HOT OFF THE PRESS! We love to share our information with writers, and we’re happy to pass some of our INSIDER’S SECRETS along to you. Feel free to print these posts to use as a reference. Pass the links along to your writer friends. It’s packed with great information this month. DEADLINE-DATED lists of anthologies, theme issues, and contests are included at no charge!

In This Issue:

* * We'll help you clear up confusion in GENRES DEFINED (PART 2).

* * Use our teaser to get you writing in THIS ISSUE'S WRITING PROMPT.

* * Want to make certain editors and agents think poorly of you? Read HOW TO GET YOUR WORK NOTICED: WRITING THAT SCREAMS "AMATEUR!"

* * We’re giving away a FREE REPORT that outlines industry-standard Manuscript FORMAT Guidelines when you order our E-book entitled REJOICE IN REJECTION. Go to: http://www.WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Rejoice-in-Rejection-e-book.aspx.

* * LOTS OF HELP for CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHORS—100 CONTACTS and Everything You Need To Know To Submit Your Children’s Book. Click this link to get our insider's tips and tricks: http://www.WritersReliefBlog.com/post/For-Childrens-Book-Authors.aspx.   

* * You won’t find a better list anywhere (AND IT’S FREE!) of upcoming ANTHOLOGIES, SPECIAL-THEMED JOURNALS, and CONTESTS. Visit: http://WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Anthologies-Contests.aspx.

↓ Scroll Down to Read These Exciting and Useful Articles!! ↓

In a previous post (http://www.writersreliefblog.com/post/Genres-Defined2c-Part-I.aspx), we defined the broadest categories of genres and broke them down into some common subgenres. For this post, we added a couple of genres and thought it would be fun to delve a bit deeper into some of the lesser-known subgenres…especially the newer ones with interesting names like cyberpunk and splatterpunk. Catchy, huh?

Romance:

We are all familiar with the romance genre. Every supermarket has an aisle with dozens of titles, so there’s no denying its popularity. It’s a genre with many subcategories, and most are self-explanatory. For instance, historical romances take place in—you guessed it—historical times. Combine a historical romance with a good mystery, and you have a historical romance mystery. Regency romances take place in the early 1800s and are set in England (when the Prince Regent ruled Britain). Inspirational romances have a spiritual theme, and multicultural romances involve characters from different racial backgrounds. There are also time-travel romances, where the characters travel back and forth between dimensions; paranormal romances, involving otherworldly elements; contemporary romances (set after the World Wars); and Victorian romances, which are set in Victorian times.

There are two criteria for a romance novel: there must be a central love story, and there must be an emotionally satisfying ending, as in marriage or a happily ever-after scenario. Once these two criteria are met, the writer can take a variety of directions and set the story in the present day, historical times, or even in a prehistoric setting.

Speculative Fiction:

The term "speculative fiction" is a broad umbrella that covers several genres, including horror, science fiction, and fantasy. It’s based on speculation about other worlds and otherworldly characters and events.

Science Fiction:

This is a genre bursting with interesting subcategories. Science fiction is based on futuristic concepts and technological advances—hence the name "science." From this common denominator, the genre can then take one of dozens of paths, depending on plot. These subgenres include time travel, adventure (space exploration, for example), robots and computers, aliens, parallel worlds, and even elements of romance, mystery, and horror.

Science fiction is loosely categorized as either "hard" or "soft," and defining these categories can stir up some hot debate among aficionados. In general, hard science fiction is based on scientific accuracy, and the science is absolutely crucial to the plot. The events in the story could conceivably happen based on technology as we know it, and there’s an element of realism involved. An example may be a novel about a fleet of robots, or a mega-computer that tries to take over the world. Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke are authors who employed this method.

"Soft" science fiction typically focuses on the people or the society who live in the fabricated environment; science and/or technology are a part of the story but are not central to it, and more focus is placed on character development and social issues than realistic scientific breakthroughs. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale is a good example of soft science fiction.

One new and interesting subgenre has become known as "cyberpunk," based on the short story by that name by Bruce Bethke in 1980. Cyberpunk is usually set in the near future and is based on punk attitudes and information technology. It involves a complete breakdown or a radical change in the social order, and its characters typically live on the edge of this society.

Horror:

Under this genre, the subcategories are quite self-explanatory. They include medical thrillers, vampires, demons, serial killers, and monsters (both human and nonhuman). "Splatterpunk," however, is not quite as clear. The term, coined in the mid ’80s, refers to a category of horror where all boundaries of good taste are crossed, and nothing—absolutely nothing—is sacred. If you’re into gory, shocking, in-your-face horror, this is the genre for you.

Literary Fiction:

In literary fiction, the quality of the writing is the star of the show as opposed to the plot. Literary fiction explores the human condition, and it does so through outstanding writing, innovative language, and original ideas. It’s read by a niche audience and not targeted to the "common man" audience.

Mainstream Fiction:

Mainstream fiction is considered more "popular" because it appeals to a broader audience. Any genre can be used to produce a mainstream or widely popular novel. The plot must have elements to which a broad spectrum of readers can relate, usually focusing on relationships and personal conflicts. Mainstream fiction can be horror, romance, mystery, or science fiction, but it must have this in common: a wide audience. Many of Stephen King’s books, for example, appeal to readers who normally do not buy horror novels.

You've just won a million dollars and miraculously, you don't have to pay taxes on it! After you've paid off any of your debt, what do you do with your money? Dream big! Don't just write that you'll travel or buy a house...describe everything about making your dream come true. By writing your dreams down and being as freethinking as possible, you may soon find a passion within that you never knew existed.

Here are but a few tips to help you on your way:

Get creative in your use of punctuation. Use it willy-nilly and at random, in places the reader would never expect to see it. Have fun with multiple exclamation points!!! Don’t worry about the proper use of "quotation" marks or hyphen-ated words. And don’t fret about not using punctuation to break up run-on sentences the reader will love to unravel the mysteries of your thoughts it makes it more fun this way.

You may feel it necessary to impress your readers with pedantic language, forcing them to make a dash for the dictionary to get through your first few paragraphs. Good plan! Every reader longs to learn ten new words per page. Erudite expositions will create admiration in your exalted readers, and all will be inspired by your flowery vocabulary…if they manage to hang on long enough.

In the same vein, you may score points by creating long, convoluted sentences with multiple clauses and wandering phrases that continue to entrance the reader with their convoluted paths taken along the strange and uncharted path that is the language of our modern world, which is far more exciting than plain, simple, and concise language, which is purely boring and doesn’t give the writer an opportunity to show off his or her mastery of the English language, therefore ignoring the admonition to avoid using too many unnecessary and inessential words, irregardless.

Use your dictionery to avoid mispellings, because its a good idea to check they’re version against your own. However, it can be fun to come up with knew and creative spellings for words, just as it can be fun to change the tents of certain verbs that have creeped into your work.

Some people will tell you that verbs should agree with its subject, and a pronoun should agree with their antecedent. This is entirely up to you, and they should be able to make sense of it.

Metaphors and similes can be very fun to use, especially if they’re a little off—or mixed-up like a salad with too many veggies. So take the bull by the hand and get cracking! Cloud your ideas in a sea of imagination, and create conflicting images for your valued readers. They’ll thank you for it.

REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT OUR LIST OF WRITING CONTESTS and ANTHOLOGIES! You won’t find a better list anywhere (AND IT’S FREE!) of upcoming anthologies, special-themed journals, and contests. Find it by visiting:
http://www.writersreliefblog.com/post/Anthologies-Contests.aspx