this genre of literature is the most entertaining of all genres.
This book genre can be used in all the other genres.
Example; The Inscrutable Americans by Anurag Mathur, A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, etc.
5. Horror
I would recommend you to read this genre of books in a properly lit room and only in the daylight. Do not forget to check if there is someone under your bed.
Any fictional story which deals with the spine thrilling storytelling is termed as the Horror genre. It gives an overwhelming feeling of pain and shock with its description.
The ‘King of Horror’ Stephen King has written a long list of horror books like It, The Stand, The Dark Tower and 56 other books of the same genre.
6. Science-Fiction
Sci-Fi always fascinates me as a reader because this literary genre reminds me of a fact that science can be a boon as well as bane for the humankind.
This reading genre is a type of modern fantasy. It is written on the potentials of the scientific researches or inventions which can be either actual or imagined by the author.
This genre of writing books into scientific facts and pose some ethical questions regarding current and scientific trends and predictions.
Some of the famous books of the science fiction genre; Never Let me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro which is also one of the best books to read, A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller, a post-apocalypse book and the list goes on.
7. History
This narrative genre takes you back to the earlier times when the event originally happened and the great story is unfolded.
In the history genre, one cannot add up the things based on their imaginations rather, one needs to be well-versed with the knowledge of historical events. There are accurate facts and details related to the story while writing this book genre.
Epics, Mythology, and Folklores are also included in the history genre of books.
Few of the examples of the genre; Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly, Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, The Immortal Life of Henrietta by Rebecca Skloot, etc.
Genres of Non-Fiction
Starting from basics, let me first answer you the query of ‘What is Non-Fiction?’.
Non-Fiction is opposite of fiction genre. Unlike Fiction, there is no imagination inserted in the text. It can also be said as the ‘informational’ material with the facts and pieces of information presented accurately in this writing genre.
Now let’s learn about the nonfiction genres.
1. Biography / Autobiography
I personally like reading biography books as it gives the account of some of the inspirational people and there is so much to learn from them. While Autobiography books are written by oneself about their own life experiences.
This book genre is a literary composition about some influential person’s life journey written by somebody.
Some of the biography books; Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, The Everything Store by Brad Ston, The Man Who Knew Infinity by Robert Kanigel and many others.
2. Essays
The short literary composition by the author to present his/her opinion or point of view to the public.
Sometimes authors compile the written essay in the book, for example, India Positive by Chetan Bhagat who had recently launched this nonfiction book genre.
Other examples of the genre; A room of one’s own by Virginia Woolf, A Collection of Essays by George Orwell, etc.
3. Narrative
Narratives are written in the form of the report of the connected event in either spoken or written form. The narrative can be a tragedy, comedy, romance or satire and in any literary form.
It can be real or imaginary and can be enacted also.
The famous narratives; 1984 by George Orwell, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, etc.
4. Speech
Speech is the form of oral communication by the participants in the various areas of human activity. In this genre of literature, the author can put his views as well as quote someone if needed.
After learning about the type of genres in literature, you should also know about one of the essential knowledge of literature; Types of Literary Forms.
So, literary forms are like the heart-shaped pan in which you would make that pie and the genre is the batter for the pie. You need to be specific with the size and shape of your pan and according to which you will add your ingredients of the pie.
Literary forms are the structure you would give to your piece of writing. They are the ones which decide the framework and how the content will be organized in the structure.
You need to select the literary form first and then the genre of your piece of writing.
Here are the types of literary forms:
- Novel – Fiction and Non-Fiction
- Poetry
- Prose
- Drama
Final Words
There is nothing wrong in being loyal to your favorite genre. But reading the same genre on a loop is like drawing a boundary for your reading world.
Maybe you are missing on the fun of reading the great books or maybe you might like books of other book genres more interesting. You would never know this until and unless you start reading the different types of genres.
Furthermore, the perks of reading the different types of genres in books didn’t end here. If you read this aforementioned list of genres then, you will be smarter, less judgemental, and also will improve your writing.
Take an extra step in your reading habit and pick up a new genre book.
Tell us what genre will you dare to pick after reading this list of book genres.
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One of the first things a new writer needs to fully understand is the difference between Fiction and Non-Fiction Literature.
So, what is Fiction in Literature? The definition or meaning of Fiction in literature refers to a type of literary work that is made up or false, created from imagination, and not meant to depict truth or true events. Literature can either be Fiction, created or fabricated by the author, or Non-fiction which is prose based on real events, people, or facts.
Click here to earn more about the Meaning of Non-Fiction. (Add a link to the similar article for nonfiction)
In this article, we will take a deeper look at fiction in literature.
Where Does the Word Fiction Come From
When we look at the genesis of the word fiction it becomes clear that this class of literature is meant to describe stories of imagination and not those routed completely in fact.
The root of the word fiction can be traced back to 13 century Latin. The Latin word fictionem (nominative fictio) which meant “a fashioning or feigning,” noun of action from the past participle stem of fingere. Fingere meant “to shape, form, devise, or feign.” Originally used when referring to kneading a form out of clay.
This led the way to the 15 century., ficcioun, “that which is invented or imagined in the mind,” from Old French ficcion a“dissimulation, ruse; invention, fabrication.”
In the 1590s it began to mean a “prose works (not dramatic) of the imagination” that often included plays and poems.
A narrower sense of definition began in the early 19 Century, referring to “the part of literature comprising novels and short stories based on imagined scenes or characters”
The Different Formats of Fiction
Fiction can come in many different formats, these include:
- novels
- Novellas
- short stories
- fables
- legends
- myths
- fairy tales
- epic and narrative poetry
- plays (including operas, musicals, dramas, puppet plays, and various kinds of theatrical dances)
- comic books
- animated cartoons
- stop motions
- anime
- manga
- films
- video games
- radio programs
- television shows
Let’s define the most common written forms of fiction on the list so we are all on the same page with what these different literature fiction formats are.
Novels: A fictitious prose narrative of book length, usually defined at 50,000 words or more.
Short Stories: A work that is at least 2,000 words and usually under 7,500 words, however, there is no hard line between short story and novella length.
Novella: A fiction Novella is thought to be between 7,500 and 50,000 words.
What Are the Elements of Fiction
There are basic elements of fiction that you have at your disposal when writing your story. These elements are all essential in creating your story.
The main elements of Fiction are:
- Character
- Plot
- Point of View
- Setting
- Theme
- Style
Character:
If you ask me, Character is the most important element of fiction in any story. Every other element revolves around the character. The Characters are your reader’s conduit into the story they are about to embark on. As events in the plot happen, they take on meaning by how they affect your characters.
The point of view by which the story or events are seen is a direct reflection of your character. In order to make your story compelling, you need to have realistic characters. I know this may seem odd since we are talking about fiction, however, it is really important that you remember, while the events of the story are fictitious, the way your character reacts to these events must feel real and believable to have an impact.
Your characters should also have a character arc within your story, meaning they should change and grow throughout the book. Flat characters that are the same at the beginning as they are at the end of the story, will leave your readers feeling empty and unsatisfied.
Make sure you know your characters, their motivations, psychology, desires, and fears. This is crucial to creating entertaining and engaging characters.
Plot:
Plot refers to the serious of events that occur in your story. This is usually what creates the initial hook for your readers. The plot is essential to any work of fiction. It can usually be broken up into 5 basic sections of your story.
- Exposition or introduction– establishes your character and setting. This can also be thought of as the status quo of the world as your reader is entering it.
- Rising Action– This is where the conflict of the plot is revealed and the stakes are raised for your character.
- Climax- This is the make-or-break moment in your story, where the tension is at it’s highest point along with the stakes for your character. This is also known as the turning point.
- Falling Action – Where your story is starting to wind down and active resolution is taking place.
- Resolution- During the resolution, every loose end has been tied up and the reader feels fulfilled that their questions have been answered.
Point of View:
Point of view will determine whose eyes the readers experience the story through. It will determine how much they will know about each character and the events that have occurred. Pick your point of view carefully and make sure you stay consistent throughout the story.
Setting:
The setting is the physical location where the story occurs. It can be real or made up. The setting is important because it can become as important or apparent as a character. It is the world in which your characters live will greatly affect how they act what they do.
Theme:
The theme is really important and every author should know their theme. Themes are what your story is really about and not explicitly stated in your story. The plot is what outwardly occurs, while you can think about the theme as commentary you as the author is making without expressly saying it.
Style:
You can think of style as your voice. It is made up of your tone, syntax, and word choice. Your style can be powerful and a drawing factor for your readers. There are no shortcuts for style, it will develop and change as you continue to write.
Considering the style of your fiction before your write is a great first step in improving it and helping it take shape throughout.
What is the Difference Between Literary Fiction and Genre Fiction
Literary Fiction
The definition of literary fiction has been a topic of debate by many authors, however, it is generally thought of as fiction that has literary merit. This is in comparison to genre fiction which is thought to be more commercial.
Literary fiction usually includes one or more of the following characteristics:
- includes a deep reflection on the human condition, or political criticism or social commentary.
- focus on an introspective character study of complex and fully developed characters whose inner stories drive the plot more than events
- such a strong character-centric story that at times literary fiction has been criticised as finely written and deconstructed characters who done nothing beautifully.
- pacing is sometimes slower than genre fiction, as it allows itself to dawdle for the sake of the art
- literary fiction prides itself on the style and complexity of the writing, expressed by the elegance of its layered and lyrical writing.
Genre Fiction
Genre fiction is also known as popular fiction and considered separate from literary fiction. It is written specifically to fit into a pre-established plot-driven literary genre. The benefit of genre fiction is that you are writing to appeal to the fans and readers already familiar with that genre, which makes it easier to find your potential readers.
It’s important to remember that some writing is considered both literary and genre fiction.
Different Genres in Fiction
There are many different types of Fiction Genres, as they continuously change with the culture. As you can imagine new genres are always being created.
Read our article on picking the right genre to write in.
Now let’s take a look at the different types of fiction genres and sub-genres.
Juvenile Fiction
Juvenile fiction is meant for children 0-11 years of age or preschool to 6th grade.
- JUV000000 JUVENILE FICTION / General
- JUV001000 JUVENILE FICTION / Action & Adventure / General
- JUV001020 JUVENILE FICTION / Action & Adventure / Pirates
- JUV001010 JUVENILE FICTION / Action & Adventure / Survival Stories
- JUV054000 JUVENILE FICTION / Activity Books
- JUV002000 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / General
- JUV002010 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Alligators & Crocodiles
- JUV002020 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Apes, Monkeys, etc.
- JUV002370 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Baby Animals
- JUV002030 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Bears
- JUV002040 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Birds
- JUV002300 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Butterflies, Moths & Caterpillars
- JUV002050 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Cats
- JUV002310 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Cows
- JUV002290 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Deer, Moose & Caribou
- JUV002060 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures
- JUV002070 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Dogs
- JUV002270 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Dragons, Unicorns & Mythical
- JUV002280 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Ducks, Geese, etc.
- JUV002080 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Elephants
- JUV002090 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Farm Animals
- JUV002100 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Fishes
- JUV002110 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Foxes
- JUV002120 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Frogs & Toads
- JUV002320 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Giraffes
- JUV002330 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Hippos & Rhinos
- JUV002130 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Horses
- JUV002140 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Insects, Spiders, etc.
- JUV002340 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Jungle Animals
- JUV002350 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Kangaroos
- JUV002150 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Lions, Tigers, Leopards, etc.
- JUV002160 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Mammals
- JUV002170 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Marine Life
- JUV002180 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Mice, Hamsters, Guinea Pigs, etc.
- JUV002360 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Nocturnal
- JUV002190 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Pets
- JUV002200 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Pigs
- JUV002210 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Rabbits
- JUV002220 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Reptiles & Amphibians
- JUV002230 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Squirrels
- JUV002240 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Turtles
- JUV002250 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Wolves & Coyotes
- JUV002260 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Zoos
- JUV003000 JUVENILE FICTION / Art & Architecture
- JUV010000 JUVENILE FICTION / Bedtime & Dreams
- JUV004000 JUVENILE FICTION / Biographical / General
- JUV004050 JUVENILE FICTION / Biographical / Africa
- JUV004060 JUVENILE FICTION / Biographical / Asia
- JUV004040 JUVENILE FICTION / Biographical / Canada
- JUV004010 JUVENILE FICTION / Biographical / Europe
- JUV004070 JUVENILE FICTION / Biographical / Latin America
- JUV004020 JUVENILE FICTION / Biographical / United States
- JUV047000 JUVENILE FICTION / Books & Libraries
- JUV005000 JUVENILE FICTION / Boys & Men
- JUV006000 JUVENILE FICTION / Business, Careers, Occupations
- JUVENILE FICTION / Celebrations see headings under Holidays & Celebrations
- JUVENILE FICTION / Circus see Performing Arts / Circus
- JUVENILE FICTION / City Life see Lifestyles / City & Town Life
- JUV007000 JUVENILE FICTION / Classics
- JUV048000 JUVENILE FICTION / Clothing & Dress
- JUV008000 JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / General
- JUV008040 JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Action & Adventure
- JUV008050 JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Animals
- JUV008060 JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Classic Adaptation
- JUV008070 JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Fairy Tales, Folklore, Legends & Mythology
- JUV008080 JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Fantasy
- JUV008090 JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Historical
- JUV008100 JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Horror
- JUV008110 JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Humorous
- JUV008010 JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Manga
- JUV008030 JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Media Tie-In
- JUV008120 JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Mystery & Detective
- JUV008130 JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Paranormal
- JUV008140 JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Science Fiction
- JUV008020 JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Superheroes
- JUV049000 JUVENILE FICTION / Computers & Digital Media
- JUV009000 JUVENILE FICTION / Concepts / General
- JUV009010 JUVENILE FICTION / Concepts / Alphabet
- JUV009120 JUVENILE FICTION / Concepts / Body
- JUV009020 JUVENILE FICTION / Concepts / Colors
- JUV009030 JUVENILE FICTION / Concepts / Counting & Numbers
- JUV009070 JUVENILE FICTION / Concepts / Date & Time
- JUV009090 JUVENILE FICTION / Concepts / Money
- JUV009040 JUVENILE FICTION / Concepts / Opposites
- JUV009100 JUVENILE FICTION / Concepts / Seasons
- JUV009050 JUVENILE FICTION / Concepts / Senses & Sensation
- JUV009060 JUVENILE FICTION / Concepts / Size & Shape
- JUV009110 JUVENILE FICTION / Concepts / Sounds
- JUV009080 JUVENILE FICTION / Concepts / Words
- JUV050000 JUVENILE FICTION / Cooking & Food
- JUVENILE FICTION / Country Life see Lifestyles / Country Life
- JUVENILE FICTION / Crime see Law & Crime
- JUVENILE FICTION / Detective Stories see Mysteries & Detective Stories
- JUVENILE FICTION / Dolls see Toys, Dolls & Puppets
- JUVENILE FICTION / Dreams see Bedtime & Dreams
- JUV059000 JUVENILE FICTION / Dystopian
- JUVENILE FICTION / Education see School & Education
- JUVENILE FICTION / Ethnic see headings under People & Places
- JUVENILE FICTION / Fables see headings under Legends, Myths, Fables
- JUV012030 JUVENILE FICTION / Fairy Tales & Folklore / General
- JUV012040 JUVENILE FICTION / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Adaptations
- JUV012000 JUVENILE FICTION / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Anthologies
- JUV012020 JUVENILE FICTION / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Country & Ethnic
- JUV013000 JUVENILE FICTION / Family / General (see also headings under Social Themes)
- JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Abuse see Social Themes / Physical & Emotional Abuse or Social Themes / Sexual Abuse
- JUV013010 JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Adoption
- JUV013090 JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Alternative Family
- JUV013080 JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Blended Families
- JUV013020 JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Marriage & Divorce
- JUV013030 JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Multigenerational
- JUV013040 JUVENILE FICTION / Family / New Baby
- JUV013050 JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Orphans & Foster Homes
- JUV013060 JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Parents
- JUV013070 JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Siblings
- JUV037000 JUVENILE FICTION / Fantasy & Magic
- JUVENILE FICTION / Farm Life see Lifestyles / Farm & Ranch Life
- JUVENILE FICTION / Folklore see headings under Fairy Tales & Folklore
- JUVENILE FICTION / Games see Sports & Recreation / Games
- JUV069000 JUVENILE FICTION / Ghost Stories
- JUV014000 JUVENILE FICTION / Girls & Women
- JUVENILE FICTION / Graphic Novels see headings under Comics & Graphic Novels
- JUV015000 JUVENILE FICTION / Health & Daily Living / General
- JUV015010 JUVENILE FICTION / Health & Daily Living / Daily Activities
- JUVENILE FICTION / Health & Daily Living / Depression & Mental Illness see Social Themes / Depression & Mental Illness
- JUV015020 JUVENILE FICTION / Health & Daily Living / Diseases, Illnesses & Injuries
- JUV039170 JUVENILE FICTION / Health & Daily Living / Toilet Training
- JUV016000 JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / General
- JUV016010 JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / Africa
- JUV016020 JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / Ancient Civilizations
- JUV016030 JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / Asia
- JUV016160 JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / Canada / General
- JUV016170 JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / Canada / Pre-Confederation (to 1867)
- JUV016180 JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / Canada / Post-Confederation (1867-)
- JUV016040 JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / Europe
- JUV016050 JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / Exploration & Discovery
- JUV016060 JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / Holocaust
- JUV016070 JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / Medieval
- JUV016210 JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / Middle East
- JUV016080 JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / Military & Wars
- JUV016090 JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / Prehistory
- JUV016100 JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / Renaissance
- JUV016110 JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / United States / General
- JUV016120 JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / United States / Colonial & Revolutionary Periods
- JUV016140 JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / United States / 19th Century
- JUV016200 JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877)
- JUV016150 JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / United States / 20th Century
- JUV016190 JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / United States / 21st Century
- JUV017000 JUVENILE FICTION / Holidays & Celebrations / General (see also Religious / Christian / Holidays & Celebrations)
- JUV017100 JUVENILE FICTION / Holidays & Celebrations / Birthdays
- JUV017010 JUVENILE FICTION / Holidays & Celebrations / Christmas & Advent
- JUV017020 JUVENILE FICTION / Holidays & Celebrations / Easter & Lent
- JUV017030 JUVENILE FICTION / Holidays & Celebrations / Halloween
- JUV017110 JUVENILE FICTION / Holidays & Celebrations / Hanukkah
- JUV017050 JUVENILE FICTION / Holidays & Celebrations / Kwanzaa
- JUV017120 JUVENILE FICTION / Holidays & Celebrations / Passover
- JUV017130 JUVENILE FICTION / Holidays & Celebrations / Patriotic Holidays
- JUV017060 JUVENILE FICTION / Holidays & Celebrations / Thanksgiving
- JUV017070 JUVENILE FICTION / Holidays & Celebrations / Valentine’s Day
- JUV017080 JUVENILE FICTION / Holidays & Celebrations / Other, Non-Religious
- JUV017090 JUVENILE FICTION / Holidays & Celebrations / Other, Religious
- JUV018000 JUVENILE FICTION / Horror
- JUV019000 JUVENILE FICTION / Humorous Stories
- JUV051000 JUVENILE FICTION / Imagination & Play
- JUV020000 JUVENILE FICTION / Interactive Adventures
- JUV021000 JUVENILE FICTION / Law & Crime
- JUV022000 JUVENILE FICTION / Legends, Myths, Fables / General
- JUV012050 JUVENILE FICTION / Legends, Myths, Fables / African
- JUV022010 JUVENILE FICTION / Legends, Myths, Fables / Arthurian
- JUV012060 JUVENILE FICTION / Legends, Myths, Fables / Asian
- JUV012070 JUVENILE FICTION / Legends, Myths, Fables / Caribbean & Latin American
- JUV022020 JUVENILE FICTION / Legends, Myths, Fables / Greek & Roman
- JUV012080 JUVENILE FICTION / Legends, Myths, Fables / Native American
- JUV022030 JUVENILE FICTION / Legends, Myths, Fables / Norse
- JUV060000 JUVENILE FICTION / LGBT
- JUV023000 JUVENILE FICTION / Lifestyles / City & Town Life
- JUV024000 JUVENILE FICTION / Lifestyles / Country Life
- JUV025000 JUVENILE FICTION / Lifestyles / Farm & Ranch Life
- JUV026000 JUVENILE FICTION / Love & Romance
- JUVENILE FICTION / Magic see Fantasy & Magic
- JUV072000 JUVENILE FICTION / Mathematics *
- JUV027000 JUVENILE FICTION / Media Tie-In
- JUVENILE FICTION / Medicine see headings under Health & Daily Living
- JUVENILE FICTION / Men see Boys & Men
- JUV066000 JUVENILE FICTION / Mermaids
- JUV052000 JUVENILE FICTION / Monsters
- JUVENILE FICTION / Music see Performing Arts / Music
- JUV028000 JUVENILE FICTION / Mysteries & Detective Stories
- JUVENILE FICTION / Myths see headings under Legends, Myths, Fables
- JUV029000 JUVENILE FICTION / Nature & the Natural World / General (see also headings under Animals)
- JUV029030 JUVENILE FICTION / Nature & the Natural World / Disasters *
- JUV029010 JUVENILE FICTION / Nature & the Natural World / Environment
- JUV029020 JUVENILE FICTION / Nature & the Natural World / Weather
- JUVENILE FICTION / Night see Bedtime & Dreams
- JUV055000 JUVENILE FICTION / Nursery Rhymes
- JUVENILE FICTION / Occupations see Business, Careers, Occupations
- JUV058000 JUVENILE FICTION / Paranormal, Occult & Supernatural
- JUV030000 JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / General
- JUV030010 JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / Africa
- JUV030020 JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / Asia
- JUV030080 JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / Australia & Oceania
- JUV030030 JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / Canada / General
- JUV030090 JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / Canada / Native Canadian
- JUV030040 JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / Caribbean & Latin America
- JUV030050 JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / Europe
- JUV030100 JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / Mexico
- JUV030110 JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / Middle East
- JUV030120 JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / Polar Regions
- JUV030060 JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / United States / General
- JUV011010 JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / United States / African American
- JUV011020 JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / United States / Asian American
- JUV011030 JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / United States / Hispanic & Latino
- JUV011040 JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / United States / Native American
- JUV031000 JUVENILE FICTION / Performing Arts / General
- JUV031010 JUVENILE FICTION / Performing Arts / Circus
- JUV031020 JUVENILE FICTION / Performing Arts / Dance
- JUV031030 JUVENILE FICTION / Performing Arts / Film
- JUV031040 JUVENILE FICTION / Performing Arts / Music
- JUV031050 JUVENILE FICTION / Performing Arts / Television & Radio
- JUV031060 JUVENILE FICTION / Performing Arts / Theater
- JUVENILE FICTION / Play see Imagination & Play
- JUV070000 JUVENILE FICTION / Poetry (see also Stories in Verse)
- JUV061000 JUVENILE FICTION / Politics & Government
- JUVENILE FICTION / Puppets see Toys, Dolls & Puppets
- JUV043000 JUVENILE FICTION / Readers / Beginner
- JUV044000 JUVENILE FICTION / Readers / Intermediate
- JUV045000 JUVENILE FICTION / Readers / Chapter Books
- JUVENILE FICTION / Recreation see headings under Sports & Recreation
- JUV063000 JUVENILE FICTION / Recycling & Green Living
- JUV033000 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / General
- JUV033250 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Buddhist
- JUV033010 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / General
- JUV033040 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Action & Adventure
- JUV033050 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Animals
- JUV033060 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Bedtime & Dreams
- JUV033070 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Comics & Graphic Novels
- JUV033080 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Early Readers
- JUV033090 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Emotions & Feelings
- JUV033100 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Family
- JUV033110 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Fantasy & Science Fiction
- JUV033120 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Friendship
- JUV033140 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Historical
- JUV033150 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Holidays & Celebrations
- JUV033160 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Humorous
- JUV033170 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Learning Concepts
- JUV033180 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Mysteries & Detective Stories
- JUV033190 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / People & Places
- JUV033200 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Relationships
- JUV033220 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Social Issues
- JUV033230 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Sports & Recreation
- JUV033240 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Values & Virtues
- JUV033260 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Hindu
- JUV033020 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Jewish
- JUV033270 JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Muslim
- JUV056000 JUVENILE FICTION / Robots
- JUVENILE FICTION / Romance see Love & Romance
- JUV034000 JUVENILE FICTION / Royalty
- JUV035000 JUVENILE FICTION / School & Education
- JUV036000 JUVENILE FICTION / Science & Technology
- JUV053000 JUVENILE FICTION / Science Fiction
- JUV038000 JUVENILE FICTION / Short Stories
- JUVENILE FICTION / Sleeping see Bedtime & Dreams
- JUV039000 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / General (see also headings under Family)
- JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Abuse see Social Themes / Physical & Emotional Abuse or Social Themes / Sexual Abuse
- JUV039020 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Adolescence
- JUV039230 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Bullying
- JUV039190 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Dating & Relationships
- JUV039030 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Death & Dying
- JUV039240 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Depression & Mental Illness
- JUV039040 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Drugs, Alcohol, Substance Abuse
- JUV039250 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Emigration & Immigration
- JUV039050 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Emotions & Feelings
- JUV039060 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Friendship
- JUV039070 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Homelessness & Poverty
- JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Homosexuality see LGBT
- JUV039200 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Manners & Etiquette
- JUV039090 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / New Experience
- JUV039100 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Peer Pressure
- JUV039010 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Physical & Emotional Abuse (see also Social Themes / Sexual Abuse)
- JUV039120 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Prejudice & Racism
- JUV039280 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Religion & Faith
- JUV039130 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Runaways
- JUV039140 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
- JUV039210 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Sexual Abuse
- JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Sexuality see Social Themes / Dating & Relationships
- JUV039150 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Special Needs
- JUV039270 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Strangers
- JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Substance Abuse see Social Themes / Drugs, Alcohol, Substance Abuse
- JUV039220 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Values & Virtues
- JUV039180 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Violence
- JUV032000 JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / General
- JUV032010 JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Baseball & Softball
- JUV032020 JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Basketball
- JUV032170 JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Camping & Outdoor Activities
- JUV032180 JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Cycling
- JUV032090 JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Equestrian
- JUV032100 JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Extreme Sports
- JUV032030 JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Football
- JUV032040 JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Games
- JUV032190 JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Golf
- JUV032200 JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Gymnastics
- JUV032110 JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Hockey
- JUV032120 JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Ice Skating
- JUV032070 JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Martial Arts
- JUV032140 JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Skateboarding
- JUV032150 JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Soccer
- JUV032210 JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Track & Field
- JUV032060 JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Water Sports
- JUV032080 JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Winter Sports
- JUV032160 JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Wrestling
- JUV062000 JUVENILE FICTION / Steampunk
- JUV057000 JUVENILE FICTION / Stories in Verse (see also Poetry)
- JUV071000 JUVENILE FICTION / Superheroes
- JUVENILE FICTION / Technology see Science & Technology
- JUVENILE FICTION / Television Tie-In see Media Tie-In
- JUV067000 JUVENILE FICTION / Thrillers & Suspense
- JUV064000 JUVENILE FICTION / Time Travel
- JUVENILE FICTION / Town Life see Lifestyles / City & Town Life
- JUV040000 JUVENILE FICTION / Toys, Dolls & Puppets
- JUV041000 JUVENILE FICTION / Transportation / General
- JUV041010 JUVENILE FICTION / Transportation / Aviation
- JUV041020 JUVENILE FICTION / Transportation / Boats, Ships & Underwater Craft
- JUV041030 JUVENILE FICTION / Transportation / Cars & Trucks
- JUV041050 JUVENILE FICTION / Transportation / Railroads & Trains
- JUV068000 JUVENILE FICTION / Travel
- JUV046000 JUVENILE FICTION / Visionary & Metaphysical
- JUV042000 JUVENILE FICTION / Westerns
Young Adult Fiction Genre
This is literature written for young adults between 12-18 years old or grades 7-12.
- YAF000000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / General
- YAF001000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Action & Adventure / General
- YAF001010 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Action & Adventure / Pirates
- YAF001020 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Action & Adventure / Survival Stories
- YAF071000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Alternative History *
- YAF002000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Animals / General
- YAF002010 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Animals / Horses
- YAF002020 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Animals / Marine Life
- YAF002030 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Animals / Mythical Creatures
- YAF002040 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Animals / Pets
- YAF003000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic
- YAF004000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Art
- YAF005000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Biographical
- YAF006000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Books & Libraries
- YAF007000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Boys & Men
- YAF008000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Careers, Occupations, Internships
- YAF009000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Classics
- YAF010000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / General
- YAF010050 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Action & Adventure
- YAF010060 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Classic Adaptation
- YAF010070 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Coming of Age
- YAF010080 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Dystopian
- YAF010090 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Fairy Tales, Folklore, Legends & Mythology
- YAF010100 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Fantasy
- YAF010110 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Historical
- YAF010120 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Horror
- YAF010130 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Humorous
- YAF010140 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / LGBT
- YAF010010 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Manga
- YAF010020 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Media Tie-In
- YAF010150 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Mystery & Detective
- YAF010160 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Paranormal
- YAF010170 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Romance
- YAF010030 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Science Fiction
- YAF010040 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Superheroes
- YAF011000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Coming of Age
- YAF012000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Computers & Digital Media
- YAF013000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Cooking & Food
- YAF014000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Diversity & Multicultural
- YAF015000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Dystopian
- YAF016000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Epistolary (Letters & Diaries)
- YAF017000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fairy Tales & Folklore / General
- YAF017010 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Adaptations
- YAF017020 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Anthologies
- YAF017030 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Country & Ethnic
- YAF018000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Family / General (see also headings under Social Themes)
- YAF018010 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Family / Adoption
- YAF018020 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Family / Alternative Family
- YAF018080 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Family / Blended Families
- YAF018030 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Family / Marriage & Divorce
- YAF018040 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Family / Multigenerational
- YAF018050 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Family / Orphans & Foster Homes
- YAF018060 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Family / Parents
- YAF018070 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Family / Siblings
- YAF019000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / General
- YAF019010 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / Contemporary
- YAF019020 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy
- YAF019030 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / Epic
- YAF019040 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / Historical
- YAF019050 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / Wizards & Witches
- YAF020000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fashion & Beauty
- YAF021000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Ghost Stories
- YAF022000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Girls & Women
- YAF023000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Health & Daily Living / General
- YAF023010 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Health & Daily Living / Diseases, Illnesses & Injuries
- YAF024000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / General
- YAF024010 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Africa
- YAF024020 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Ancient Civilizations
- YAF024030 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Asia
- YAF024040 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Canada
- YAF024050 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Europe
- YAF024060 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Exploration & Discovery
- YAF024070 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Holocaust
- YAF024080 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Medieval
- YAF024090 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Middle East
- YAF024100 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Military & Wars
- YAF024110 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Prehistory
- YAF024120 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Renaissance
- YAF024130 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / United States / General
- YAF024140 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / United States / Colonial & Revolutionary Periods
- YAF024150 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / United States / 19th Century
- YAF024160 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877)
- YAF024170 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / United States / 20th Century
- YAF024180 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / United States / 21st Century
- YAF025000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Holidays & Celebrations
- YAF026000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Horror
- YAF027000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Humorous / General
- YAF027010 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Humorous / Black Comedy
- YAF028000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Interactive Adventures
- YAF029000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Law & Crime
- YAF030000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Legends, Myths, Fables / General
- YAF030010 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Legends, Myths, Fables / Arthurian
- YAF030020 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Legends, Myths, Fables / Greek & Roman
- YAF031000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / LGBT
- YAF032000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Lifestyles / City & Town Life
- YAF033000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Lifestyles / Country Life
- YAF034000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Lifestyles / Farm & Ranch Life
- YAF035000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Light Novel (Ranobe)
- YAF036000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Literary
- YAF037000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Loners & Outcasts
- YAF038000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Magical Realism
- YAF039000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Media Tie-In
- YAF040000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Mermaids
- YAF041000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Monsters
- YAF042000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Mysteries & Detective Stories
- YAF043000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Nature & the Natural World / General (see also headings under Animals)
- YAF043010 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Nature & the Natural World / Environment
- YAF044000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Novels in Verse
- YAF045000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Paranormal, Occult & Supernatural
- YAF046000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / General
- YAF046010 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Aboriginal & Indigenous
- YAF046020 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Africa
- YAF046030 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Asia
- YAF046040 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Australia & Oceania
- YAF046050 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Canada
- YAF046060 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Caribbean & Latin America
- YAF046070 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Europe
- YAF046080 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Mexico
- YAF046090 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Middle East
- YAF046100 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Polar Regions
- YAF046110 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / United States / General
- YAF046120 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / United States / African American
- YAF046130 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / United States / Asian American
- YAF046140 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / United States / Hispanic & Latino
- YAF046150 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / United States / Native American
- YAF047000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Performing Arts / General
- YAF047010 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Performing Arts / Dance
- YAF047020 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Performing Arts / Film
- YAF047030 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Performing Arts / Music
- YAF047040 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Performing Arts / Television & Radio
- YAF047050 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Performing Arts / Theater & Musicals
- YAF048000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Poetry
- YAF049000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Politics & Government
- YAF050000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Recycling & Green Living
- YAF051000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / General
- YAF051010 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Agnostic & Atheist
- YAF051020 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Buddhist
- YAF051030 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Christian / General
- YAF051040 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Christian / Action & Adventure
- YAF051050 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Christian / Comics & Graphic Novels
- YAF051060 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Christian / Fantasy
- YAF051070 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Christian / Historical
- YAF051080 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Christian / Mysteries & Detective Stories
- YAF051090 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Christian / Relationships
- YAF051100 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Christian / Science Fiction
- YAF051110 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Christian / Social Issues
- YAF051120 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Hindu
- YAF051130 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Jewish
- YAF051140 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Muslim
- YAF052000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / General
- YAF052010 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / Clean & Wholesome
- YAF052020 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / Contemporary
- YAF052030 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / Historical
- YAF052040 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / LGBT
- YAF052050 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / Paranormal
- YAF052060 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / Romantic Comedy
- YAF053000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Royalty
- YAF027020 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Satire
- YAF054000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / School & Education / General
- YAF054010 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / School & Education / Boarding School & Prep School
- YAF054020 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / School & Education / College & University
- YAF055000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Science & Technology
- YAF056000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Science Fiction / General
- YAF056010 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Science Fiction / Alien Contact
- YAF056020 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Science Fiction / Space Opera
- YAF057000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Short Stories
- YAF058000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / General (see also headings under Family)
- YAF058010 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Assimilation
- YAF058020 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Bullying
- YAF058030 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Class Differences
- YAF058040 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Dating & Sex
- YAF058050 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Death & Dying
- YAF058060 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Depression
- YAF058070 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Disabilities & Special Needs
- YAF058080 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Drugs, Alcohol, Substance Abuse
- YAF058090 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Eating Disorders & Body Image
- YAF058100 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Emigration & Immigration
- YAF058110 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Emotions & Feelings
- YAF058120 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Friendship
- YAF058130 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Homelessness & Poverty
- YAF058140 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Mental Illness
- YAF058150 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / New Experience
- YAF058160 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Peer Pressure
- YAF058170 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Physical & Emotional Abuse (see also Social Themes / Sexual Abuse)
- YAF058180 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Pregnancy
- YAF058190 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Prejudice & Racism
- YAF058200 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Religion & Faith
- YAF058210 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Runaways
- YAF058220 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
- YAF058230 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Self-Mutilation
- YAF058240 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Sexual Abuse
- YAF058250 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Suicide
- YAF058260 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Values & Virtues
- YAF058270 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Violence
- YAF059000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / General
- YAF059010 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Baseball & Softball
- YAF059020 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Basketball
- YAF059030 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Camping & Outdoor Activities
- YAF059040 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Equestrian
- YAF059050 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Extreme Sports
- YAF059060 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Football
- YAF059070 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Gymnastics
- YAF059080 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Hockey
- YAF059090 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Martial Arts
- YAF059100 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Skateboarding
- YAF059110 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Soccer
- YAF059120 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Track & Field
- YAF059130 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Water Sports
- YAF059140 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Winter Sports
- YAF060000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Steampunk
- YAF061000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Superheroes
- YAF062000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Thrillers & Suspense
- YAF063000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Time Travel
- YAF064000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Travel & Transportation / General
- YAF064010 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Travel & Transportation / Car & Road Trips
- YAF065000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Vampires
- YAF066000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Visionary & Metaphysical
- YAF067000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / War & Military
- YAF068000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Werewolves & Shifters
- YAF069000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Westerns
- YAF070000 YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Zombies
Fiction Genres and Sub-Genres
Here is a list of Fiction Genres with their BISAC codes.
- FIC000000 FICTION / General
- FIC064000 FICTION / Absurdist
- FIC002000 FICTION / Action & Adventure
- FICTION / Adventure see Action & Adventure
- FIC049000 FICTION / African American / General
- FIC049010 FICTION / African American / Christian
- FIC049030 FICTION / African American / Erotica
- FIC049040 FICTION / African American / Historical
- FIC049050 FICTION / African American / Mystery & Detective
- FIC049070 FICTION / African American / Urban
- FIC049020 FICTION / African American / Women
- FIC040000 FICTION / Alternative History
- FIC053000 FICTION / Amish & Mennonite
- FIC067000 FICTION / Animals
- FIC003000 FICTION / Anthologies (multiple authors)
- FIC054000 FICTION / Asian American
- FIC041000 FICTION / Biographical
- FIC042000 FICTION / Christian / General
- FIC042010 FICTION / Christian / Classic & Allegory
- FIC042050 FICTION / Christian / Collections & Anthologies
- FIC042080 FICTION / Christian / Fantasy
- FIC042020 FICTION / Christian / Futuristic
- FIC042030 FICTION / Christian / Historical
- FIC042040 FICTION / Christian / Romance
- FIC042060 FICTION / Christian / Suspense
- FIC042070 FICTION / Christian / Western
- FIC069000 FICTION / City Life *
- FIC004000 FICTION / Classics
- FIC043000 FICTION / Coming of Age
- FIC050000 FICTION / Crime
- FIC051000 FICTION / Cultural Heritage
- FIC070000 FICTION / Disaster *
- FIC055000 FICTION / Dystopian
- FIC065000 FICTION / Epistolary
- FIC005000 FICTION / Erotica / General
- FIC005010 FICTION / Erotica / BDSM
- FIC005020 FICTION / Erotica / Collections & Anthologies
- FIC005030 FICTION / Erotica / Gay
- FIC005060 FICTION / Erotica / Historical
- FIC005040 FICTION / Erotica / Lesbian
- FIC005050 FICTION / Erotica / Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror
- FIC010000 FICTION / Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology
- FIC045000 FICTION / Family Life / General
- FIC045010 FICTION / Family Life / Marriage & Divorce *
- FIC045020 FICTION / Family Life / Siblings *
- FICTION / Family Saga see Sagas
- FIC009000 FICTION / Fantasy / General
- FIC009100 FICTION / Fantasy / Action & Adventure
- FIC009110 FICTION / Fantasy / Arthurian
- FIC009040 FICTION / Fantasy / Collections & Anthologies
- FIC009010 FICTION / Fantasy / Contemporary
- FIC009070 FICTION / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy
- FIC009120 FICTION / Fantasy / Dragons & Mythical Creatures
- FIC009020 FICTION / Fantasy / Epic
- FIC009130 FICTION / Fantasy / Gaslamp
- FIC009030 FICTION / Fantasy / Historical
- FIC009080 FICTION / Fantasy / Humorous
- FIC009140 FICTION / Fantasy / Military
- FIC009050 FICTION / Fantasy / Paranormal
- FIC009090 FICTION / Fantasy / Romantic
- FIC009060 FICTION / Fantasy / Urban
- FICTION / Folklore see Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology
- FIC071000 FICTION / Friendship *
- FIC012000 FICTION / Ghost
- FIC027040 FICTION / Gothic
- FICTION / Graphic Novels see headings under COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
- FIC056000 FICTION / Hispanic & Latino
- FIC014000 FICTION / Historical / General
- FIC014010 FICTION / Historical / Ancient *
- FIC014020 FICTION / Historical / Medieval *
- FIC014030 FICTION / Historical / Renaissance *
- FIC014040 FICTION / Historical / World War I *
- FIC014050 FICTION / Historical / World War II *
- FIC058000 FICTION / Holidays
- FIC015000 FICTION / Horror
- FIC016000 FICTION / Humorous / General
- FIC060000 FICTION / Humorous / Black Humor
- FIC046000 FICTION / Jewish
- FIC034000 FICTION / Legal
- FIC068000 FICTION / LGBT / General
- FIC072000 FICTION / LGBT / Bisexual *
- FIC011000 FICTION / LGBT / Gay
- FIC018000 FICTION / LGBT / Lesbian
- FIC073000 FICTION / LGBT / Transgender *
- FIC019000 FICTION / Literary
- FIC061000 FICTION / Magical Realism
- FIC057000 FICTION / Mashups
- FIC021000 FICTION / Media Tie-In
- FIC035000 FICTION / Medical
- FICTION / Metaphysical see Visionary & Metaphysical
- FIC022000 FICTION / Mystery & Detective / General
- FIC022100 FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Amateur Sleuth
- FIC022050 FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Collections & Anthologies
- FIC022070 FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Cozy / General
- FIC022110 FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Cozy / Cats & Dogs *
- FIC022120 FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Cozy / Crafts *
- FIC022130 FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Cozy / Culinary *
- FIC022010 FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Hard-Boiled
- FIC022060 FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Historical
- FIC022080 FICTION / Mystery & Detective / International Mystery & Crime
- FIC022020 FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Police Procedural
- FIC022090 FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Private Investigators
- FIC022030 FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Traditional
- FIC022040 FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths
- FICTION / Mythology see Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology
- FIC059000 FICTION / Native American & Aboriginal
- FIC062000 FICTION / Noir
- FIC024000 FICTION / Occult & Supernatural
- FIC037000 FICTION / Political
- FIC025000 FICTION / Psychological
- FIC026000 FICTION / Religious
- FIC027000 FICTION / Romance / General
- FIC027260 FICTION / Romance / Action & Adventure
- FIC049060 FICTION / Romance / African American
- FIC027340 FICTION / Romance / Billionaires *
- FIC027270 FICTION / Romance / Clean & Wholesome
- FIC027080 FICTION / Romance / Collections & Anthologies
- FIC027020 FICTION / Romance / Contemporary
- FIC027010 FICTION / Romance / Erotica
- FIC027030 FICTION / Romance / Fantasy
- FIC027350 FICTION / Romance / Firefighters *
- FIC027050 FICTION / Romance / Historical / General
- FIC027360 FICTION / Romance / Historical / American *
- FIC027140 FICTION / Romance / Historical / Ancient World
- FIC027150 FICTION / Romance / Historical / Medieval
- FIC027070 FICTION / Romance / Historical / Regency
- FIC027370 FICTION / Romance / Historical / Renaissance *
- FIC027160 FICTION / Romance / Historical / Scottish
- FIC027280 FICTION / Romance / Historical / Tudor
- FIC027200 FICTION / Romance / Historical / 20th Century
- FIC027170 FICTION / Romance / Historical / Victorian
- FIC027180 FICTION / Romance / Historical / Viking
- FIC027290 FICTION / Romance / Holiday
- FIC027380 FICTION / Romance / Later in Life *
- FIC027300 FICTION / Romance / LGBT / General
- FIC027390 FICTION / Romance / LGBT / Bisexual *
- FIC027190 FICTION / Romance / LGBT / Gay
- FIC027210 FICTION / Romance / LGBT / Lesbian
- FIC027400 FICTION / Romance / LGBT / Transgender *
- FIC027410 FICTION / Romance / Medical *
- FIC027220 FICTION / Romance / Military
- FIC027230 FICTION / Romance / Multicultural & Interracial
- FIC027240 FICTION / Romance / New Adult
- FIC027120 FICTION / Romance / Paranormal / General
- FIC027310 FICTION / Romance / Paranormal / Shifters
- FIC027320 FICTION / Romance / Paranormal / Vampires
- FIC027420 FICTION / Romance / Police & Law Enforcement *
- FIC027250 FICTION / Romance / Romantic Comedy
- FIC027130 FICTION / Romance / Science Fiction
- FIC027330 FICTION / Romance / Sports
- FIC027110 FICTION / Romance / Suspense
- FIC027090 FICTION / Romance / Time Travel
- FIC027100 FICTION / Romance / Western
- FIC027430 FICTION / Romance / Workplace *
- FIC008000 FICTION / Sagas
- FIC052000 FICTION / Satire
- FIC028000 FICTION / Science Fiction / General
- FIC028010 FICTION / Science Fiction / Action & Adventure
- FIC028090 FICTION / Science Fiction / Alien Contact
- FICTION / Science Fiction / Alternative History see Alternative History
- FIC028070 FICTION / Science Fiction / Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic
- FIC028040 FICTION / Science Fiction / Collections & Anthologies
- FIC028100 FICTION / Science Fiction / Cyberpunk
- FIC028110 FICTION / Science Fiction / Genetic Engineering
- FIC028020 FICTION / Science Fiction / Hard Science Fiction
- FIC028120 FICTION / Science Fiction / Humorous
- FIC028050 FICTION / Science Fiction / Military
- FIC028130 FICTION / Science Fiction / Space Exploration
- FIC028030 FICTION / Science Fiction / Space Opera
- FIC028060 FICTION / Science Fiction / Steampunk
- FIC028080 FICTION / Science Fiction / Time Travel
- FIC047000 FICTION / Sea Stories
- FICTION / Short Stories (multiple authors) see Anthologies (multiple authors)
- FIC029000 FICTION / Short Stories (single author)
- FIC066000 FICTION / Small Town & Rural
- FIC074000 FICTION / Southern *
- FIC038000 FICTION / Sports
- FIC063000 FICTION / Superheroes
- FICTION / Television Tie-in see Media Tie-In
- FIC031000 FICTION / Thrillers / General
- FIC031010 FICTION / Thrillers / Crime
- FIC031100 FICTION / Thrillers / Domestic *
- FIC006000 FICTION / Thrillers / Espionage
- FIC031020 FICTION / Thrillers / Historical
- FIC031030 FICTION / Thrillers / Legal
- FIC031040 FICTION / Thrillers / Medical
- FIC031050 FICTION / Thrillers / Military
- FIC031060 FICTION / Thrillers / Political
- FIC031080 FICTION / Thrillers / Psychological
- FIC031070 FICTION / Thrillers / Supernatural
- FIC030000 FICTION / Thrillers / Suspense
- FIC036000 FICTION / Thrillers / Technological
- FIC031090 FICTION / Thrillers / Terrorism
- FIC048000 FICTION / Urban
- FIC039000 FICTION / Visionary & Metaphysical
- FIC032000 FICTION / War & Military
- FIC033000 FICTION / Westerns
- FIC044000 FICTION / Women
Complete 2017 BISAC Subject Headings here
Most self-published fiction authors will publish on Amazon, so feel free to browse their best sellers by category for more insight into fiction genre options, and to read books in whatever genre you are thinking about writing in.
Top Selling Fiction Books with over 100 Million Copies Sold
- Lord of the Rings by J . R. R. Tolkien – 150 Million Copies Sold
- Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry- 140 Million Copies Sold
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling- 120 Million Copies Sold
- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien – 100 Million copies sold
- And then there were none- Agatha Christie – 100 Million copies sold
- Dream of the Red Chamber -Cao Xueqin- 100 million copies sold
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland- Lewis Carroll – 100 million copies sold
The conclusion of our Fiction Guide.
I hope you have enjoyed our article. You should now have a good understanding of the definition of fiction, its elements, and it’s different genres.
Thank you for reading and Writing!
What’s so important about knowing the genres of books?
Well, if you’re an author with a work in progress, you’ll want to know its genre to ensure your ideal readers find and read it.
List a science fiction novel as a paranormal romance, for example, and you’ll likely end up with a flurry of negative reviews. No one wants that.
Readers of specific book genres have expectations you’ll want to meet if you want them to enjoy your book and recommend it to others.
You also want readers to see your book’s cover and know it’s the genre they want.
So, knowing your book’s genre not only helps with marketing. It can make all the difference in your writing career.
What does your book genre tell you?
Once you know your book’s genre, you can write it knowing the following expectations your book should meet:
Ideal word count range
Cover design trends
Tropes (in fiction genres)
Rules/norms regarding adult content
For example, if you’re writing YA fantasy, you’ll run afoul of your readers (and their parents) if your story includes a sex scene or graphic violence. If you’re writing a cozy mystery, you don’t want your book’s cover to look like it belongs on a horror novel.
And if you’re writing fantasy, you’ll want to find a designer who specializes in that genre and knows how to create covers worthy of a Rick Riordan novel.
Unless you’re an experienced cover designer (like Derek Murphy of CreativIndie), DIY covers using stock photos will put your fantasy novel at a serious disadvantage.
30 Book Genres Explained
With that in mind, enjoy this list of 30 types of book genres with descriptions and an example (or two) for each. It’s not an exhaustive list; there are upwards of 40 genres — more if you count sub-genres and mixed genres.
But it’s enough to help you identify your book’s genre.
Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, you’ll be prepared to meet genre expectations and market your book appropriately to reach your target audience and maximize sales.
Your readers will also appreciate your taking the time to learn what this post will teach you. And so will your book’s editor and cover designer.
Fiction Genres
- Fantasy — The fantasy genre involves world-building and characters who are supernatural, mythological, magical, or a combination of these. Examples: Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin and Circe by Madeline Miller
- Science Fiction — Similar to fantasy, this genre explores futuristic or technological themes and ideas to address scientific “what if” questions. Examples: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams and The Atlantis Gene by A.G. Riddle
- Dystopian — Sometimes considered a subgenre of fantasy or of science fiction, this genre is usually set in a bleak future (near or distant) to explore cultural or social issues. Examples include Wool by Hugh Howey and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
- Adventure — Any novel that focuses on an adventure undertaken by the main character (with or without help) falls under the adventure genre. This genre can easily be combined with others. Example: White Fang by Jack London
- Romance — Any novel where the main storyline centers on a romantic relationship falls into this category, which has several subgenres. Examples include The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms
- Detective & Mystery — One of the toughest genres to write, this one centers on a mystery and involves either a professional or amateur sleuth. Examples: Murder on the the Orient Express by Agatha Christie.
- Horror — The goal of this genre is to scare your readers and keep them that way until the hero vanquishes the threat. Example: The Shining by Stephen King
- Thriller — This genre also has scary elements, but its main objective is to keep your reader in a state of suspense until the story’s resolution. Example: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
- LGBTQ+ — Fiction with authentic LGBTQ+ representation falls into this category, which is sometimes considered a subgenre of contemporary fiction but can also be mixed with romance, fantasy, and other genres. Example: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
- Historical Fiction — This genre covers fiction set in a specific time period and providing historically accurate detail relevant to the period and its characters. Examples: The Help by Kathryn Stockett
- Young Adult (YA) (13-17 yrs) — This is fiction for readers aged 13 to 17 years. Example: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi.
- Children’s Fiction — Fiction in this genre is written for kids aged up to 13 and is further divided into smaller subgenres. Example: Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty.
Nonfiction Genres
- Memoir & Autobiography — Each of the books in this genre is a true account of the author’s own life. Memoirs are typically related to a specific time in the author’s life or to a specific theme of the author’s choosing. Example: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
- Biography — Biographies are books written on someone other than the author — generally someone well known or someone whose life and or death can teach the world something worth learning. Example: Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
- Cooking — In this genre, you’ll find books on every kind of cooking someone in the world took the time to write about, as well as cooking for different diets and nutritional needs. Example: Indian Instant Pot Cookbook by Urvashi Pitre
- Art & Photography — This genre includes books on artists of all kinds, as well as on each type of art and its history. Example: How to Create Stunning Digital Photography by Tony Northrup
- Self-Help / Personal Development — This genre is all about helping your reader realize their potential, develop their gifts, and live fulfilling lives. Example: Declutter Your Mind: How to Stop Worrying, Relieve Anxiety, and Eliminate Negative Thinking by S.J. Scott and Barrie Davenport
- Motivational / Inspirational — This genre’s main purpose is to get you to do something, to inspire you, or to challenge your perspective. Example: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
- Health & Fitness — Here you’ll find books on both mental and physical health concerns as well as diets and weight loss. Example: Lies My Doctor Told Me by Ken D. Berry
- History — This genre focuses on a specific time period or covers a broad span of time, often describing specific historical characters. Example: Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind by Yuval Harari
- Crafts, Hobbies & Home — Look to this genre for topics related to creating a home and developing specific hobbies or crafts. Examples: The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life by Joshua Becker
- Families & Relationships — If it deals with family life, marriage, or any kind of interpersonal relationship, your book belongs in this genre. Example: The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Gary Chapman
- Humor & Entertainment — Books in this genre are supposed to make you laugh or at least keep you entertained. Many also belong to the memoir genre. Example: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
- Business & Money — If you’re writing a nonfiction book on business topics, wealth building, or managing your money, it probably belongs to this genre. Example: Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
- Law & Criminology — Books on the legal system, on laws, criminal justice, and related topics belong in this genre. Example: The New Jim Crow: Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
- Politics & Social Sciences — Books in this genre discuss politics or issues related to one or more of the social sciences (psychology, sociology, social work, etc.). Example: 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
- Religion & Spirituality — From personal guides to spiritual memoirs to histories, this genre covers religions of all kinds along with spiritual practices. Example: Runes for Beginners by Lisa Chamberlain
- Education & Teaching — Any book that proposes to teach the reader how to do something — or how to do it better — belongs to this genre. Example: Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution by Zak George and Dina Roth Port
- Travel — This genre includes travel guides and travel-heavy memoirs. Example: The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World by Lonely Planet
- True Crime — These often read like well-crafted crime fiction but are true stories that chronicle real crimes, typically with exacting detail. Examples: If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood by Gregg Olsen
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Most Popular Book Genres
According to QueryTracker, of all the genres listed above, the top ten most popular fiction genres are the following:
- Young Adult (YA)
- Fantasy (including YA and Children’s)
- Children’s
- Literary Fiction
- Science Fiction
- Thrillers/Suspense
- Middle Grade
- Romance/Erotica
- Picture Book
- Historical
And these are the top ten most popular nonfiction genres:
- Memoir
- Self-help
- Narrative/Creative Nonfiction)
- Religion/Spirituality
- Biography
- Cultural/Social Issues
- Business/Finance
- History
- General Nonfiction
- Health & Fitness
If your book doesn’t belong in one of these top ten lists, don’t worry. Plenty of books that fit into other genres get published every year — traditionally or independently.
These lists indicate the genres most often submitted to literary agents as well as the genres most often requested by them.
If you know your book’s target audience is plenty big enough to justify your investment of time, energy, and other resources, it makes no difference whether your chosen genre is on the most popular list.
Use what you learn with us at AuthorityPub to write, launch, and market your book to bestseller status.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to identify your book’s genre (or genres), how will that influence your decisions regarding cover design, editing, and marketing tactics?
Where will you find more of the kind of readers who will love your book, so you can send them word when it launches?
Maybe you’ve already found some Facebook groups for your genre. Or maybe your reader following on Twitter is steadily growing, thanks to your use of targeted hashtags.
What could you do today to begin marketing your book, so you can whet the appetites of your genre’s biggest fans among your social media connections and email subscribers?
We keep abreast of indie publishing trends and tactics to help writers like you make a good living with their books.
Because it can be done. And if that’s your goal, I’ll do everything I can to help you get there.