Romance genres vary over time and can include specific settings, characters, and writing styles. Some genres, like African-American and gay romance, have become separate editorial lines. Romance novels can also cross over with other genres, but must prioritize romance standards.
There are many different romance genres, and the way romance novels and stories are categorized changes over time. General romance, which is a romance novel that doesn’t easily fit into a more specific category, is itself a rare category because most romance novels fit well into one of many additional subgenres. At its core, a love story is typically thought of as one that has a strong emotional core and a satisfying ending, which alone typically does not make for a well-rounded story. It’s best to think of romance genres as further specifics on this basic romance centerpiece.
Many romance genres specify the setting and time period in which the story takes place. The historical novel, for example, takes place in the past and can include very detailed historical details. While location-specific romance genres aren’t typically broad enough to constitute full subgenres, some areas and time periods warrant categories of their own, and may include Viking romances or romances set in specific wars.
More recently, the race, age, and sexual orientation of characters have become defining characteristics of genres. African-American romance novels, for example, have become broad enough to warrant entirely separate editorial lines among some publishers. Gay romance novels are also a separate genre, although some definitions of romance exclude controversial elements such as homosexuality. Young adult novels typically involve characters who are the same age as the target reader and can range from preteen to late teen protagonists.
Some romance genres are extremely broad and describe not the story itself, but how the story is made. For example, novels can be serials or single titles. While not officially a genre of sorts, short stories that take inspiration from famous writers or even the actual body of a single author are sometimes used as genre classifications. This is especially true for writers who are prolific and whose writing style is extremely unique, as these writers become the definition of the genre and therefore worthy of a separate classification.
Romance novels can also cross over with other genres of fiction, including paranormal fiction, Christian fiction, and suspense fiction. It is important to note, however, that romance genres that are a combination of two genres must give preference to the standards of romance writing. Many novels have romantic elements, but not all stories with romantic elements can be considered love stories by the very narrow definition put forward by various female fiction writers’ associations.
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