Which category? (Student finds way to swap bodies with handsome dorm mate)

[mass_debate]

Hi,

On-and-off reader but first time writer here. I have a story I'm developing and wondered on the category. The premise is that a student discovers a way to swap bodies with an attractive male acquiantance he is envious of, but that brings a whole bunch of other problems he didn't think through.

The obvious category is sci fi and fantasy, but, aside from the initial switch and a clue to the mechanics, the story does not dwell on this aspect and it is focused more on the consequences. The alternative would then be erotic couplings, but would that be frowned upon in this case?

Also, if anyone is interested, I would like the help of an editor. I don't intend to publish the chapters until I have all or a good chunk finished, as I don't have the time or skill to publish regularly. I hate unfinished stories too.

 

[TheLobster]

I don't intend to publish the chapters until I have all or a good chunk finished, as I don't have the time or skill to publish regularly.

I wouldn't worry about categorization until you are actually close to publishing. Many things can change while writing and the category is likely to become much clearer once you have at least the first draft done.

 

[iwatchus]

Like lobster said, see what the story says it is when it's done. Both of your suggestions are broad categories and accepting of what ever you want the story to be. Some categories want to push you in a certain direction. If you were considering one of those, it can have an influence on the story you write. But here, just write the story you want and then see where it tells you it should go.

 

[Bamagan]

The general premise might fit into the Mind Control category. Possession and body swap sound MC-adjacent, at least, and almost the whole category is essentially a subgenre of SF/F anyway.

 

[SamanthaBehgs]

The general premise might fit into the Mind Control category. Possession and body swap sound MC-adjacent, at least, and almost the whole category is essentially a subgenre of SF/F anyway.

This is what first came to mind for me, too

 

[StrangeLife]

You can always pick a non-descriptive one like Novels and Novellas.

But I also think that your idea sounds like Scifi...

 

[mass_debate]

The general premise might fit into the Mind Control category. Possession and body swap sound MC-adjacent, at least, and almost the whole category is essentially a subgenre of SF/F anyway.

I suppose, but MC usually is controlling/influencing someone's actions, no? In this case there is none of that.

 

[Bamagan]

I suppose, but MC usually is controlling/influencing someone's actions, no? In this case there is none of that.

A matter of perspective, perhaps. The body swap effectively means they're controlling each other's actions, insofar as at least most people won't realize someone else is driving the bodies in question. Like I said, it seems MC-adjacent, and I have read a few possession stories in that category. Off the top of my head, most of the body swap stories I've read have been male-female swaps in either Transgender or Taboo/Incest, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were some in MC as well.

 

[mass_debate]

A matter of perspective, perhaps. The body swap effectively means they're controlling each other's actions, insofar as at least most people won't realize someone else is driving the bodies in question. Like I said, it seems MC-adjacent, and I have read a few possession stories in that category. Off the top of my head, most of the body swap stories I've read have been male-female swaps in either Transgender or Taboo/Incest, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were some in MC as well.

Well if it's a subset of SF/F I could just put it in that

 

[iwatchus]

SF&F could work as could a few other categories. This was said earlier, but see what the story says when it is done. Category can be one of the very last choices you make.