NORTHWEST INDEPENDENT WRITERS ASSOCIATION
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      • E - F - G >
        • Adam Eason
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        • Robert L Fincham
        • Barritt Firth
        • Cay Fletcher
        • Johanna Flynn
        • James L. Gillaspy
        • Judy Glenney
        • Angela D. Goldsmith
        • Thomas Gondolfi
        • J C Graves
        • Tag Gregory
      • H >
        • Stephen Hagelin
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        • B B Hartwich
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        • Angela Highland
        • M. P. Hopcroft
        • A. M. Huff
        • Mollie Hunt
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        • Frances Lu-Pai Ippolito
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        • Paty Jager
        • Maggie Jaimeson
        • Connie J. Jasperson
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        • Kimila Kay
        • Joann Keder
        • James W. Kitson
        • Angela Korra'ti
        • Sarah Kraft
      • L >
        • Michael R. Lane
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        • Cyn Ley
        • Robert Liebertz
        • Eric Little
        • Tristram Lowe
        • KD Lumsden
        • Pat Luther
        • Maggie Lynch
      • M >
        • Tonya Macalino
        • James D Macon
        • Ben Mariner
        • Amy Marsh
        • Edward Martin III
        • David Martyn
        • tom r. mcconnell
        • Nikki McCormack
        • James M. McCracken
        • Donald McEwing
        • Agathon McGeachy
        • Roslyn McFarland
        • Minnette Meador
        • Russell Mickler
        • K Z Miller
        • Rory Miller
        • Jeff Monday
        • Sonja S Mongar
        • Barbara J Moritsch
        • Marcie Murray
        • Linda B Myers
      • N - O - P >
        • Ann Ornie
        • Tammy Owen
        • Jocelynn Pearl
        • Nicole Phoenix
        • L. Wade Powers
        • E M Prazeman
        • Shelly Pulse
      • Q - R >
        • Cordelia Rains
        • Raine Reiter
        • Shawna Reppert
        • Joyce Reynolds-Ward
        • S. B. Roozenboom
        • P. K. Ross
        • R Roderick Rowe
        • E. J. Russell
      • S - T - U >
        • Ann Schaefer
        • Andretta Schellinger
        • DJ Schneider
        • Steven C Schneider
        • B. J. Scott
        • James Scott
        • Lea Diane Harwood Sevey
        • Ann Simas
        • Susie Slanina
        • D. L. Solum
        • Jon Spoelstra
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        • Thomas Stimson
        • Brian Tashima
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        • Contessa Timmerman
      • V- W- X - Y - Z >
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      • 2023 EVENTS & SIGNUPS >
        • 03 Odd Fellows Bazaar 2023
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        • 06 LaPine Rhubarb Festival '23
        • 07 Robin Hood Festival 2023
      • Event Ad Templates
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      • Suggest An Event
    • NEWSBITS 05-27-22
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Picture
GENRE
SUB-GENRE
DEFINITION
ACTION
​Military Fiction, Spy Fiction
An action story is similar to adventure, and the protagonist usually takes a risky turn, which leads to desperate situations (including explosions, fight scenes, daring escapes, etc.)
ADVENTURE
Superhero Fiction, Swashbuckler
​An adventure story is about a protagonist who journeys to epic or distant places to accomplish something. The protagonist has a mission and faces obstacles to get to their destination. Also, adventure stories usually include unknown settings and characters with prized properties or features.
CHILDREN'S
​(all other genres)
​Books written for readers under the age of 12.
CHRISTIAN
​(all other genres)
​Stories with a Christian element - not doctrinal.
COMEDY
​(all other genres)
A story that tells about a series of funny, or comical events, intended to make the audience laugh.
CONTEMPORARY
  
Stories set in the present (within last 25 years).
CRIME & MYSTERY
​Cozy Mysteries, Detective Story, Legal Thriller, Murder Mystery, Police Procedural, Suspense, Thriller 
A crime story is often about a crime that is being committed or was committed, but can also be an account of a criminal's life. A mystery story follows an investigator as they attempt to solve a puzzle (often a crime). The details and clues are presented as the story continues and the protagonist discovers them and by the end of the story the mystery is solved.
FANTASY
Contemporary fantasy, Dark fantasy, Fables & Fairy Tales, Hard Fantasy, Epic/High Fantasy, Heroic Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Legends, Magical, Mythical, Science fantasy, Sword & Sorcery.
​A fantasy story is about magic or supernatural forces, as opposed to technology as seen in science fiction.
GRAPHIC NOVEL
(all other genres)
​Stories told with pictures and dialog (ie comic books)
HISTORICAL
​Alternate History, Period Piece
​The historical fiction genre includes stories that are about the past. It takes place in the real world, with real world people, but with several fictionalized or dramatized elements.
HORROR
​Ghost stories, Gothic Fiction, Monster, Occult stories, Survival Horror, Zombies
​A horror story is told to deliberately scare or frighten the audience, through suspense, violence or shock.
LGBTQ+
​(LGBTQ+ can either be the main genre or subgenre)
Stories of any genre where the main characters, or supporting characters are LGBTQ+ and/or the setting is LGBTQ+
POETRY
 
  
ROMANCE
​Contemporary romance, Fantasy romance, Paranormal Romance, Romantic thriller, Erotica
​Stories that are primarily focused on the relationship between the main characters of the story. Beyond the focus on the relationship, the biggest defining characteristic of the romance genre is that a happy ending is always guaranteed.
SCI-FI
​Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic, Hard Sci-Fi (detailed, well researched, and plausible), Soft Sci-Fi (dealing more with cultural, social, and political interactions), Space Opera, Cyberpunk (and all punks)
​Science Fiction is similar to Fantasy except stories use scientific understanding to explain the universe it takes place in. It generally includes space travel, time travel, computers, machines, alternate universes, alien life-forms, genetic engineering, etc.
SHORT STORY
Anthology, all other genres
  
WESTERN
(all other genres)
​Stories set in the American West, between the time of the Civil War and early 20th Century. The setting of a wilderness or uncivilized area is especially important to the genre, and the setting is often described richly and in-depth. They focus on the adventure of the main character(s) and the contrast between civilization or society and the untamed wilderness, often featuring the characters working to bring civilization to the wilderness
WOMEN'S LIT
(all other genres)
​Stories written for a female audience with a female protagonist.
YOUNG ADULT
Coming of Age, all other genres
​​Targets readers aged 12-18 - reflects teenaged characters as they grapple with the unique challenges of adolescence.
NON-FICTION
​Autobiographies, Biographies, Memoirs, Art, Music, Humor, History, Politics, Government, & Law, Science & Nature, Self-help, Educational, Reference, DIY, Business, Religion & Spirituality, Home & Garden, Health & Wellness, Philosophy, Travel, Food & Cooking, Technology, Sports & Leisure
​Nonfiction books use factual events and stories.
PRIVACY POLICY

© COPYRIGHT 2021
Northwest Independent Writers Association.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Contact us at:
Mailing Address:   Northwest Independent Writers Association
                                            P.O. Box 1171
                                            Redmond, OR  97756

Email:  president@niwawriters.com
             webmaster@niwawriters.com

  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT US
    • JOIN US
  • BOOKS
    • BOOKS BY GENRE >
      • Adventure
      • Children's
      • Contemporary
      • Crime & Mystery
      • Fantasy
      • Historical
      • Horror
      • Non-Fiction
      • Poetry
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short Story
      • Western
      • Women's Lit
      • Young Adult
    • SEARCH BY AUTHOR >
      • A >
        • April Aasheim
        • J.M.M. Adams
        • Heather Ames
        • Shari Lyn Anderson
        • Ellen Archer
        • Judith Ashley
        • Stephen Atkins
      • B >
        • Pam Bainbridge-Cowan
        • Barry L. Becker
        • Michael Bershay
        • Kerry Blaisdell
        • Lynn Bohart
        • Byrum K. Bolerjack
        • D Dean Boom
        • Anna Brentwood
        • Andy R. Bunch
        • Kira Burch
      • C >
        • Baer Charlton
        • Mike Chinakos
        • Kate Cody
        • William J Cook
        • Adam Copeland
        • Kelly Coston
        • Pamela Cowan
        • Steven Cristol
      • D >
        • Disa Dawn
        • Sheila Deeth
        • Raven J. Demers
        • Tiffany Dickinson
        • Liam R. W. Doyle
        • Chris Duke
        • Patrick Dwyer
      • E - F - G >
        • Adam Eason
        • Jonathan Eaton
        • Jonathan Michael Erickson
        • Veronica Esagui DC
        • Robert L Fincham
        • Barritt Firth
        • Cay Fletcher
        • Johanna Flynn
        • James L. Gillaspy
        • Judy Glenney
        • Angela D. Goldsmith
        • Thomas Gondolfi
        • J C Graves
        • Tag Gregory
      • H >
        • Stephen Hagelin
        • Suzanne Hagelin
        • B B Hartwich
        • Nelle Heran
        • Angela Highland
        • M. P. Hopcroft
        • A. M. Huff
        • Mollie Hunt
      • I - J - K >
        • Frances Lu-Pai Ippolito
        • Maquel A. Jacob
        • Paty Jager
        • Maggie Jaimeson
        • Connie J. Jasperson
        • F. L. Journey
        • Kimila Kay
        • Joann Keder
        • James W. Kitson
        • Angela Korra'ti
        • Sarah Kraft
      • L >
        • Michael R. Lane
        • Tom Larsen
        • Cyn Ley
        • Robert Liebertz
        • Eric Little
        • Tristram Lowe
        • KD Lumsden
        • Pat Luther
        • Maggie Lynch
      • M >
        • Tonya Macalino
        • James D Macon
        • Ben Mariner
        • Amy Marsh
        • Edward Martin III
        • David Martyn
        • tom r. mcconnell
        • Nikki McCormack
        • James M. McCracken
        • Donald McEwing
        • Agathon McGeachy
        • Roslyn McFarland
        • Minnette Meador
        • Russell Mickler
        • K Z Miller
        • Rory Miller
        • Jeff Monday
        • Sonja S Mongar
        • Barbara J Moritsch
        • Marcie Murray
        • Linda B Myers
      • N - O - P >
        • Ann Ornie
        • Tammy Owen
        • Jocelynn Pearl
        • Nicole Phoenix
        • L. Wade Powers
        • E M Prazeman
        • Shelly Pulse
      • Q - R >
        • Cordelia Rains
        • Raine Reiter
        • Shawna Reppert
        • Joyce Reynolds-Ward
        • S. B. Roozenboom
        • P. K. Ross
        • R Roderick Rowe
        • E. J. Russell
      • S - T - U >
        • Ann Schaefer
        • Andretta Schellinger
        • DJ Schneider
        • Steven C Schneider
        • B. J. Scott
        • James Scott
        • Lea Diane Harwood Sevey
        • Ann Simas
        • Susie Slanina
        • D. L. Solum
        • Jon Spoelstra
        • Deni Starr
        • Thomas Stimson
        • Brian Tashima
        • Charles Thomas
        • Patrick Timm
        • Contessa Timmerman
      • V- W- X - Y - Z >
        • Cody Voeller
        • Samantha Waltz
        • C M Weaver
        • Christina Weaver
        • Brad Wheeler
        • Julie Whipple
        • Suzi Wiser
        • Steve Zell
      • IN MEMORIAM
  • NEWS
    • NEWSBITS
    • Events Calendar
  • MEMBERS ONLY
    • Annual Anthology >
      • 2023 Anthology: HARBINGER
      • 2022 Contributor Copy Request
      • Anthologies - Member Discount
    • Add My Book new
    • Events >
      • 2023 EVENTS & SIGNUPS >
        • 03 Odd Fellows Bazaar 2023
        • 05 UFO Festival 2023
        • 06 GeekCraft 2023
        • 06 LaPine Rhubarb Festival '23
        • 07 Robin Hood Festival 2023
      • Event Ad Templates
      • Event Roles and Responsibilities
      • Storage Policy
      • Storage Inventory
      • Suggest An Event
    • NEWSBITS 05-27-22
    • Publishing Check List
    • Renew My Membership
    • Review A Book
    • Social Media
    • Update My Author Page
    • Update My Member Info
  • Member Photo Features
  • MEMBER TOOLS
    • Advertise Your Book
    • Cover Designers
    • Editing & Formatting
    • Grammar
    • Indie Friendly Bookstores
    • Printers
    • Publishing
    • Add A Member Tool
    • Legacy Planning
    • ZOOM Videos >
      • Audiobooks 11-8-22
      • Book Covers
      • Editing
      • Self Editing & Proofreading
      • Writing Resources
      • Reviews and Why We Need Them
      • 2022 in Review
      • Pinterest - 1-10-23