How to categorize a story?

[Typo Fu Master]

I was wondering, if I submit a story which contains several possible categories (for example: anal, erotic horror and sci-fi/fantasy) how do I know which story category to submit it under? Is it just personal choice or is there a guideline I missed? Any help would be appreciated and thanks for your time.

 

[bisexplicit]

Personal choice and what audience you would think would best suit it. Probably, if it involves anything slightly sci-fi/fantasy then it would be best off in that category.

 

[Weird Harold]

I was wondering, if I submit a story which contains several possible categories (for example: anal, erotic horror and sci-fi/fantasy) how do I know which story category to submit it under? Is it just personal choice or is there a guideline I missed? Any help would be appreciated and thanks for your time.

It's mostly personal choice, but Laurel has been known to assign astory to a different category where it's usually a better fit.

The Author's hangout has several old threads discussing the problem of assigning a single category to a story that is wide ranging.

Two points that are consistently made in those threads:

1: Consider the main emphasis of the story. Go for the category that best fits the overall character of the story rather than focus on incidental situations -- a story that features bondage experimentation can be a Romance in general tone if the emphasis is on making a partner happy, whatever it takes rather than the mechanics of bondage.

2: Apply the rule of "Least Squick:" If your story has some element that a large percentage of your readers will dislike thenput the story in a category where that "squick" will turn off the fewest people.

Using the example of a Romantic story about sexual explorations that includes a graphic bondage scene you'd probably want to put it in BDSM or Fetish instead of Romance because a typical Romance fan isn't into graphic bondage.

 

[Typo Fu Master]

Thanks you guys! That's a big help. The story I'm working on right now I would classify as erotic horror, but it contains elements of sci-fi, and possibly other things. I didn't want to offend anyone and now I have a much better understanding of how to proceed.

 

[Munachi]

ah i know the problem... well the story i am working on has horror, fantasy and non-human elements... and in fact non-consent elements as well... i find these categories often come close... since i am writing it in german though and the german part has not as many stories as the english one, i will just put it in whichever part there are the fewest stories so far, i think...