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Critique Partner Match Genre Guidelines

Action/AdventureAction/Adventure

Fiction that provides excitement through a sense of danger for the characters.

Action – Typically more plot-driven.

Adventure – Typically more character-driven.


ContemporaryContemporary

Fiction set in the real world, in the current time. Anything pre-2000 is historical.

Near Future – Set in the next 5-10 years.

Recent Past – Anything older than 2000 is Historical.

Right Now – Stories meant to be happening at this point in time.


Fantasy

Speculative fiction with magic, the paranormal, and alternate worlds.

High Fantasy – Stories set in a secondary fantasy world.

Magical Realism/Fabulism – A real-world setting with fantastical elements that are presented as ordinary. This is a tricky field to explain and understand, so read up here.

Paranormal/Mythology/Fairy Tales – Stories rooted in existing legends.

Urban/Contemporary Fantasy – The real world, with magic.


HistoricalHistorical

Any setting that is pre-2000, and in the real world. May include alternative histories.

1000-1500 – Stories set between 1000-1500 AD/CE.

1500-1800 – Stories set between 1500-1800 AD/CE.

1800-2000 – Stories set between 1800-2000 AD/CE.

Ancient – Stories set prior to 1000 AC/CE.


HorrorHorror

Speculative fiction designed to scare, disgust, or startle.

Body Horror – Features graphic or disturbing violations of the human body.

Monsters – Features monsters such as zombies, vampires, werewolves, etc.

Psychological Horror – It’s all in your head.


HumorHumor/Parody/Satire

Fiction that is humorous, or seeks to comment on current events through humor.

Comedy of Errors – Stories in which events are made ridiculous through the number of errors made.

Comedy of Manners – Stories about the affectations and manners of a given social group.

Parody – Stories imitating or commenting on an existing work or artist.

Satire – Stories that ridicule people’s stupidity or vices, often political.


LiteraryLiterary

Fiction distinct from commercial or genre fiction. Often deemed to “have literary merit.”

Experimental/Meta – Fiction that emphasizes innovation. What IS a novel?

Human Condition – Fiction that depicts the ordinary aspects of human life.

Social Commentary – Fiction that expresses a point of view towards society.


MysteryMystery/Crime/Detective

Fiction in which the main plot revolves around a crime to be solved.

Cozy Mystery – Often set in small, intimate communities, with little or no sex or violence.

Noir/Hard-Boiled Mystery – Fiction with a character or tone described as cynical, fatalistic, or morally ambiguous.

Police Procedural – Stories where the emphasis is on the process used by police in solving a crime.

Whodunit – Stories where the identity of a murderer forms the mystery and resolution.


InspirationalReligious/Inspirational

Fiction that is influenced by and/or engages with a real-world religion.

Gentle Fiction – Stories defined by their avoidance of graphic elements, instead providing a ‘cozy’ experience.


RomanceRomance

Fiction in which the main plot centers on a romantic relationship. Always has a happy ending (HEA or HFN).

Chick Lit – Stories that center young women, often humorous.

High Heat – Stories that are explicitly sexual. (Please keep in mind that WriteOnCon is a children’s conference!)

Medium Heat – Stories that fall midway between High Heat and Sweet.

Sweet Romance – Stories that avoid explicit sexually, may be ‘closed door.’


Science FictionScience Fiction

Speculative fiction with science as the basis, includes near-futures, space operas, and time travel.

Dystopian – Stories set in a world where things are bad, such as a totalitarian government or a ruined environment.

Hard Sci Fi – Stories that rely on scientific accuracy. Often for stories set in space, or in the distant future.

Punks (Cyber, Steam, etc.) – Sub-genres denoting the nature of the science used, such as Cyberpunk, Steampunk, Dieselpunk, Biopunk, etc.

Soft Sci Fi – Stories where scientific accuracy is less important than character or social development. Often set in a near-future setting, or Earth-but-with-[sci-fi element].


SuspenseSuspense/Thriller

Fiction that elicits feelings of suspense, surprise, anticipation and anxiety–keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

Psychological – Stories emphasizing the unstable or delusional state of its characters.

Suspense – Stories that keep readers anticipating.

Thriller – Stories that emphasize intrigue and adventure.

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