Young Writers Society

I'm more of a Gothic fiction writer and I heard about a "rare sub genre" by the name of Paranormal romance does anyone know anything about it? (without Wikipedia.)

Abel24.

*Moved to Fiction Discussion and Tips*

To answer your question, I believe the Twilight saga falls under the Paranormal Romance sub-genre (I heard it did, anyway). Just looking at the name I think that's right. "Paranormal creatures/activity" are usually some horror-based myth (Ghosts, werewolves, vampires, aliens, alien abductions), therefore, Paranormal Romance is when there's love/lust between paranormal creatures, and maybe a human. Didn't look up the definition, so it could be only between a paranormal creature and a human, but I'm not sure.

Logically, if there are horror-based creatures, then it's dark fantasy. I'm trying to think of a book that might fall under that and I keep thinking of Wicked Lovely. Where an evil fairy kidnaps a girl because he wants her. (I could be mixing up titles. Books in that series get blended together in my head)

Hope this helps!

~Rosey

Paranormal romance is very far from a rare subgenre - it's enormously popular and selling very well at the moment. It's a sister of urban fantasy. Both genres are set in the real world but with a paranormal twist, eg. vampires walking the streets of New York at night. The difference is that paranormal romance is driven by romance and urban fantasy is not. Both genres are female-dominated with female readers, writers and protagonists. Major-league bestselling authors like Charlaine Harris and Sherrilyn Kenyon are shifting millions of copies in this field.

edit: Yeah, I'd describe Twilight as YA paranormal romance. It follows the classic paranormal romance model: normal human girl falls for supernatural bad boy, drama ensues.

edit: Yeah, I'd describe Twilight as YA paranormal romance. It follows the classic paranormal romance model: normal human girl falls for supernatural bad boy, drama ensues.

I'm wondering if there is such a thing as a paranormal romance in which a human boy falls for a female supernatural character. I don't see many of those around and it would be interesting to read (especially if told from the girl's perspective). Sadly the only examples I can think of are in the magical girlfriend genre of anime, which don't usually have the most forward-looking views on gender. Granted, I am not terribly well versed in urban fantasy.

I doubt such a thing is common, since, as you said, the genre is read mostly by girls.

well, I might be able to make it work that way Bickazer. I know tons of girls that always ask me how the male mind works. So I might try that wut do all you girls think?

Bickazer wrote:I'm wondering if there is such a thing as a paranormal romance in which a human boy falls for a female supernatural character. I don't see many of those around and it would be interesting to read (especially if told from the girl's perspective). Sadly the only examples I can think of are in the magical girlfriend genre of anime, which don't usually have the most forward-looking views on gender. Granted, I am not terribly well versed in urban fantasy.

As I understand it, this model is very rare in urban fantasy and paranormal romance. You could write a thesis about the existence of entire subgenres dominated by pairings of young women and powerful, aggressive, dangerous older men.

Abel24 wrote:well, I might be able to make it work that way Bickazer. I know tons of girls that always ask me how the male mind works. So I might try that wut do all you girls think?

Having a Y chromosome doesn't automatically make you awesome at writing male characters. Just saying.

Paranormal romance is a subgenre of romance first and foremost, and therefore it's overwhelmingly dominated by female protagonists, due to the equally overwhelming dominance of female readers. I'm not sure you can sell a romance with a male protagonist. Of course saleability may or may not be your concern. But if you intend to write a romance, be sure that you're familiar with genre conventions - if you don't know what an HEA or HFN is, for example, you probably need to do a little research before you begin.

If you're planning to write urban fantasy with a male protagonist, you might find it helpful to pick up the king of male-protagonist urban fantasy, Jim Butcher.

(I've written an urban fantasy with a male protagonist and another male viewpoint character. It was fun.)

Also, where are the paranormal romances with creatures besides vampires, werewolves, and angels? I want a VALKYRIE, dammit!

Merlin:

I normally write Norse-based things, so one day, I shall have you a story about a Valkyrie. 'Til then, I recommend Tolkien's "Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun."