Content Genres of Commercial Fiction

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What are the categories or content genres of books associated with Commercial Fiction?

In my last post, I compared literary and commercial fiction and detailed their differences, giving examples of novels that fall into either category. This week, I will focus on commercial fiction and the categories or content genres of books that fall under this category.

To review, commercial fiction is defined as fiction with commercial or mass appeal instead of literary fiction with a smaller, more limited audience. In commercial fiction, the purpose is primarily entertainment, and the story emphasizes the plot rather than language or character. They are known as page-turners and are more accessible to a broader range of readers. Though plot-driven, modern commercial fiction authors strive to develop complex characters while keeping the action moving.

Commercial fiction is usually composed of stories found in the external content genres. According to StoryGrid.com, “content genre defines what is contained in a story and specifically determines the need and VALUE at stake.” Reader expectations are met by obligatory scenes and conventions specific to each genre. Content genre is composed of two types: external and internal. Commercial fiction lines up most fully with external content genres. These genres are:

·      Action

·      War

·      Crime

·      Horror

·      Thriller

·      Western/Eastern

·      Love

·      Performance

·      Society

 I will look briefly at each of the above and give examples. The following information is, in part, from Storygrid.com, “Genres of Writing: Definition, Examples, and 12 Types.”

1.    Action Genre:

Action stories are based in an intense, often unbalanced setting and are fast-paced, including a lot of action, like fights, chases, and, in the case of movies, slow-motion cinematography. The protagonist sacrifices something to move from a state of death or near death to a state of life. These books generate feelings of anticipation and excitement in the reader. The stakes are usually high.

Examples:

·      The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

·      The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

·      The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

·      The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

2.    War Genre:

War stories are usually set in intense settings and focus on the protagonist as they self-actualize through expressing love and self-sacrifice. The characters exemplify heroism in the face of the horrors of warfare, including pain and physical deprivation and the loss of fellow soldiers, friends, and family. Themes explored include combat, sacrifice, inhumanity, futility, and death.

Examples:

·      All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

·      The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

·      Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield.

3.    Crime Genre:

Crime stories occur in various settings and focus on the external value spectrum of Justice/Injustice. They generate in the reader feelings of intrigue (solving the puzzle), suspense, and security/safety when the criminal is exposed and caught. Sub-genres in the crime genre include cozy mysteries, hard-boiled detective mysteries, courtroom dramas, and police procedurals. The plot is propelled by the protagonist’s quest to find clues to solve the crime and bring the perpetrator to justice.

Examples:

·      The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

·      Double Indemnity by Robert Whitlow

·      Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow

4.    Horror Genre:

The setting of a horror novel is usually intense, claustrophobic, and eerie, and the value spectrum is that of life to death to damnation. Once again, the protagonist of a horror story self-actualizes by expressing their special gift or ability, usually courage and selflessness, in the face of fear and potential death. The antagonist may have several secondary victims, but the protagonist is the primary victim and focus. The protagonist squares off against a much more powerful villain or monster that cannot be reasoned with; the odds are heavily weighted in favor of the antagonist.

Examples:

·      Misery by Stephen King

·      The Shining by Stephen King

·      Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

5.    Thriller Genre:

Thriller novels have many, often overlapping, subgenres. These include crime, horror, action, and detective stories. They focus on the protagonist’s need for safety and security. In turn, the reader identifies with the protagonist, who aims to defeat the antagonist. This antagonist, or villain, is the personification of evil. A thriller is a blending of three other external content genres: action (the protagonist is individualistic and powerful), horror (the antagonist is the embodiment of evil), and crime (the goal of the protagonist is to unmask and defeat the villain or criminal). Thrillers are generally fast-paced and full of action. Numerous subgenres include the serial killer subgenre, the spy subgenre, and the woman or child in jeopardy subgenres.

Examples:

·      Red Dragon by Thomas Harris

·      The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

·      The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

·      The Client by John Grisham

·      The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly

·      The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

6.    Western/Eastern Genre:

Iconic visuals and stunning narrative elements of crime, redemption, and action usually characterize these novels. The external story of this genre focuses on the conflict between the individual and society. The value spectrum is Subjugation/Freedom, and the plot generates intrigue and excitement in the reader.

Examples:

·      Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

·      True Grit by Charles Portis

·      High Noon (film, 1952)

·      Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (film, 2000)

7.    Love Genre:

Also known as the Romance genre, the focus of the external story is on the need of the individual for connection with another in a variety of ways, which include sexual desire, commitment (marriage), and emotional/psychological intimacy. The value spectrum is that of hate to love, and the reader identifies “with the lovers as protagonists and respond to the fulfillment of the couple’s fate… with a feeling of romance.” (Storygrid.com) There is suspense in the desire of the reader to know whether the protagonists will get together in the end.

Examples:

·      The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

·      Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

·      Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin

·      “Brokeback Mountain” (short story) by Annie Proulx

8.    Performance Genre:

The performance genre is exemplified by the movie Rocky, starring Sylvester Stallone. The external value at stake is shame/respect, and the plot focuses on the protagonist as they express their internal gifts and need for approval through their commitment to and performing of their chosen sport or art form. The reader experiences exhilaration and triumph while reading one of these stories. This genre is widely expressed in film and TV.

Examples:

·      Rocky (film, 1976)

·      The Natural (film, 1984)

·      The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone

·      Whiplash (film, 2014)

9.    Society Genre:

The Society genre usually has a protagonist in a disenfranchised group seeking recognition. The value at stake is the impotence/power spectrum, and these stories create in the reader feelings of righteous indignation or victory, depending “on whether the Revolution succeeds or fails.” (Storygrid.com) The underlying question is what a person should do when facing oppression and tyranny—stand against it or comply and capitulate. The core need of the protagonist is recognition.

Examples:

·      Ordinary People by Judith Guest

·      Animal Farm by George Orwell

·      Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow

Other Pseudo-genres of fiction in the Commercial Fiction category

Science fiction and fantasy fans may wonder why I haven’t mentioned their favorite reads in this list. Science fiction and fantasy books fall under commercial fiction but are not true genres. Instead, they are categories used by booksellers to determine where to place these stories on their shelves. Many books are science fiction that also fall in the action genre (Star Wars) or horror genre (Alien). For that reason, I didn’t include them specifically in my list. Likewise, no traditional literary genre is known as “Christian” or “inspirational” because these are categories used for marketing. Many “Christian” books belong in the Love or Thriller genres and are considered Christian because they include Christian themes and Biblical content. They, too, can fall under the commercial fiction umbrella, but many are regarded as literary fiction because of their internal content focus and emphasis on character and language.

Thank you for reading this post. I hope you found it helpful and informative. Do you have a specific content genre under the umbrella of commercial fiction that’s your favorite to write in or read? Let me know in the comments section below.

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Pauline J. Grabia

Pauline J. Grabia