Contest Category Definitions
Proposed categories for next contest:
General Fiction - Contemporary Fiction (including romance), Suspense (including romance) and Women's Fiction
Historical Fiction - includes romance
Young Adult and Speculative -
Definitions per ACFW Contest website:
Contemporary Fiction (not romance): Novels or sagas set in any location, in a contemporary setting. This category includes literary fiction and mainstream fiction. The stories in this category can be dramatic or comedic.
Contemporary Romance: The love story is set in any location in a contemporary setting, and is the main focus of the novel. The end of the book is emotionally satisfying. The stories in this category can be dramatic or comedic.
Historical Fiction (not romance): Novels or sagas set in any location, in which the time frame of the majority of the story is a historical context rather than a contemporary one. The time period can be up to and including the Vietnam era.
Historical Romance: Novels or sagas set in any location, but in which the time frame of the majority of the story is a historical context rather than a contemporary one. The time period can be up to and including the Vietnam era. The love story is the main focus of the novel, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying. The stories in this category can be dramatic or comedic.
Suspense/Mystery/Thriller: Novels set in any location, in a contemporary setting, in which the suspense or mystery is the primary plot. In suspense, "often the reader learns very early in the story who did what, and how, and even why, so that the tension results from the manner in which an expected conclusion is achieved" (Jessica Mann). In thrillers, "tough, resourceful . . . heroes are pitted against villains determined to destroy them,
their country, or the stability of the free world" (Steve Bennett). "The detective novel, or mystery, is generally driven by a single protagonist and follows the process of detection, functioning like a puzzle" (Ginny Wiehardt).
Romantic Suspense: A suspense plot is blended with a love story, which is the main focus of the novel, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying. The story can be in any location, but the time frame should be a contemporary setting. Historical romantic suspense stories should be
entered in the Historical Romance category.
Women's Fiction: Novels or sagas set in any location, in a contemporary setting, targeted toward women readers of any age. Issues are those women relate to, often involving relationships. Romance can be an element, but doesn't carry the story.
Speculative Fiction: Novels in which the science fiction, the future, other planets, a fantasy world, or paranormal happenings are a major element of the plot or setting. This category includes speculative, visionary, science fiction, paranormal, futuristic, allegory, and alternate history fiction. Stories targeted primarily at young adult readers should be entered in the Young Adult category.
Young Adult: Novels targeted toward young adult readers ages 12 through 18. The stories in this category can be dramatic, comedic, romantic, or non-romantic. Science Fiction/Fantasy/Allegory stories targeted primarily at young adult readers can be entered in this category.
Effective 3-20-13
General Fiction - Contemporary Fiction (including romance), Suspense (including romance) and Women's Fiction
Historical Fiction - includes romance
Young Adult and Speculative -
Definitions per ACFW Contest website:
Contemporary Fiction (not romance): Novels or sagas set in any location, in a contemporary setting. This category includes literary fiction and mainstream fiction. The stories in this category can be dramatic or comedic.
Contemporary Romance: The love story is set in any location in a contemporary setting, and is the main focus of the novel. The end of the book is emotionally satisfying. The stories in this category can be dramatic or comedic.
Historical Fiction (not romance): Novels or sagas set in any location, in which the time frame of the majority of the story is a historical context rather than a contemporary one. The time period can be up to and including the Vietnam era.
Historical Romance: Novels or sagas set in any location, but in which the time frame of the majority of the story is a historical context rather than a contemporary one. The time period can be up to and including the Vietnam era. The love story is the main focus of the novel, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying. The stories in this category can be dramatic or comedic.
Suspense/Mystery/Thriller: Novels set in any location, in a contemporary setting, in which the suspense or mystery is the primary plot. In suspense, "often the reader learns very early in the story who did what, and how, and even why, so that the tension results from the manner in which an expected conclusion is achieved" (Jessica Mann). In thrillers, "tough, resourceful . . . heroes are pitted against villains determined to destroy them,
their country, or the stability of the free world" (Steve Bennett). "The detective novel, or mystery, is generally driven by a single protagonist and follows the process of detection, functioning like a puzzle" (Ginny Wiehardt).
Romantic Suspense: A suspense plot is blended with a love story, which is the main focus of the novel, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying. The story can be in any location, but the time frame should be a contemporary setting. Historical romantic suspense stories should be
entered in the Historical Romance category.
Women's Fiction: Novels or sagas set in any location, in a contemporary setting, targeted toward women readers of any age. Issues are those women relate to, often involving relationships. Romance can be an element, but doesn't carry the story.
Speculative Fiction: Novels in which the science fiction, the future, other planets, a fantasy world, or paranormal happenings are a major element of the plot or setting. This category includes speculative, visionary, science fiction, paranormal, futuristic, allegory, and alternate history fiction. Stories targeted primarily at young adult readers should be entered in the Young Adult category.
Young Adult: Novels targeted toward young adult readers ages 12 through 18. The stories in this category can be dramatic, comedic, romantic, or non-romantic. Science Fiction/Fantasy/Allegory stories targeted primarily at young adult readers can be entered in this category.
Effective 3-20-13
