Okay I am a big fan of Steampunk, so I made this chapter, for anybody out there who might be interested in writing a steampunk stories... so...
PUNK GENRES
Atomicpunk: Optimistic retro science fiction based on the Space Age. Think The Jetsons.
Biopunk: This genre is about altering genetics and DNA. These stories often take place in the near-future in which humans have been altered or in which human experimentation is common.
Candlepunk: Similar to clockpunk, but darker and with less technology.
Clockpunk: Think Da Vinci’s inventions, but more advanced while. This genre follows the aesthetics and technology of Western civilization during the mid to late middle ages, though sometimes it’s set in the Victorian era.
Cyberpunk: Has advanced technology and often focuses on artificial intelligence and the cyber world. The setting is often near-future rather than far-future. Blade Runner is an example.
Dieselpunk: Based on aesthetics and technology between World War I and World War II, sometimes up until the Cold War.
Decopunk: Ranges from the aesthetics of the 1920’s to the 1950’s. Decopunk aesthetic is heavily based on modernism. Less gritty than dieselpunk.
Elfpunk: Basically urban fantasy, but with common high or epic fantasy creatures put in an urban setting rather than vampires and werewolves.
Nanopunk: Similar to biopunk, but biotechnology is less available and nanotechnology is common.
Sandalpunk: Set in ancient worlds, such as Rome, but with advanced technology.
Splatterpunk: Extremely graphic and contains a lot of gore.
Steampunk: This genre gets its name from the heavy steam-powered technology involved. Aesthetics are based on the Victorian and industrial eras of the Western world, though other cultural elements may be used.
Western Steampunk: Similar to steampunk, but with Western (as in Wild West) aesthetics and settings.
Just for the extra:
Steampunk Weapons and Gadgets
Aether
Aether is a classical element. In ancient times it was thought to be the forces beyond control. In the late 19th century, the term luminiferous aether was used to describe a medium for the propagation of light. There’s a lot of room to use this mysterious element in everything from a power source to a scapegoat for natural disasters. In Katie MacAlister’s Steamed, rayguns shoot superheated aether.
Analog Systems
In analog technology, a wave is recorded or used in its original form, where in digital technology the analog wave is sampled at some interval, and then turned into numbers that are stored in the digital device. What if we continued as an analog society instead of a digital one?
Automatons
An automaton is a self-operating machine (an autonomous robot). They could be anything from elaborate clockwork singing birds (or killer ladybugs like inBlameless) to robot servants (like in Android Karenina). They could be lifelike or stylized, maybe they even have a windup key in their back.
Clockwork Systems
Machines using elaborate clockwork can abound in Steampunk. They can be anything from automatons to actually being the “heart” of a city. They could set off explosives, or run radios, trains, or analytical engines.
Difference/Analytical Engines
A difference engine is a type of mechanical calculator capable of computing complex equations. Charles Babbage’s design featured a hand-cranked device. An analytical engine is a mechanical general-purpose computer using punch-cards.
Flying Machines
Jules Verne enchanted us all with balloon travel in “Around the World in Eighty Days” and “Five weeks in a Balloon.” But aircraft get even bigger like blimps, zeppelins, dirigibles, and airships.
They could be grand and elegant passenger ships of gleaming wood and polished brass, or could be patched and clunky cargo haulers, or these vessels could be filled with the most fearsome people to haunt Steampunk skies—air pirates!
They could be steam, helium, or hydrogen powered. Maybe they’re solar or run on aether.
But ships aren’t the only things that can fly. What about personal aircraft like “detachable wings” – small powered gliders with wings reminiscent of a Da Vinci sketch or hoverboards? And don’t forget the flying car or the flying city—or the genetically engineered airship made from a Whale in Leviathan. Flying machines go beyond the dirigible and are only limited by the imagination
Rayguns
Rayguns are as quintessential to Steampunk as airships. They are “directed energy” weapons used for maiming or killing people and powered on all sorts of things, from aether to fairy-farts (okay, I made that up). They can come in all sizes and shapes, and generally are metallic-colored. Sometimes they may be pearl-encrusted for evening wear. After all, a lady’s raygun says a lot about her.
Steampower
Steam technology is the fundamental basis of Steampunk. Steam engines can power trains and boats or run factory equipment or mills, steam turbines can produce electricity. Steam can power cars or farm equipment, heat houses, power weaponry–it can even run clocks.
In a basic steam engine heat is obtained from fuel burnt in an enclosed firebox. The heat boils water in a pressurized boiler, turning it into saturated steam. The steam transfers to a motor which uses it to push on a piston sliding inside a cylinder, powering the machinery. As the steam cools it is exhausted into the air.
There are all sorts of steam engines of varying sophistication, including underwater jet and rocket-type engines. How about a steam-powered submarine?
Escaping steam and boiler explosions can call all sorts of devastation, disaster, and injury.
Time Machines
Who doesn’t love time machines? Whether they take you to the past or the future, they guarantee and adventure.
Steampunk Archtypes
Air-Pirate – one of the quintessential Steampunk characters. Airpirates and bad, bold, and armed to the teeth.
Adventurer/Explorer—they’re reason for being is to boldly go where no one has gone before and to experience new things and discover new places.
Aviator—weather roguish or military, whether they’re flying a bi-plane, a zeppelin, or a space ship, they they’re tough, brave, and a can even a bit gallant, especially in contrast to Air-Pirates.
Dandy/Femme Fatale—they use their wiles and charms to get what they want, sometimes at the expense of others.
Mad Scientist/Inventor—another quintessential Steampunk character, they embody the steam in steampunk, discovering new things, solving problems, and occasionally blowing things up
Mechanic/Tinker—a bit of a twist on the Scientist/Inventor. Where the Inventor is creating things from scratch, the tinker is improving on things, often on the fly, or perhaps just trying to get things to work, making due with what they have.
Philosopher/Scholar-they like old books and wax poetic about the classics, they could also be trying to learn new things and discover new ideas—or uncover the ideas of old. They may talk too much about things no one cares about or prefer books to people.
Socialite/Lady/Gentleman—Often based on Victorian aristocracy, they can often embody the refinement and social norms we associate with the upper class of that era. Many times they serve as patrons for the scholars, adventurers, and inventors.
Street Sparrow/Scrappy Survivor—These are the street urchins, your pickpockets and beggars. Hungry and dirty, they do what they need to do to survive.
Reformer –They could be suffragettes or seeking to get rid of child labor or protesting imperialism, they are working to make the world a better place, often loudly and not always peacefully and without scandal.
I’m sure you can think of all sorts of variations. A Scientist doesn’t need to be mad, perhaps they’re naturalists or cryptozoologists. Tinkers could work on Airships. Airpirates might be reformers in their own way.