Weird Book Genres
Occasionally we receive submissions to the Firebird Book Awards with interesting and unusual genre suggestions. Sometimes I have to look them up. Is this a real thing? So with that in mind, I wanted to share a few.
Bad Mothers – focuses on stories of mothers struggling to make ends meet, dealing with complicated relationships, and overcoming their inner demons to become the best versions of themselves.
Bizarro Fiction – is a subgenre of speculative fiction characterized by its surreal, absurd, and often darkly humorous content. This genre focuses on themes ranging from the bizarre to the grotesque, often featuring equally outrageous characters.
Cashier Memoir – tells the story of a regular person like you or me from behind a cash register.
Cli-Fi – climate change fiction – focuses on stories that explore the effects of climate change and environmental degradation caused by human activity. It is a unique form of speculative fiction that combines science and storytelling to imagine a future world altered by climate change.
Fake Memoir – is that really a genre?
Folk Horror – combines folklore, horror, and fantasy elements to create works of fiction with a distinct, otherworldly atmosphere. These novels often explore the intersections between the mundane and the supernatural, playing on readers’ fears of the unknown while providing a captivating narrative.
Foodie Romance – often views the relationships between characters as they search for new recipes, restaurants, and cuisines. As the characters learn more about each other, the reader can explore their relationship through their shared love of food.
Grimdark is a subgenre of speculative fiction characterized by its dark and gritty tone and subject matter. Grimdark books are not for the faint of heart.
Hopepunk – opposite to Grimdark – is characterized by a focus on optimism, compassion, and the power of individuals working together to create positive change.
Slipstream – is a term used to describe a genre of fiction that combines elements of science fiction, fantasy, and literary fiction. This genre often focuses on themes such as the surreal, the absurd, and the uncanny.
Spoetry – spam poetry is a poetic verse composed primarily from the subject lines or content of spam e-mail messages. It uses the often humorous, nonsensical, or otherwise offbeat text found in spam emails as its source material. The term ‘spam poetry’ is a portmanteau of the words ‘spam’ and ‘poetry’ and is also known as ‘spoetry’ or ‘spamlit’.
New Weird – is a genre of speculative fiction that combines elements of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. This genre often features a surreal setting and strange characters.
Western Gothic – combines elements of the traditional gothic literature of the 19th century with the western genre of the United States. It typically focuses on stories of the supernatural, death, and tragedy in the Old West. It is often considered a subgenre of horror and incorporates elements of suspense, fantasy, and mystery.
Weird Western – is a genre of speculative fiction that combines elements of the western genre with supernatural elements. It often features ghosts, werewolves, and other supernatural creatures.
For those who write in neighboring genres, it might be fun to dip your pen into one of these. However, since they are relatively new genres, you might find an untapped audience waiting for your book. Or heck – create your own!
I might attempt a Bizarro Mother/Weird Foodie in the Gothic Western Half of the East Coast Memoir.
PR
