On Genres and Subgenres
In Today's Journal
* On Genres and Subgenres
* Re Thriller vs. Suspense Genres
* Re Tension vs. Suspense
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
On Genres and Subgenres
A couple of days ago, writer Erin D noted that one of the links in a downloadable PDF I linked to over at HarveyStanbrough.com was broken.
The article in which that link was listed is still valuable as an overview to genres and the audiences who enjoy them.
To read the article, click Genre: A Novel’s Flavor. Note that this article is from 2019. The link to the Romance genre in the article is broken.
You can learn about the subgenres of Romance at Comprehensive List of Romance Genres.
The other links in the Genre: A Novel's Flavor are live, or were as of yesterday. Here they are:
The writer of that last link also offers posts on two other genres:
If you want to know more, I suggest keying "Subgenres of [fill in your major genre]" into your search engine. Then enjoy your time in the rabbit hole. (grin)
Although you can certainly set out to write a story or novel in any given genre (or with any given "flavor"), I would be remiss if I didn't mention that genre is a determination that's most often made after the writing is finished.
I suspect the term "Genre" was originally conceived by publishers to decide how to best make a story or novel appeal to readers.
If you know going-into a story or novel which readers you're targeting, that's fine. But if you don't, I recommend you don't let thoughts of genre bother you until the writing's finished and you put on your publisher hat.
Then, proceed carefully.
I branded my Blackwell Ops novels as "thriller" genre, but in many of them there's no strict deadline with a ticking time bomb or other thriller tropes other than on a scene-by-scene basis.
Most or all of those novels also have strong elements of action-adventure, psychological suspense, and romantic suspense.
If I were ever to rebrand the series, I suspect I would list the major genre as "Crime Suspense" with "a fast-paced thrill ride" in the cover blurb as a nod to Thriller genre and with mentions of professional assassins, romantic suspense, sexual tension, and psychological suspense.
Re Thriller vs. Suspense Genres
The Thriller genre is relatively new. Back in Alfred Hitchcock's day his offerings were labeled Suspense.
Asked the difference between the Thriller and Suspense genres, a famous author (I think it was Lee Child, but don't quote me) grinned and—talking about the advances his traditional publisher paid him—said, "A couple of zeroes."
In other words, branding his books as Thrillers earned him a significantly larger advance than branding them as Suspense.
Also maybe worth considering, whereas Thriller is a genre and nothing else, Suspense is a genre AND part of some subgenres (romantic suspense, western suspense, crime suspense, etc.)
But Suspense is also an actual writing technique, valuable in ANY genre or subgenre. Suspense is a technique every writer should have in his or her toolbox.
Re Tension vs. Suspense
Tension and Suspense are not the same thing either. Tension is a technique that lends itself to building suspense.
Put as plainly as I can put it, Suspense is something that builds through a story or scene; Tension is what builds it.
Tension itself can be applied in any number of ways: It isn't all about furtive shadows flitting from one dark place to another.
Tension may be conveyed in any of several ways, including via a character's certain facial expression, a question the reader wants the character to ask another character but one that remains unasked (but is "hinted at" in the case of the wily character, or not in the case of the innocent or clueless character), etc. etc. ad nauseam.
Note too, it's NEVER a good idea to attempt to "build tension" or "build suspense" by withholding a character's identity unless there is another, valid, non-suspense related reason for doing so (e.g., the character-shadow slipping furtively out of a house of ill repute is actually the police chief or the pastor of the local church).
In that example, also note that either the police chief or the pastor might have legitimate business in that house. Um, but if their business was legitimate, why were they "furtively slipping" out?
Withholding a character's name ONLY to build suspense will only make the reader feel cheated.
As always, you can learn these techniques (and nuances) by asking questions and opinions (and reading the works) of writers who are farther along the fictive road.
But the best way to learn them (drum roll please) is by putting new words on the page and faithfully recording your characters' story.
Of Interest
Dr. Mardy's Quotes of the Week: Credos & Creeds
Turn Your Book Into a Marketing Machine in Minutes Look it over and make up your own mind. Prices seem reasonable to me.
The Numbers
The Journal…………………………… 850
Writing of "Joey Bones and the Blond"
Day 1…… 2306 words. To date…… 2306
Fiction for July..………………………. 2306
Fiction for 2025………………………. 523113
Nonfiction for July………………........ 5650
Nonfiction for 2025…………………… 157280
2025 consumable words…………….. 672779
2025 Novels to Date…………………….. 13
2025 Novellas to Date…………………… 0
2025 Short Stories to Date……………… 30
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………..... 117
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)…………… 10
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)……… 300
Short story collections……………………. 29
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Questions are always welcome at harveystanbrough@gmail.com. But please limit yourself to the topics of writing and publishing.
Thanks for once again featuring my weekly newsletter in your "Of Interest" section. Here's a challenge for you. In a future short story, write a killer opening line that includes the words "credo" or "creed."
Good stuff! Thank you 😊