《Write Better: Tips and tricks》Genre vs Category
Advertisement
Before we get into the meaty part, I wanted to take a chapter to discuss the difference between genre and category. Many people fully don't understand the difference as it is known in the publishing industry (Wattpad can be misleading because it tells you to choose a category and then lists a majority of genres).
Day to day, you can survive switching them around since they're essentially synonyms, but if you want to spare yourself correction from picky people (or you want to understand why an agent doesn't just want to see "young adult" in the spot for genre), here's a quick reference.
A is a category of literary composition. They tend to be broad in nature and can be distinguished from one another through examination of content, tone, technique, and occasionally length. They group books with these similar elements and often have subgenres (Romance —> historical, contemporary).
format (graphic novel)
age (young adult, new adult)
*usually* length (short story)
A doesn't tell you much about what a book is about, but more that it contains one element or structure (such as graphics, teenagers, or a small number of words).
Here's an more visual example if you're still confused or want a way to explain this to someone who doesn't necessarily care about it as much as you.
A literary genre is Dalmatian. A literary category is Dog.
Let's try again: A literary category is Dog. A literary genre is Poodle. A subgenre is Toy Poodle (still a poodle, but it's a Toy type, vs a Miniature, Standard, or Tea Cup).
Like I said before, they're kinda the same thing: barking, pooping, hungry, lovable tubes with legs. In most circles you can use them interchangeably. The difference is that a dog helps to tell you that the animal is not a fish or a cat, and Dalmatian tells you more what the dog is about (spotted, this tall, weighs this, tends to look really good next to fire engines).
Advertisement
- In Serial54 Chapters
ARMOR
I was created as the ultimate dungeon trap: a living suit of armor that devours any adventurer who dons me. My master created me for his entertainment, leading adventurers to ruin and betraying them at the last moment. This time will be no different. Or so I thought. Now I'm living the life of an adventurer. Hopefully, my companions won't realize I'm not who, or what, they think I am. *Now updating Tuesdays and Thursdays Additional tags I couldn't include: Romantic subplot This story is meant to be a book rather than a serial, there will eventually be an ending. It is also my first book length work so while I intend to do my best, mistakes and issues will occur.
8 471 - In Serial35 Chapters
Jormungandr's calamity
English is not my first Language. Bagir is a normal snake who reincarnates with the Bloodline of Jormungandr we will follow his story in Urdu and see what he will become.Will he be the savior or the destructor of everything.Follow the story and we will see. Not my own cover.
8 185 - In Serial45 Chapters
Forward In Time
A new threat comes to the Four Nations. Unfortunately, at the same time, the Gaang is sent forward in time... to the future... seventy years into the future. What they don't realize, is that there are bigger things going on. There's a bigger plan happening... and Aang is apart of it.Can they stop it and return to their own time?
8 232 - In Serial10 Chapters
Sub
Rob is an unremarkable young man. Lonely, unmotivated and may very well be stuck in a dead-end job. Nothing to look forward to but see his days repeat like any other, and he does not appear to take interest in anything besides frequenting a cafe, drinking and smoking. There is a lack of rhythm and melody in this gent's life. That is, until his coworker, Lisa begins to accompany him for coffee. And perhaps the questionable dreams he begins to have. And Elizabeth was in it. A sad child, really. Do not expect much.
8 182 - In Serial14 Chapters
Claimed by the Gods
Xeyian. A magical world that was set to be the gods play toy. The gods laughed and enjoyed the lives that strived in this very world. To the gods, the souls of the mortals was just a play thing.Lucca comes from a family that has followed the teachings of the life gods. Taking their children, they offer their souls to the angels above to claim them in the future. Once a member of the family dies, they will serve as angels in the after life. But Lucca was not claimed by those angels. The angels rejected his soul leaving his mother to weep. Unknown to all this, Lucca was given up by his mother. But little did Lucca's family knew, that Lucca was claimed by another god. The goddess of death claimed Lucca as her husband. Giving him the mark of death. This mark soon lead to Lucca's future to out strip a mere mortals.Current Chapters: 1-14Status: Haitus or may be cut.
8 73 - In Serial19 Chapters
Wanderer
Space, the last frontier. Or at least it was until the year 3039 when humanity discovered the rift and proved the existance of a multiverse. Those with the ability to move between universes are called wanderers. Jack, a 23 years old otaku and gamer decides to become a wanderer dreaming of power, fortune and women. Hes a egoistical lazy pervert, that loves music and have a dark humor, so what would happen if he ended on a fantasy medieval universe, wielding superior tech, knownledge and mental powers?Chaos, Sweet Sweet Chaos.
8 91

