Genres: When it comes to genres, I first write my stories, then worry about what particular genre(s) it falls into only after I’m finished. I then call in and line up the usual suspects:
- Mystery
- Suspense
- Thriller
- Paranormal
- Supernatural
- Sci-fi
After serious questioning and interrogation, it became clear the genre of Murcat Manor (soon to be renamed) is Supernatural Thriller, although like most stories today there are overlaps and blurrings of other genres present.
A Supernatural Plot introduces something unknown to the otherwise normal setting. Other-worldly elements exist beyond the realm of our commonly accepted five senses. The supernatural can have a spiritual tone and was once a part of our world and had a place in it.
But it has transformed itself and returned to defy it. There is a fear brought on by something like a housing development built on an ancient Indian cemetery (Poltergeist) or someone sees dead people (The Sixth Sense) or something traumatic has happened like a murder of an innocent person with more murders on tap (Ghost).
The supernatural often has the element of horror. Behavior and events have been influenced by the intervention of supernatural beings with secret powers that influence earthy affairs.
But the emphasis is mainly on suspense rather than horror, although there is certainly horror in the story. A paranormal setting is usually less violent and often has a romantic theme.
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| A Cat From Murcat Manor |
In a supernatural setting, the protagonists are isolated against their will in a battle against a sinister force that builds to a climax. During that time, there are several rounds or battles with the protagonists (often everyday people) on the defensive and even injured. But as the story unfolds, they begin to figure things out and take the offensive.
That being said, there is so much blending of genres and blurring their boundaries that I know I have elements of paranormal, suspense, and mystery in the plot. But in an overall sense, Murcat Manor (soon to be renamed) is very much a clear cut Supernatural Thriller.
Thanks Everyone for helping with a new title for Murcat Manor. There were close to twenty names suggested and I’ve narrowed it down to four:
- Nine Lives to Murder
- A Manor of Murder
- Bed Breakfast and Death
- Dead and Breakfast
Honorable Mentions: it did seem like a good idea to try and get the name Salem in the title: - Salem’s Legacy
- Salem 13
- Salem’s Daughters
Finally: When writing, do you first pick a genre then write the story? Or do you write first and then figure out the genre?
Nine Lives to Murder would be good if it were to cozy mystery.
ReplyDeleteHow much humor is in it? If it's more suspense and thriller, look to Preston and Child books for your title inspiration.
I had no idea what genre I was writing beyond just science fiction. Never heard of space opera until my publisher labeled my book that.
Alex, I can add dark humor to the mix as there is a lot to make people laugh, at least in the first half. Then the dark humor turns just plain dark.
DeleteI picked the paranormal romance genre then wrote it. Well... Until I wrote a story I can't figure out the genre. I went in thinking paranormal romance, but aliens don't necessarily fall under that category. And sci-fi tends to be "techy" and this one certainly is NOT. Okay, so I guess in that case I wrote it first. It's still a romance, though. I didn't get THAT wrong! Haha! :)
ReplyDeleteBy the way, none of your titles scream Supernatural Thriller. At least not to me. Maybe the cover will portray that? A darker title might be "Murder Manor." Just my thoughts.
Thanks Stacy for your feedback. I need that. What do you think about Salem's Legacy?
DeleteSalem's Legacy sounds witch-y. If you have witches, then it would probably work. By the way, I descend from Susannah Martin, one of the women found guilty of being a witch during the Salem Witch Trials. :)
DeleteStacy, please read the synopsis above on the Murcat Manor tab. Thanks!
DeleteAre you saying I'm one of the CATS??? Hahahahahaha! :D Actually, Salem's Legacy would probably work.
DeleteIf it's a paranormal thriller, then the title should be darker and heavier. Those all sound very light.
ReplyDeleteGlad you're figuring out your title. I really like when stories can be fit within more than one genre like you're doing. I think it adds to the story's appeal.
ReplyDeleteI still favor Nine Lives to Murder. It includes those cats and I love that. When I write, I know where the book will fit on the shelf or what tags Amazon requires.
ReplyDeleteLee, Amazon tags are so important. Many writers are not aware they can use phrases instead of singular words for tags, enabling them to use far more tag words than they realize are available to them.
DeleteI know what they are when I start but my publisher has a way of choosing all kinds of keywords I would never thing of for Amazon tags. I like Salem's Daughters.
ReplyDeleteHi Stephen .. some interesting comments here - and I guess how dark is your book really is the question. I still like Dead and Breakfast ... but that's not a good reason to use that one! Cheers and good luck with the renaming ... Hilary
ReplyDeleteGood titles - love Dead and Breakfast but I think it might conjure a cozy mystery as opposed to a supernatural thriller. :)
ReplyDeleteJemi, this is in many ways a cozy mystery as the setting is at one place in the rural countryside. But due to the number of characters, which are many, it's not a cozy mystery in the trues sense of the genre.
DeleteOh goodness, coming up with titles is SO hard for me. I like the narrowed list you've got there. Bed Breakfast and Dead captivated me the most! I'm glad the you write the story first and then figure out the genre. For me, it's the reverse, mostly because it helps me put some parameters and rules in place that help me with the world building. Keep at it!
ReplyDeleteAnna, we go with what we know and what has worked for us in the past. It's a great formula to follow. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteYay!! Titles can be a pill to find but glad to see it all coming together. Score! And score in breaking down to a genre!
ReplyDeleteI consider mine romance, but I'm told they are women's lit because I don't follow the romance pattern. But that title doesn't seem to fit either, so I call it old school romance. I like Salem's Daughters- just mentioning Salem send a creepy feeling up the spine.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see how other people write and how they select a genre first or are surprised to see their finished work fall into an entirely different catagory.
ReplyDeleteStory then genre, but pretty soon into writing the genre sorts itself out.
ReplyDeleteGood titles. So many possibilities! I usually have a genre in mind as I am brainstorming or working on the story. Sometimes I have a title (or a tentative one) and sometimes not.
ReplyDeleteI do like those titles better. It's so cool to see another author's process. :)
ReplyDeleteI write first then try to find the right genre. Never easy, since mine are usually a mix as well.
ReplyDeleteA couple people about made a good point on "light" sounding titles. If the story is too dark or heavy for me and I've been lured in by a light sounding title, I'm going to be an unhappy ready. Most titles with "Salem" in them make me think dark and spooky.
LD, good point. I'm the same way. I don't care for the graphic horror novels with child mutilation and things like that. I've been lured in a couple times by a light sounding title.
DeleteI try to write to a genre, but end up being true to the story wherever it takes me. The overlap of genres is a good thing. I think.
ReplyDeleteGood luck picking the final title for your book. That's a tough call to make. :)
ReplyDeleteSome good titles you narrowed it down to. I mix and match genres as I go along and then just pick one at the end.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you can go wrong with any of those titles. No matter what I write, it falls into my thriller/romantic suspense cross. So I don't much worry about that.
ReplyDeleteOne thing is clear. The boundaries that once so stringently defined genres are now blended. And that's a good thing. It gives writers more freedom to write great novels without having to worry about offending an agent or publisher at the expense of compromising the story.
ReplyDeleteSpeculative fiction -- much bigger umbrella to play with! http://www.worldweaverpress.com/newsblog/what-is-speculative-fiction
ReplyDeleteSounds like a cool book title.
I almost always decide the genre first. Most of the genres I write in have tropes of things readers expect. So I do the research first, then write the book. I like to experiment with genres, but I make sure I know the parameters first.
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