Literary Genres
My Road Goes Ever On
Literary Genres offer many beautiful lenses through which to view the human experience. Crossing genres and blending them is not a failing but an asset.
A writer either sets trends or follows them. Or ignores them completely. There is one advantage to ignorance – the freedom to live outside a box. Google lists fifty-one writing genres. Some I’ve never even heard of. Many literary professionals insist that it is best to discover your box, snuggle down, and stay put. That philosophy never worked for me. Ignoring statistical information may not be smart, but it might be wise, allowing an author to follow an inner voice rather than chasing an outside stamp of approval.
Writing in several genres at once was never my plan. It just happens to be my style. I never set out to write in a particular genre. I write a story, a novel, a poem, a reflection, and then try to squeeze it into a genre. The goal for me is to release something from the inside. How it looks to the world outside is for readers to decide.
My first project, The Road Goes Ever On, A Christian Journey Through The Lord of the Rings, fell onto the page fairly smoothly. Defining it has been a bumpy process. Is Amazon right categorizing it as Science Fiction & Fantasy Criticism, History Criticism, and Literary Criticism? Or is it a personal reflection and Christian contemplation? Or some mixed version of all of that?
Ironically, several reviewers did not review the book that I actually wrote but the book as they think it should have been written. In other words, they didn’t like my genre confusion. I may not appreciate their tangents, but I sympathize with their confusion. It’s not an easy book to categorize. Hopefully, readers will discover value in it anyway.
I wrote my first fiction series as historical fiction. Simple. Easy to understand. But then, as I tried to promote it, I discovered that it didn’t settle into the historical fiction box as neatly as I hoped. It really belonged in an ancient historical fiction box. Since it brought up spiritual crisis points, readers began to review it in terms of faith. Then, I mixed things up when I rewrote the entire series within a sci-fi universe. ACX miscategorized the first novel, OldEarth Aram Encounter, as “post-apocalyptic,” which, as an ancient historical fiction/sci-fi blend, it certainly is not. What a muddle!
Despite the confusion in selling points and my sorrow in leading readers astray, (I’m sorry that someone looking for a post-apocalyptic story went to OE Aram Encounter when they would have been more comfortable with Newearth Justine Awakens.) I have never regretted following the story rather than a genre.
Last of Her Kind does fall neatly into the first contact sci-fi genre, but since it brings up huge cultural issues centering on bio-ethics AND faith and religion, it’s another blend, which might be covered under the term “literary.”
The Newearth series and Homestead are basic science fiction with elements of mystery and romance embedded within them. Amazon and Audible weren’t confused with multiple genre types, so their categories fit the books fairly well.
So why didn’t I stick within my already wide boundaries? Weren’t historical fiction, sci-fi, and literary fiction genres enough to keep my writing soul happy?
Short stories demand concise, efficient writing. A novel experience lives a lifetime in a few pages. I love that. In the same way that doing laundry allows me a break from balancing the checkbook and weeding the garden frees my spirit from educational pursuits, so short stories breathe new energy into my literary endeavors. Poetry and children’s books do much the same. I work different artistic muscles, toning my entire literary corpus. My fiction writing has been crafted by approaching it from various perspectives. That may not be great marketing, but it can enlarge the soul.
My nonfiction works are informal reflections on my chosen lifestyle, covering topics as wide-ranging as rural living, small-town experiences, homeschooling, mothering a large family, and stewardship of a small menagerie. Not easily categorized, but they are as honest as I can make them. Another soul-enriching experience.
Though following a trend may make life easier and promote better sales, I am grateful for a wide range of genre experiences. Some authors travel far and wide for rich life experiences to craft something worth reading. Home is where the heart is, and where I find the richest soil for planting meaning through words. Various genres help us see the bouquet of life through a new lens. They bring vibrant life into focus.
A. K. Frailey is the author of 18 books, a teacher for 35 years, and a homeschooling mother.
Make the most of life’s journey.
For novels, short stories, poems, and non-fiction inspirational books, check out
A. K. Frailey’s Amazon Author Page
“The history is fascinating, the characters are uniquely intriguing, the plot is very rich, and the events are fascinating.” ~OnlineBookClub
“One of the best books I have read.” ~Glenda
“Many of the stories are very moving. Some are humorous. And they are all well written.” ~McEvoy
“so much truth and wisdom in this poem” ~Mystic Rose
“This was a wholesome book, with nice illustrations, taking kids through the lives of rural living and sharing the simple things in life.” ~Erika
For a complete list of books by A. K. Frailey, book trailers, and reviews, check out
For translated versions of A. K. Frailey’s Books, check out
A. K. Frailey’s Translated Books
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