Romancing the Genres – Is It Romance or Women’s Fiction?
by Mara Purl
“What genre do you write?” This has become as ubiquitous a question as “What kind of books do you write?” and both questions often receive the same reply.
It should be an easy answer for an author to provide, but sometimes isn’t, as genres have grown more complex. The added “categories” were supposed to make specific kinds of books easier to find. Yet, to some extent, the added complexities have made finding what a reader of shopper or librarian wants harder. And, despite the added listings, there are times a book gets slotted into an ill-fitting box.
This business of being stuck in the wrong genre can be frustrating, and even damaging to a brand, a book, or an author.
Let’s talk about Romance
Romance is a fabulous genre with its own challenges. I've listened to colleagues in this genre share about the rigorous discipline required to fit all its requirements. This post isn't about disrespecting Romance.
After decades of battling for recognition, it's now well-established, taken seriously for the money it earns and the rankings it gets. There's a spot for it on the New York Times bestseller list, which is an important benchmark.
Romance novels inevitably include an element of predictability. We know the couple will get together in the end, and the fun for the reader is watching the protagonists overcome the obstacles, while the author adroitly places challenges and roadblocks in their respective paths. And I am one of those readers on occasion, totally enjoying and sometimes admiring the work tremendously.
What about when a genre doesn’t quite “fit”?
But what do authors do with the “extra” material that won’t fit within the strict bounds of Romance? What about career choices and parental challenges, friendships and competitions, sibling rivalries and unimagined losses? In other words, what about the rest of life?
All these elements are the purview of Women’s Fiction. There is no such category on the New York Times bestseller list, perhaps because there’s an assumption that this is just a fancier word for Romance, or that anything that’s popular and aimed at the female audience is, in fact, Romance.
What is Women’s Fiction?
It used to be defined as fiction written by women. Think Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte, and George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), to name a few authors of bygone eras, some of whom chose to write under male pen names.
The term did a one-eighty during the last decades of the twentieth century, describing not fiction by women, but rather fiction for women. Though most practitioners were female, there were notable exceptions, like Nicholas Sparks.
In the twenty-first century we find ourselves with what is probably the best definition so far: fiction about women.
Key Elements of Women’s Fiction
Women's Fiction may or may not end with the expected partners finding their happy-ever-after. Although that key urge to find the right partner may be an important part of the story, other urges and goals are equally important and sometimes predominate.
The woman in the story is finding her identity, her career, her purpose; she's untangling her snarls, examining her mistakes, gathering her courage. The reader can identify with some of these elements, whether in reviewing old choices of her own or wrangling with her own future.
Who’s Reading Women’s Fiction?
While the hottest trend for younger readers of Romance in this moment is Romantasy, the biggest volume of devoted readers age 40 and up is digging ever deeper into Women's Fiction. This may be why "Chesapeake Shores," "Virgin River." and “Sweet Magnolias” have such avid followers.
Whether in the form of books or television episodes, what do these series offer?
- Multi-generational characters
- A sense that the protagonist is interested in more than sex with her chosen partner
- Storylines that tackle personal and professional challenges with more frank realism and startling authenticity than what Romance usually offers.
Challenges I’ve Encountered as a Women’s Fiction Author
Things are getting easier now, as I find excellent company amongst authors with more expansive storylines. But not too long ago, readers who picked up one of my books in a bookstore, believing it to be a Romance novel, were disappointed and even irritated.
Why?
Because my novels don’t guarantee the traditional happy ending. If the reader sticks with my saga, she’ll see those happy endings arrive . . . eventually.
Why the delay? Why the frustration? Probably because that’s my lived experience.
When I fell deeply in love in my 20s, I believed my own happy ending/ happy beginning had arrived. But the man took off for other adventures and I had to lick my wounds and start over. Heartbreak taught me a lot about myself, about the world, about the journey. I did, eventually, find my soul mate and our marriage gets better year by year.
Authors are advised to “Write What You Know”
At least for my primary storyline, that’s what I’m doing. So my protagonist’s disappointments turn out to be important lessons that ultimately lead her to a fantastic relationship.
Big Names who are Switching Genres
I’m certainly not alone in battling the genre storm. Robyn Carr, for example, a marvelous and very successful author, has said for several years that although yes, her novels include a romantic element, they are about the protagonist’s whole life. While embracing her original designation as a Romance author, she was also an early adopter of the term Women’s Fiction, encouraging readers, and perhaps more importantly, publishers to expand their awareness. In Nora Roberts’ most recent interview, she explained that she has roots in Romance, “But I don’t write romance anymore.”
What is my fervent desire for my readers?
I wish for them to find a sense of wholeness and purpose right alongside my protagonists. I want women to feel empowered not only to find and enjoy a beautiful romance, but that everything else in their lives is equally important and fulfilling.
Do you read or write women's fiction? What challenges have you encountered in the genre? And do you have any reading recommendations? Please do share your answers in the comments!
* * * * * *
About Mara
Mara Purl is the best-selling author of the Milford-Haven Novels & Novellas a series of Women's Fiction books which have won 75-plus book awards, appeared on multiple best-seller lists, and are based on her hit Milford-Haven, U.S.A., with 4.5 million listeners on BBC Radio. Mara wrote for the A.P., the Financial Times of London, and Rolling Stone among many others. As an actress, Mara is best known from Days Of Our Lives and she's a frequent speaker and presenter at local and national book events, has served on the boards of author and publishing organizations for 25 years, and has taught writing and literacy programs in Colorado, California, Alaska, and Japan.
You can find out more about her at marapurl.com
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37 comments on “Romancing the Genres – Is It Romance or Women’s Fiction?”
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That's interesting about what Women's Fiction is. One of my books, when reviewed, was described as 'Women's historical fiction as it is meant to be.'
I was a bit taken aback by this, as I'd never thought of it as 'women's fiction.' I didn't write it aiming at women.
The protagonist is a woman, though. So if women's fiction is now also books about women, that's why the reviewer said this, I suppose.
I had always thought of women's fiction as romance or light reading, but it seems I need to change my views.
Reviewers and contest judges are so subjective, aren't they? But they also look at a ton of books, so that reviewer gave you a great compliment. WOO!
But women's fiction is generally categorized as being about the female protagonist's journey to overcome [fill in the blank]. There might or might not be a romantic element.
Exactly what Jenny said. It is about the woman's journey to overcome some obstacle in life.
But these days, since it is such a popular genre, I feel like more books are leaning towards woman's fiction these days.
Mara,
Thank you for giving me a clear concept of 'Women's fiction.' I love knowing that what I am writing, while in a sci-fi context, is indeed Women's Fiction. This is an important breakthrough in understanding the ever-changing face in genre...and about time (for me).
Jennifer
I hear you, Jennifer! Like Romance and YA, women's fiction is incredibly broad. I see it as a chronicle of the protagonist's (typically a woman) journey to who she was born to be. Sometimes that happens for someone older, younger, or in a sci-fi setting. 🙂
Hi, Jennifer. You aren't the only one who got smacked with this breakthrough of understanding. Take a look at my comment below.
Fascinating post, Mara. I see women's fiction changing into stories that are termed "romantasy" genre and are very popular now as it mixes romance and fantasy. Even horromantasy or horromance, where a romance is an integral part of a horror story, ghost story, or placed in a fantastical setting. The traditional genres are becoming more hybrid——as they say now "genre-bending." And some of these novels are very compelling reads.
That's fascinating, Paula. I haven't read a ton of horror, but it is growing ever more popular.
Hi Paula, thanks for your thoughtful comment. I see Romantasy as a fascinating, distinct genre of its own, and it's wildly popular with younger readers. I wonder if that means that the world young women are facing is so complex that thinking outside the box is a dynamic and inspiring way forward.
Welcome to WITS, Mara, and thank you for sharing this. It's clarified things for me and given me food for thought. Your hope for your readers is what I hope for mine...so, perhaps women's fiction with a science fiction element is what I write...Definitely going to chew on that for a while.
Go look up at Jennifer Tooker's comment, Lynette!
Thank you, Lynette! So good to be in this mindful, creative community. Hmm, Women's Fiction + Sci Fi . . . is that Women's Fiction of the future? Sounds amazing! And yes, embracing our readers is profound.
Romance of all types has it place on the bookshelves. It's nice once in a while to have a HEA ending.
I do like an HEA ending too, C. Lee. But I don't always care if that HEA is about the culmination of a romance. Maybe the HEA is about the female protagonist achieving a career goal, or believing in herself. Or maybe the HEA is that she an the guy work out their problems.
But personally, I'm happy to see readers embracing a female protag's life goals in addition to the rest.
Thanks, C. Lee, and Jenny. Maybe there's a sense of moving away from "entitlement" and towards "earning" our HEA ending, with the fulfillment of whatever goal matters to us most.
I love how you framed HEA as 'earned' rather than entitlement!
Ditto! And well said; I couldn't agree more.
What a wonderful post to introduce you to the WITS family!
Genres are such a confusing thing for writers. Especially if your book falls between two genres like romance and woman's fiction, there is such a thin line between the two sometimes.
Thank you, Jenn! An honor to be invited. Yes, the genre-identity has three sides: the author's; the readers'; and the cataloger's, be it libraries or bookstores. We're all aiming for clarity while delivering beautiful, engaging stories.
I have a similar problem - but with two main characters who are women, and one man, and the story being told through their alternating povs, I have ended up at 'literary mainstream' as the best description.
Some of my best reviewers are older men - and that was the way I designed my mainstream trilogy. There are a number of milestones to hit when you wish to involve men AND women as readers - and I like how it works out to give each character expression space.
'Romance' is very popular, and its own solid category - with expectations from the readers that the writers had best mind. I don't fit.
I don't really fit in Women's Fiction, either - nor was I attempting to.
The first novel in the single-story trilogy, Pride's Children: PURGATORY, was named 2021 Indies Today Best Contemporary novel - and tagged "A flawless literary gem." Very nice indeed, except that many readers identify 'literary' with almost no plot and very detailed observations of minute things.
By design again, I have about as much character development as I have plot - in the past we might have labeled it 'commercial fiction' (which covers a very wide range).
I'm just trying to tell a story!
Good on you for designing your story with intention, Alicia! That's the wonderful part of being authors, not every story needs to fit in every genre.
Great post, Mara! Some people think that Women's Fiction needs a downer ending, but of course it doesn't. I read once that Romance ends with a wedding, but Women's Fiction ends with the protagonist and her besties drinking mimosas over brunch.
I love that, Anne. I am a big fan of those girlfriend mimosa-fests.
It's great to see you around WITS! I'm a big fan of you and Ruth too. 🙂
Ha! Love that comment, Anne! As always, you have a great humorous take that also makes an important point. Thank you!
Anne--I love that distinction. In one sentence
it pinpoints the trajectory of the story.
Thanks so much for your insights, Mara. I've hesitated to call my historical fiction/romance novels Women's Fiction, but by your definition, they'll fit right in. Each one features a female protagonist who overcomes obstacles (in one case, they're self-inflicted). They all have an HEA, too, but it's the journey to it that's more important. So no more hesitation from me!
Where were you when I started my writing journey? I struggled with genre definition in those days. This is such a wonderful history/clarification. Thanks for such a great article!
Thank you, Rebecca! It's an ongoing evolution, and you've always been good at finding your audience with your awesome novels.
I write romance and primarily read romance.
Romance is definitely my book drug of choice. I don't write it as much as I read it.
Like you, I don't write romance. I really write women's fiction which is more than just a boy meets girl, have issues, HEA. I like more involved stories that bring in other issues and deepen the heroine's role and how HEA isn't always the best ending.
To me, the romance novels are template based and get old real quick. I quit reading them in my 20s and when I started writing, I wanted something more than a basic romance. I threw in suspense, mystery, domestic issues, etc. And like you, I added some of what I went through in life.
I think it's beautiful so see how what we write matures along with us. I write very different things now than I did in my 20's.
One thing I will say is that of all the writing groups I've hung out with, I've learned the most with my romance writing groups. I don't know if that's because their memberships were strong, and so they got better speakers. But definitely that is a group who has been very welcoming to me across many chapters and events. I don't write a lot of romance, but I sure hang out with a lot of romance writers. 🙂
Thanks for your comment, B.A. I sure can relate! It's authors like you who have helped to expand and redefine what women are writing about women's lives, and I love that. I will say I have a lot of respect for the l-o-n-g journey Romance authors have found themselves undertaking. Back in the day, when the gate into publishing was far more narrow, they were smart in figuring out how to get their manuscripts sold. Maybe we could say they were working from the "inside" while author like you and like me were working from the "outside" to expand horizons for all of us.
Very interesting information on women’s fiction. My about-to-be-published book, It’s (Mostly) Good to Be Martha , has aspects of cozy mystery, romance, contemporary fiction. After reading this, Women’s Fiction seems to be all encompassing. Thanks.
Mershon, by adding Women's Fiction to your categories, you will likely reach a wider audience. All the best with your new book!
Mara,
I have been grappling with this very issue. Is my novel romance or women's fiction. Sometimes I think that it is both.
My first novel The Caretaker, was about a 64 yr old woman, who'd been in an abusive marriage, when her husband died she finished raising her children. Now she wants an adventure for herself. Goes to Mallorca Spain, meets the owner of the villa she is to care for. They fall in love, but now her children tell her to choose between him or them.
Yes, in the end she choice him and they live HEA. But it's also a story of resilience and living life on your terms, therefore women's fiction.
Do you agree with my assessment?
I enjoyed your article. Thank you!
Beautiful.