101 Themes, Subgenres, and Story Conventions

This expansive list contains 101 themes, subgenres, and story conventions that writers can explore in short stories and novels. The list ranges from broad categories like “coming-of-age” and “animal transformation” to subtypes or subgenres like “addiction recovery” and “campus novel.” These varied labels offer a glimpse into the endless possibilities for fictional narratives. For writers unsure where their tale may lead, perusing a list like this could spark inspiration on potential directions. Even for authors with a clear trajectory planned, reading through these creative conventions can still prove worthwhile to appreciate the diversity of creative forms. Whatever one’s familiarity with fiction writing, this compilation has something to offer every reader. These 101 ideas showcase the boundless breadth of storytelling traditions, and with any luck, they may kindle promising new narrative concepts. Most importantly, may these themes ignite your imagination and love of writing.

Hello fellow writers, I’m so happy you dropped by for our 101 themes! I love lists like this, as you might be able to tell. I’m a bit obsessive and have been writing these kinds of things for years. There’s something so satisfying about categorizing and cataloging the infinite ways we tell stories, don’t you think?

I truly believe these lists can spark your creativity when you’re staring at that blank page, wondering which direction to take your protagonist. Or maybe you’ll discover a subgenre you didn’t even know existed! That’s the beauty of our craft – just when you think you’ve seen it all, there’s always another narrative path to explore.

Sometimes when I’m stuck, I’ll close my eyes, point randomly at my list, and challenge myself to incorporate that theme into whatever I’m working on. You’d be surprised how often this little exercise breathes new life into a stagnant draft!

Whether you’re a seasoned novelist or just starting your first short story, I hope this compilation gives you that little nudge of inspiration you might need. We’re all in this together, after all – sharing our collective wisdom about this craft we love so dearly.

So grab your favorite beverage, get comfy, and dive into these 101 narrative traditions. And if something catches your eye or sparks an idea, I’d love to hear about it in the comments! Nothing makes me happier than knowing these obsessive little lists of mine have helped a fellow writer find their way.

Understanding Themes in Fiction

I’m back with more obsessive thoughts about storytelling! Let’s chat about themes – those beautiful, sometimes elusive threads that weave through our narratives.

Themes are the underlying messages or big ideas that our stories communicate to readers. They’re what our stories are really about, beneath all the plot twists and character development. Think of love, betrayal, redemption, the loss of innocence, or the corrupting nature of power – these are all themes that have captivated readers for centuries!

I like to think of themes as the “so what?” of your story. Your protagonist defeated the villain? Great! But… so what? What does that victory say about courage, sacrifice, or the human condition? That’s where theme comes in.

Sometimes I discover my themes organically as I write (I’m a pantser that way), while other times I deliberately choose a theme before I even create my characters (when I’m in a plotter mood). Either approach works! The important thing is that your theme gives your story cohesion and meaning beyond just “stuff that happens.”

The most powerful themes often emerge when they’re shown rather than explicitly stated. Nobody wants to read a lecture! Instead, let your characters’ choices, the consequences they face, and the evolution of your plot naturally illustrate your theme. Trust your readers to connect those dots – they’re clever that way!

Exploring Subgenres in Fiction

Oh my goodness, subgenres! As a list-maker extraordinaire, I could talk about subgenres ALL day long. Aren’t they fascinating? They’re like little literary ecosystems, each with their own rules, expectations, and devoted readers.

Subgenres are those wonderful subcategories within broader genres that help us get super specific about what kind of story we’re telling. Think of how “romance” breaks down into historical romance, paranormal romance, romantic suspense… I have spreadsheets tracking these distinctions (I told you I was obsessive!).

What I love most about subgenres is how they blend and morph over time. Remember when “dystopian YA” exploded after The Hunger Games? Or how “cozy fantasy” has been gaining traction lately? These subgenres didn’t exist in their current form decades ago!

When you’re writing, knowing your subgenre can be incredibly helpful for understanding reader expectations. If you’re crafting a “locked-room mystery,” your readers will be scrutinizing every detail, looking for clues. If you’re penning a “space opera,” they’ll be expecting grand-scale conflict with emotional resonance.

Don’t be afraid to mix subgenres either – some of the most exciting fiction emerges from these crossovers. Imagine a “gothic paranormal romance” or a “tech noir mystery”! The possibilities are endless!

Story Conventions: The Building Blocks of Storytelling

Let’s talk about story conventions – those tried-and-true storytelling patterns and techniques that readers instinctively recognize. I’ve collected these like trading cards over the years!

Story conventions are those familiar structures and devices that give readers a sense of what to expect. They’re not clichés (though they can become clichés if handled poorly). Instead, they’re like comfortable landmarks in the narrative journey.

Take the “chosen one” convention, for example. We’ve seen it countless times – an ordinary character discovers they have a special destiny. Or the “enemies-to-lovers” convention in romance. These patterns work because they tap into something fundamental about human experience and storytelling.

What I find most interesting about conventions is how they can be played straight, subverted, lampshaded, or reinvented. Sometimes following a convention perfectly gives readers exactly the satisfaction they’re seeking. Other times, twisting a convention on its head can create something brilliantly unexpected!

When I’m stuck in my writing, I often look at my list of story conventions for inspiration. Could my contemporary fiction benefit from a “fish out of water” scenario? Should my fantasy include a “coming of age” journey? These building blocks have endless creative potential when you mix and match them with intention.

Transformation and Growth Narratives

Coming-of-age – Chronicles a young protagonist’s transition to adulthood, depicting psychological, moral, and social maturation
Awakening story – Features a protagonist gaining greater awareness about life, society, or themselves
Self-discovery – Emphasizes the protagonist’s inner journey of self-realization and personal growth
Redemption story – Follows a morally flawed protagonist who atones for past mistakes
Empowerment story – Depicts a protagonist gaining agency, strength, confidence, or freedom
Recovery story – Shows a protagonist overcoming addiction or illness through inner strength
Metamorphosis story – Explores a protagonist undergoing profound physical or mental change
Self-actualization – Highlights the protagonist’s journey to fully realize their potential

Challenge and Adversity Themes

Underdog story – A disadvantaged protagonist beats the odds through perseverance
Survival story – Forces the protagonist to tap into inner strength to survive an ordeal
Overcoming disability – Shows a protagonist transcending limitations through perseverance
Breaking away story – Features a protagonist rebelling against traditions and expectations
Escape story – Depicts a protagonist breaking free from oppressive situations
Emancipation stories – Shows a protagonist gaining independence by overcoming constraints
Trials of conscience story – Presents a protagonist facing moral dilemmas that test their values

Setting-Based Narrative Structures

Educational and Institutional Settings

Campus novel – Takes place at university settings where college life signifies transition to adulthood
Boarding school novel – Explores socialization, competition, friendship, and authority within structured settings
Education novel – Features formal schooling prominently in the protagonist’s growth
Apprenticeship novel – Shows a protagonist learning through hands-on experience with a mentor
Gymnasium novel – Set in schools with focus on adolescence and formative experiences

Environmental and Natural Settings

Ecofiction – Speculative stories exploring environmental collapse and human impact on nature
Self-discovery in nature – Protagonist achieves insights through meaningful encounters in natural settings
Initiation through nature – Character maturation through challenging experiences in wilderness settings
Robinsonade – Resourceful protagonist survives alone in nature against overwhelming odds
Travel story – Protagonist gains worldliness through journeys to unfamiliar places

Genre-Specific Narrative Conventions

Speculative and Supernatural Elements

Magical realism – Realistic fiction subtly infused with elements of fantasy, myth, and magic
Ghost story – Features supernatural entities returning from death to influence living characters
Haunting story – Protagonist confronts supernatural or psychological haunting presence
Afterlife journey – Character experiences revelations through metaphorical afterlife experiences
Afterlife story – A glimpse of the afterlife changes the protagonist’s perspective on life
Biopunk story – Experimental biological or genetic modifications impact the protagonist
Time travel story – Character travels across time periods and returns transformed
First contact story – Protagonist encounters alien life, permanently altering their worldview

Transformation and Identity Narratives

Animal transformation – Protagonist metaphorically develops by transforming into representative animal
Shapeshifter story – Character transforms between human and animal forms
Monster transformation – A monster transforms into human form after moral growth
Reverse monster transformation – Human transforms into monster through moral decline
Mind swap story – Protagonist switches bodies/minds with another character, gaining perspective
Changeling story – Character discovers they were secretly switched at birth
Secret origin story – Protagonist uncovers secrets explaining their forgotten origins
Superhero origin story – Character gains extraordinary abilities and chooses how to use them

Psychological and Emotional Journey Themes

Internal Growth and Realization

Epiphany story – Protagonist achieves sudden insight that transforms their worldview
Revelation story – Character experiences spiritual or philosophical awakening
Catharsis story – Features psychological release through intense emotional experience
Healing story – Shows overcoming psychological or spiritual brokenness to become whole
Learning by teaching story – Mentor imparts wisdom but learns valuable lessons themselves
Rebirth story – Through symbolic death and rebirth, protagonist begins life anew
Quest for identity – Character seeks to discover their authentic self, origins, and purpose

Challenging Psychological Journeys

Descent into madness story – Charts protagonist’s mental deterioration into psychosis
Disillusionment story – Shows character losing naive idealism through harsh experience
Corruption story – Innocent protagonist loses naivete through exposure to harsh realities
Fall from grace story – Respected protagonist experiences disgrace through moral lapses
Fall from innocence – Traumatic event ends protagonist’s naive youthful outlook
Psychological thriller – Character’s precarious mental state drives tension and conflict
Failure story – Protagonist fails to attain conventional success but gains inner wisdom

Life Stage and Transition Narratives

Youth and Maturation

Puberty novel – Emphasizes physical changes as primary markers of adolescent development
Loss of innocence – Depicts formative experiences shattering protagonist’s naivete
Youth culture – Explores peer socialization, conventions, and dynamics of adolescence
Forced maturity story – Harsh circumstances compel child protagonist to grow up quickly
Initiation story – Chronicles childhood events signifying first steps toward adulthood

Adult Transitions and Challenges

Quarterlife crisis novel – Explores twenty-somethings navigating identity struggles
Gap year novel – Character takes time between education stages to find themselves
Feminine maturity story – Female protagonist actualizes identity and potential as woman
Masculine maturity story – Male protagonist proves manhood by overcoming challenges
Rite of passage – Character undergoes significant ritual marking transition to adulthood

Cultural and Social Narrative Frameworks

Social Identity and Integration

Immigrant experience – Protagonist adapts to new culture while finding place in homeland
Fish out of water – Naive character thrust into unfamiliar social environment
Social transition – Underscores advancement through education and class mobility
Societal integration – Highlights finding place in society through adult rituals
Social justice story – Character finds purpose through confronting inequality

Cultural and Historical Perspectives

Counterculture story – Protagonist rejects mainstream values during personal journey
Family saga – Development unfolds across generations through family history
Southern gothic – Dark stories featuring eccentric or flawed characters in American South
War and trauma – Wartime events force protagonist to confront mortality and violence
Stories of nostalgia – Character reflects on idealized childhood before maturity

Literary Tradition Classifications

Classical Narrative Structures

Entwicklungsroman – German term for developmental coming-of-age narratives
Erziehungsroman – German term for novels focused on systematic education
Künstlerroman – Narratives about artist’s growth to maturity in their craft
Quest novel – Structured around protagonist’s search for identity and purpose
Cautionary tale – Character’s flaws lead to moral downfall, serving as warning

Specialized Literary Forms

Portrait of the artist – Highlights intellectual and artistic development of creator
Slice of life – Impressionistic glimpses into everyday events and characters
Tragedy – Protagonist experiences catastrophic downfall through personal flaws
Voyage and return – Character journeys to unfamiliar realm and returns transformed
Stories of vocation – Protagonist searches for calling in career or creative passion

Additional Compelling Narrative Structures

Addiction/recovery arc – Journey from substance dependence to sobriety and growth
Chosen one story – Unlikely protagonist discovers special destiny to fulfill
Coming of technology story – New technology disrupts protagonist’s world
Fallen hero story – Respected hero experiences disgrace or corruption
Riches to rags – Wealthy protagonist loses status but gains wisdom
Rags to riches – Character transcends poverty through hard work or fortune
Reluctant hero story – Ordinary protagonist rises to extraordinary challenges
Revenge story – Character seeks vengeance for past wrongs
Sacrifice story – Protagonist surrenders something valuable for greater purpose
Sports story – Character achieves symbolic “win” paralleling psychological growth
Success story – Protagonist achieves conventional success through determination
Temptation story – Character is led astray but ultimately resists through strength
Tested faith story – Protagonist’s beliefs are challenged but ultimately reaffirmed
Transformation story – Character experiences radical change in outlook or being
Regression story – Protagonist becomes more childlike in response to trauma
Riddle – Question poem posing puzzle with metaphorical language

The Journey Continues…

Good luck on your writing adventures, my fellow storytellers! I hope this list has sparked your imagination and given you some fresh ideas to explore in your work. Whether you’re drafting your first short story or your tenth novel, remember that these themes, subgenres, and conventions are simply tools in your creative toolkit – use them, bend them, or break them entirely as your story demands!

I’d absolutely love to hear from you in the comments: What’s your favorite theme in fiction? Are you drawn to redemption arcs, coming-of-age journeys, or perhaps those deliciously complex moral dilemmas? Your answers might just inspire another writer who’s browsing through these comments!

Thanks so much for reading my slightly obsessive cataloging of storytelling traditions. Now go forth and write something wonderful!

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Richard

Richard Everywriter (pen name) is the founder of EveryWriter and a 25-year veteran of the publishing industry. With degrees in Writing, Journalism, Technology, and Education, Richard has dedicated two decades to teaching writing and literature while championing emerging voices through EveryWriter's platform. His work focuses on making literary analysis accessible to readers at all levels while preserving the rich heritage of American literature. Connect with Richard on Twitter Bluesky Facebook or explore opportunities to share your own work on ourSubmissions page. For monthly insights on writing and publishing, subscribe to our Newsletter.