While "fantasy" seems pretty straight forward, and its definition quite simple, the word in the writing world is actually quite B R O A D. There are many different types of fantasy out there, and knowing which subgenre category your writing falls into will help you write and market! But, Erin, why do I really need to know about the different types of fantasy? Well, reader, that is a great question! When you learn about the specifics of fantasy, it can help your writing and marketing. You can read other works in the genre you write or plan to write in in order to get a feel for your book, and maybe even some ideas. When designing, you'll know how to make your work fit in but also unique! Furthermore, knowing the type of fantasy your work is will help you market to a more specific audience, which can help sales! So, without further ado, here's a list: The two biggest divisions in fantasy are EPIC vs URBAN. Generally, the main dividing factor is setting.
EPIC FANTASY, aka high fantasy. Epic fantasy takes place in a fantasy world, and is generally bigger in most literary aspects: ie, many characters. The plot and/or theme is connected to the world rather than focused on the character. In other words, the victory or failure over the protagonist's conflicts affect the world. Furthermore, conflicts in epic fantasies are often focused good versus evil, or moral aspects. URBAN FANTASY, fka low fantasy. Urban fantasy has a much smaller setting (like one city), and takes place on earth or an earth-like world. The world is usually a fantastical earth, like Harry Potter and Hogwarts. The themes and plot are more centered around the characters, not having an effect on the entire world. SWORD AND SORCERY/HEROIC FANTASY. Sword and Sorcery fantasy is a mix of urban and epic fantasy. If you play or know Dungeons and Dragons, it's just that. It a large fantasy world in which the protagonist and/or a heroic group travel through multiple settings, like epic fantasy. Unique to Sword and Sorcery, this fantasy world is highly influenced by the medieval time period. However, the plot is not focused on worldly matters, but the hero(s)'s journey, like general urban fantasy. The following subgenres generally are grouped with one of the above. For example, you can have an Urban Romance fantasy. However, these subgenres can also be the main genre of your work. For example, your work can take place in an Urban fantasy world, but the focus of the story is the horror and grotesque of the plot and settings, making it a Dark fantasy. FAIRY TALES/FOLKLORE. Fairytale fantasy is characterized by motifs and a moral lesson. They're generally shorter and simpler works, in order to avoid distraction from the lesson of the plot. DARK FANTASY. Dark fantasy is simply horror fantasy, or fantasy with a darker theme/tone. It can be violent horror, suspenseful horror, any horror. Though sometimes, more violent works are labeled grimdark fantasy. SUPERNATURAL/PARANORMAL FANTASY. Supernatural fantasy is a work with a fantasy world and supernatural or paranormal characters. It can also be a work that speculates about paranormal activities on earth. MYSTERY FANTASY. Fantasy works with a plot that hides key information from the reader and protagonist and are focused on solving the mystery are mystery fantasy works. They may be called detective fantasy or crime fantasy. ROMANCE FANTASY. Fantasy works in which the relationship between main characters is central to the plot are romance fantasies. HISTORICAL FANTASY. Fantasy works based on a certain time/cultural period and its events are historical fantasy works. Some examples are medieval/nordic/celtic/prehistoric/ war-based/etc. ANIMAL FANTASY. Animal fantasy works are from the point of view of animals. These can be regular animals, like wolves, or fantastical, like dragons. SCIENCE FICTION? It's important to mark the distinction between fantasy and science fiction. Science fiction focuses on scientific possibilities of the future or scientific freak accidents, and has a plot central to these scientific aspects. However, some items of science fiction can be fantastical. Some works can be fantastical and scientific, perhaps like a fantasy world with a fantastical creature as a protagonist that creates a freak scientific accident. A NOTE ABOUT YOUR AUDIENCE. Like the subgenre you write in, the audience you write for will have the same affect. Your marketing, writing style, and design should all be influenced by who you decide to write for. As you should read and use models of the subgenre of your work, so too should you read and use models of works that have the same audience. Here's some links: children fantasy, young adult fantasy, and adult fantasy.
I hope this helped! Happy all-things-authoring!
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More InfoErin blogs because she wants to help other young adult writers and new writers. It's aimed to educate others on the writing and self-publishing process. If there is anything you'd like to know that she hasn't covered yet, please contact her! |