Guide to Writing Novels (NovelToon Official)
[Special Chapter] Genre Selection Guidelines, Tags and Target Readers
It matters! A new version of target readers & genres & tags has been released! The authors quickly docked!
✅Target Reader:
● ⁇ ️Target Male Reader, means you feel your work will be more liked by readers who prefer the first male character, which is told based on male pov.
● ⁇ ️Target Female Reader, means you feel your work will be more liked by readers who prefer the first female character, which is told based on female pov.
● 🌈Target General Reader, meaning you feel your work has no special target and will be liked by male and female readers, ("common" unfavorable promotion/recommendation and content guidance from the editor. Please consider carefully)
Note: Need to update the application to the latest version (Android NT 3.02.02). For works that have not chosen the target reader, can go to My Novel - Select one of your novels - Edit (Details) - Genre to choose the right target reader.
After selecting the target male/female reader, the next turn needs to contact the editor, please consider first before choosing.
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✅Genre & Tags:
To help get more precise recommendations and appropriate readers, we have created more detailed genres and tags to be selected by Author. (*the lowest version : Android NT 1.2.8, MT 2.0.2 and above)
Genres and tags can be seen on the detailed page of the work (As shown below)
👉🔎GENRE SELECTION POINTER (new version\, Need to update NovelToon application to version 2.10 and above)****:
✅Women's novel (*select female target readers) (usually romantic nuances) is recommended to choose 4 genres (16 subgenres/themes):
- Genre -
Household: Focus on the protagonist's story after marriage
Subgenre/Theme:
【Ekik】 conflict: Marriage that is not sanctioned for violating common norms. The selling point of this type of work is the conflict that arises in marriage due to love that violates common norms.
(Public tags: Young Marriage, Polygamy, One Night Stand, Cheating, Substitute Mother, Widow, Forbidden Love, PSK, Erectile dysfunction, Borrowing uterus, stepmother, illegitimate wife)
【Nikah Paksa】: Protagonist forced to marry and live together.
(Public tags: Substitute Bride, One Night Stand, Fiance Since Infancy, Marriage Alliance, Contract Marriage, Forced to marry a disabled husband, Forced to marry a pupil, Debt-settling daughter, ghost husband, inverse coercion)
【Child Genius】: The relationship that happened because of the child, the two protagonists were forced to be together/married because of the child, then there were various conflicts and finally love each other.
(Common tags: Run While Pregnant, Substitute Mother, Widower, Single Mom, Genius Child, Twins, borrow uterus, diseased child, caregiver, Widow)
【Reprisal Wife】: Female protagonist who was initially bullied and tortured then became strong and took revenge.
(Public tags: Time Travel, Reincarnation, Orphans, Ugly being beautiful, husband's remorse, marrying my enemies, pretending to be poor)
【Suffering Wife】: The protagonist is marriage bound, both protagonists suffer in this marriage, the male protagonist tortures the female protagonist, both protagonists are entangled in love dilemmas.
(Public tags: Make Up, Lightning Marriage, Cheating, Polygamy, Substitutes, Divorce, Sweet Life After a Broken Heart, Amnesiac Husband, KDRT, cruel mother-in-law, marriage angst )
【Konglomerat】: Female protagonist gets married to a conglomerate and starts a new life with her conglomerate husband.
(General tags: Conglomerate Romance, Conglomerate Substitute Bride, Alliance Marriage)
【Family Life】: Various daily events in family life, the story is closer to real life.
(Public Tags: Leaning, First Love, Religious Romance)
- Genre -
Sweet Marriage: The story of marriage and the sweet relationship between the male protagonist and the female protagonist, it could be that they are experiencing obstacles but it makes their love even stronger.
Subgenre/Theme:
【Sudden Wife】: Male and female protagonists just started dating after marriage. Slowly, their feelings develop into love and they are in the process of uncovering each other's feelings.
(Public tags: Love over time, lightning marriage, tacit love, matchmaking, pure love, after-wedding love, ideal husband, ideal wife, sweet marriage )
【United because Anak】: The relationship of the male and female protagonists gradually develops into a sense of love through the baby/child.
(Common tags: Love over time, Love after marriage, twins, Substitute Mother, Widower, Single Mom, Genius Child, Nanny, Widow)
【Healing】: Male/female protagonists heal each other's inner wounds/trauma to each other after marriage, or only one of the parties does.
(Public tags: Sweet life after a broken heart, sweet marriage, ideal husband, ideal wife, healing, past trauma)
【Secret Marriages】: Male or female protagonists hide the fact of their married status, and pretend there is no relationship in public, but actually have a very sweet relationship.
(Public tags: Secret love, Love over time, pure love, Sweet marriage)
【Sweet conglomerate】: A sweet story that happens after a female protagonist from among ordinary people marries a wealthy man or a prince/sultan.
(Public tags: Pure love, CEO, Crazy Rich/Conglomerate, Conglomerate Love, Sweet Marriage)
【Sweet Marriage】: Another sweet wedding story outside the sub-theme above.
(Love over time, pure love, Sweet marriage, Love after marriage)
- Genre -
Romance: Focus on the love story before marriage.
Subgenre/Theme:
【Sama Awas】: A love story between male and female protagonists whose backgrounds/characters are equally great.
(Public tags: Time-travel, Reincarnation, Crazy Rich/Conglomerate, Disciple Genius, Doctor Genius, Model)
【Social】 Strata: Love stories of different social classes. The protagonist achieves a cross over of social class through his love story with the male protagonist. Generally, from poor to rich, ugly to beautiful, etc.
(Public tags: One Night Stand, CEO of Amnesia, CEO, Mafia, Forced Love, Contract Girlfriend, Orphans, Poor Temple, Maid, Qatar Love, Substitute Girlfriend)
【Tata Susila】: A love story that violates the norms in society, the selling point is intense conflict.
(Public Tags: Different Age, Pregnant Outside of Marriage, Actor, Love Different World, Single Mother/Single Mom)
【Youth Love】: A love story that takes place in adolescence.
(Public Tags: Teen Angst, Teen School/College, Teacher Romance/Lecturer-Murid, OSIS/BEM Chair, First Love, Early Marriage, Pregnant Outside Marriage, Silent Love)
【Office Lovers】: Love story at work/office.
(Public tags: CEO, One-Night Stand, Bullying at Work)
【Love Romance】: The process of the love story of the male and female protagonists from the beginning meet, get acquainted, interested, like to fall in love.
(General Tag: Love at First Look, Love Over Time)
【Bad Boy】: A teen romance story in which a mischievous male protagonist meets a good female protagonist thus triggering the male protagonist's change to a better life.
(General tag: Motorcycle Gang)
【Treason】: A romance story that begins due to the betrayal of one of the protagonists' previous lovers
(General tags: Third Party, Cheating, Second Chance)
- Genre -
Roman Fantasy: A love story filled with fantasy elements.
Subgenre/Theme:
【Non-Human】: A love story with a non-human protagonist.
(Public Tags: Vampire, Wolf Man, Ghost Husband, Devil, Pet Transformation)
【Love Fantasy】: A love story with unrealistic factors, examples of female protagonists experiencing time travel to ancient times, female protagonists living in the isekai world or at the end of the world and others.
(Public tags: Reincarnation, Time Travel, Eastern Fantasy)
- Genre -
Strong Women: The story focuses on the depiction of self-improvement and the independence of the female protagonist from weak to strong, usually interspersed with love stories.
Subgenre/Theme:
【Chicklit】: The incredible transformation process from a weak female protagonist to a strong one, where the process will be in stark terms, like zero to hero.
(General tags: Changing Fate, Life in School/Campus, Life in the Office, Genius Student, OSIS/BEM Chair, Career Woman, End of the World, Magic Academy, System, Contrast of Fate)
【Identity Coverage】: With transmigration, rebirth or her own strong skills, but for some reason, the female protagonist chooses to hide her own power, instead, so outsiders assume that the female protagonist is a weakling who shows her contrast after being slapped face by the female protagonist.
(Public tags: Hidden Identity, Rebirth, Reincarnation, Systems, Changing Fate, Life in School/Campus, Life in the Office, Disciple Genius, Time-travel/Transmigration, Crazy Rich/Conglomerate, Transmigration into Novels, Transmigration into Novels, Bullying, Transmigration Palace)
✅Male novel (*select male reader target) recommended choose 8 genres (20 subgenres/themes) following:
- Genre -
Cultivation & Leveling: A fantasy-filled adventure story with cultivation and self-improvement under the backdrop of a fictional world.
Subgenre/Theme:
【Fantasy Timur】: Oriental-style martial arts and timeless story, the protagonists are often from family/clan or sect.
(General tag: The resurrection of losers, rebirth to be strong, eternal cultivation)
【Transmigration】: Travel to another continent for various reasons and embark on an adventure in a fantasy world.
- Genre -
Urban Fantasy: The story of the male protagonist who centers on revenge or passionately against an urban background.
Subgenre/Theme:
【Super System】: With the help of the system, it reaches the peak of its life.
(Public Tags: Rich, Ride Classes, Surrounded by Beautiful Women, Careers, Magical Apps)
【Growth】: In the bitter sweetness of life, it continues to grow through various obstacles.
(Public Tags: Friendship, Family Compassion, Orphans, Showbiz, Playboy, Alternative lives)
【Changing Destiny】: From a scorned trash to a highly regarded man.
(Public Tags: Male/matrilocal Son-in-law, Male Child/Poor Man, Orphan)
【Hidden Identity】: People thought he was weak, but it turned out that he had a hidden identity for some reason, and he took revenge on those who underestimated him.
(Public Tags: Army King/War God, Magical Doctor, Ancient Martial Expert, Rich Kingdom, Men's Son-in-law)
【Super】 Career: Superhuman skills that lead to invincibility in the city.
(Public Tags: Army King/War God, Magical Doctor, Ancient Martial Master)
- Genre -
Harem: The male protagonist is liked or surrounded by many women and establishes an ambiguous relationship with them.
(Public Tags: Harem, Pure Love, Angst, Surrounded Many Women, Polygamy)
- Genre -
Heroism: The story of the male protagonist who thinks, behaves, acts in the interest of maintaining his dignity as well as for the interests of the class.
Subgenre/Theme:
【Mafia】: With his amazing skills and the help of his men, he becomes the supreme ruler of the city.
(Public tags: Grudge, Roman-Angst Mafia, Mafia Competition, friendship)
【Kriminal】: Pursuing the truth behind criminal stories.
(Public Tags: Villa Rumors, Unsolved Case Mysteries, TKP)
- Genre -
ACGN/Light Novel: With regard to ACGN, the story style is almost exactly the same as the Light Novel story.
Subgenre/Theme:
【New Fanfic】: Borrow original work settings and backgrounds, using original work protagonists to develop new stories.
(Public Tags: Anime, Solo Leveling, Super Smash Bros)
【Original Fantasy】: A light novel full of entertainment and imagination, written by imagining teenagers(children Junior High/SMA) as readers.
(Public Tags: Otherworldly Crossings, Romance, Systems)
【Sword and Magic】: The most classic western fantasy story, the protagonist gathers allies to fight evil with sword and magic.
(Public tags: Adventure Epic, Underground Room and Dragon, Cultivation and Enhancement, Magic Academy)
【Fanfic Anime】: Improvising on the basis of plot settings, characterizing a novel.
(Public tags: One Piece, Naruto, Tokyo Revengers, BLEACH, Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, Spy x Family)
- Genre -
Alternative History: Stories that take place in an alternate world/view perspective based on historical reality, with fantasy elements.
(General tag: Traveling to get rich, change history, and struggle hegemony)
- Genre -
Games & Sports: A story in which the protagonist continues to be strong and gain success through competition.
Subgenre/Theme:
【Game】 World: The protagonist enters into the game world, completing challenges from the system and achieving hidden achievements.
(General tag: Greatest Player, Becoming an NPC)
【E-Sport】: Be in real life, take part in gaming competitions, and keep fighting in e-sport travel.
(General tags: DOTA, PUBG, MLBB, LOL)
【Sport Star】: Enter the world of sports with the identity of a professional athlete or coach, and eventually become a world-famous star.
(Public Tags: Futsal, Basketball, Multipurpose Sports Activities Can)
【Military&War】: Background of the war, the protagonist is an army, spy or agent who influences the war.
(General tags: Army Life, War, Spying/Agent)
- Genre -
Sci-fi: Stories developed against a background formed from a storyline or imagination about science.
✅Novel general(*no special target reader) is recommended to choose the following 3 genres:
- Genre -
Fanfic: A new story that uses the character of a particular work on a new background or is placed in the original background but tells a new conflict.
Subgenre/Theme:
【Fanfic Seleb】: Using artists and celebrities to write a novel.
(General tags: EXO, BLACKPINK, BTS)
- Genre -
TEEN: Prioritizes the protagonist's story in the face of romance, friendship and family in adolescence. (Public Tags: Teen Angst, Teen School, Growth Problems, Family, Friendship)
- Genre -
Horror: A story with a strong sense of thriller and a horror story style. (Public Tags: Inner Eye, Ghost House, Curse, Horror Story Collection)
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Based on the genre selection instructions above, if you find a genre error in your work, or want to fix the tag or target reader of the work, or, You can edit the basic information of the work in the [Profile] - [Novelku] section or contact your editor to correct it.
When creating a new work, please select the appropriate target reader, genre and tags.
Each work can select a maximum of 6 tags, we have provided multiple tags for Author to choose from (like the image below), Author can also create new tags. New Author-made tags will be displayed on the work's detailed page after being selected as official tags.
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🔎GENRE SELECTION INDICATOR (old version, no longer used.):
First of all, please make sure that your work includes Fanfic, such as setting the main character directly using a famous artist or celebrity, television drama, novels, comics, and so on. If there is, please select the Fanfic genre.
✅Women's (Normally romantic nuances) it is recommended to choose the following 5 genres:
● CEO: Modern world story background. Usually the male protagonist is a CEO/entrepreneur and similar identity, telling a love story with the CEO.
● Teen: The story setting of the modern world, and the main plot is centered in the campus environment, the relationship between the protagonists is usually friends/teachers and students, and the like.
● Modern Romance: Modern romance works with actual themes that are not included in the CEO and Teen genre can be included in this genre.
● Romance Palace: Romance works that take place in the palace, the background is usually in the past.
● Fantasy Romance: The background of the story is not restricted, namely romance stories that have high fantasy elements, such as supernatural powers /culture/vampire/werewolf/ghost stories and humans/magic world/ the future and so on.
✅Novel men are advised to choose the following 5 genres:
● Fantasy East: The story setting in the eastern world, usually more happened in the past, themed xianxia, wuxia, other elements of eastern world culture.
● Western Fantasy: The background of the story is in the western world or other world(isekai), has high fantasy elements, for example magic/demons/gods of war/dragon race/elves/mermaids, and others.
● Urban Fantasy: The background of the story is in the modern world, has elements of mysterious systems, special abilities, and other imaginations.
● Modern Fiction: The background of the story is in the modern world, generally themed business wars, special soldiers, special professions, urban life, and others.
● Games & Sports: The main background of the story is the world of games and sports, such as e-sports, game systems (vrmmorpg), sports such as football and the like.
✅Other works are recommended to choose the following 3 genres:
● Horror: The theme of the story scares the reader, has abnormal/supernatural elements such as ghosts, spirits, genies and so on.
● Mystery: Contains many mysteries and puzzles within the story, the most common themes are murder, reasoning, mental illness, and so on.
● Sci-fi: Fantasy works created based on scientific theory, the most common themes such as the questellar journey, the cosmos, the future world, the apocalypse, zombies and so on.
If your work does not meet the above genres, then you can temporarily select the "Other" group, as well as add the corresponding tag to display the work information; You can also contact the Editor if you have questions about the genre.
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