Fiction Genre

There are many different types of genre (pronounced jon-ruh) in literature. "Genre" means "category" or "kind". Popular types of fiction genre include Mystery, Horror, Westerns, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and many others. But what do different genre have in common? They tell stories!

Telling stories means that fiction genre are also known as Narrative Writings! Narrative Writings have a beginning, middle, and an ending. They have characters, settings, plots, and themes. Most of the time, you will find a "good guy" (the hero, or protagonist) and a "bad guy" (the person or thing that the hero must overcome, or the antagonist). Let's explore some different genre.

**Here are Examples of Some Popular Genre**
Mystery - solving a puzzle, involves clues, has a "sleuth" or detective. (Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys)	Horror - scary! Usually involves monsters or other scary creatures (Goosebumps)	Fantasy-involves magical creatures and fantasy plots, usually not as scary as Horror. (Harry Potter)	Science Fiction- usually involves technology and the future (Star Wars)
Myths/Legends/Fairy Tales - common tales passed down over the years, usually have some kind of moral lesson to be taught. (Cinderella)	Historical Fiction - a make believe account of a real event. (Dear America Series)	Humor - written purposely to make the reader laugh! (Joke Books)	Poetry - stories told in verse or rhyme, some patterned, some not.

Explore Some Different Genre!
Before you venture to some of these sites, you should already consider yourself a good writer. Writing fiction is very challenging! Don't forget about Character,Setting,Plot, etc.
Mystery, Mayhem, and Mistletoe - A Mystery Writing WebQuest	Mystery Writing Lesson at Scholastic.com

Folktale Lesson Folktale Field Trip on the Web Myth Lesson	Science Fiction - According To Isaac Asimov, noted author, A science fiction story must be set against a society significantly diferent from our own -- usually, but not necessarily, because of some change in the level of science and technology -- or it is not a science fiction story.
Myths, Folktales, and Fairy Tales with Scholastic.com	Poetry - stories told in rhymes or verse. Here's a link to Professor Pen's Poetry Corner