Now, what’s a subgenre?: Romance 101
Hey there, Wordmaker!
Welcome to #JustTheTipTuesday where I share writing tips and tricks to help romance authors perfect their craft. This series, Romance 101, will cover the basics you need to get started. It’s an ongoing series.
Last week, I talked about the history of romance and how it has evolved over the years into the genre we know it as today.
I also said we would dive into HEAs and subgenres, but after writing this post, I decided it needs to be a two-parter. So, in this installment of Romance 101, I’ll focus on subgenres and the type of story you can expect to read or write within them.
A subgenre is a specific category within the broader romance genre, each with its own distinct themes, settings, and characteristics. While they all share the foundation of a central love story, each subgenre offers a unique twist on the romantic journey, catering to various tastes and preferences. Reading and writing in a subgenre is like finding a cozy room within a grand, sprawling estate. Each room, or subgenre, has its own distinct themes, settings, and characteristics. They all share the foundation of a central love story, but each one offers a unique twist on the romantic journey, catering to various tastes and preferences.
Subgenres play several key roles in romance literature:
1. Catering to Diverse Tastes: Romance readers are a diverse bunch with different interests. Subgenres let authors tailor their stories to specific audiences. Whether you crave the suspense of a romantic thriller, the charm of a historical romance, or the fantasy of a paranormal love story, there's something for everyone.
2. Setting the Scene: Subgenres help establish the setting and atmosphere of a novel. Historical romances transport readers to different eras, complete with period-appropriate details and social norms. Contemporary romances, on the other hand, are set in the modern day, reflecting current lifestyles and issues. By defining the backdrop, subgenres enhance the immersive experience.
3. Guiding Expectations: Picking up a book from a specific subgenre sets certain expectations. A romantic comedy promises humor and lighthearted moments. A romantic suspense novel promises edge-of-your-seat drama. Subgenres help manage these expectations, ensuring you get the type of story you’re in the mood for.
4. Adding Layers to the Love Story: Subgenres introduce additional elements to the romance, adding depth and complexity. In a paranormal romance, the love story might be intertwined with supernatural events, magical abilities, or otherworldly creatures. In a military romance, the plot could involve high-stakes missions and the challenges of love in a war zone. These elements enrich the story, making each romance feel fresh and exciting.
5. Enabling Creative Expression: Subgenres provide a framework for creative expression for authors. They can explore different themes, settings, and character dynamics while sticking to the core of a romance novel. This flexibility allows writers to innovate and push the boundaries, keeping the genre dynamic and evolving.
Subgenres in romance set the scene, guide expectations, add layers to the love story, and enable creative expression. Whether you're in the mood for a heartwarming contemporary romance, a swoon-worthy historical, or a paranormal adventure, there's a subgenre out there waiting to capture your heart.
Romance isn't just about heart-flutters and pants feelings; it's a genre packed with diversity, offering something for everyone.
Contemporary Romance: These stories are set in the time when they were written, reflecting modern-day life. They are relatable, filled with current issues, technology, and culture, making it easy for readers to see themselves in the characters or settings.
Historical Romance: Step back in time with historical romances, where the passion unfolds in bygone eras. These novels are not just about love; they're an escape to a different time with meticulously detailed settings and period-appropriate conflicts.
Paranormal Romance: Vampires, werewolves, ghosts, oh my! Paranormal romance introduces elements of fantasy and horror, where love stories transcend the ordinary and venture into the extraordinary realms of the supernatural.
Romantic Suspense: Combine the thrill of suspense with the passion of romance. These stories involve a mystery or thriller plot alongside the romantic storyline, ensuring your heart is racing not just from the romance but from the high stakes and danger too.
Erotic Romance: Focusing on the physical relationship between characters, erotic romance explores sexuality and emotional connections with explicit detail, offering a more intense and explicit portrayal of relationships.
Romantic Comedy: Need a good laugh with your love story? Romantic comedies blend humor with romance, creating light-hearted and often hilarious tales that focus on the amusing aspects of falling in love.
Science Fiction Romance: Set against futuristic or speculative backdrops, these romances explore relationships in the context of advanced technologies, space travel, and other sci-fi elements, perfect for those who love a good "what if?" scenario.
Fantasy Romance: Often set in worlds where magic is real and dangers lurk, fantasy romances blend the enchantment of fantasy with the warmth of romance, creating epic tales of adventure and love.
Inspirational Romance: These stories incorporate religious or spiritual beliefs that play significant roles in the characters' romance. They often focus on faith-based principles and personal growth alongside love.
Gothic Romance: With a darker tone, these romances are set against brooding landscapes, featuring mysterious events and often a haunted or eerie atmosphere that enhances the turbulent passion of the central story.
Dark Romance: Not for the faint of heart, dark romances delve into more intense and often taboo aspects of love and relationships. These stories can involve complex power dynamics and darker emotions, exploring themes like revenge, captivity, or morally ambiguous characters. The love stories here are deep, gritty, and raw, challenging the boundaries of conventional romances.
Horror Romance: Mixing the chills of horror with the emotional depth of romance, this subgenre keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The relationships develop amidst terrifying circumstances and supernatural occurrences, testing the strength and resilience of the characters’ bond. If you like your romance with a side of suspense and eerie settings, horror romance might just be your new favorite.
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As you can see, I’m starting with the umbrella term (romance) and will get more specific as the Romance 101 series goes on. You might also note that I didn’t include Black romance or LGBTQIA+ as subgenres. Well, that’s because I don’t think they are. Changing the cultural background or identification of the author or characters doesn’t mean they don’t or can’t fall into the above subgenres. Yes, the stories will have different flavor profiles but they’re still romances at their core!
Subgenres in romance offer variety, each with its unique flavor. But it’s also important to remember that when you blend or mash up with other genres, they don't always follow every romance convention to the letter. The central love story and the quest for a happily ever after might unfold differently, reflecting the unique challenges and settings of the combined genres. These genre hybrids have become quite popular, appealing to a wide range of readers by mixing elements of traditional romance with other genre thrills. However, the fundamental elements, like a compelling love story or a satisfying conclusion, might look a bit different. And that’s exactly what we're diving into next week! We'll explore how these blended genres shake up the typical romance narrative, adding complexity and depth to the love stories we adore.
See you next Tuesday!
xo, Tasha