Guest Blog: Choosing a Book Genre

By Katie-bree Reeves. 

Writing a book is an exciting and nerve-wracking journey. As an editor, I talk to authors all the time about how hard it is to decide on the best way to get your story from thought to paper. You may know what to write, but how do you make sure it aligns with the expectations of that genre while still allowing you full creative freedom? 

Genres help you market your book to the correct publisher and audience. They are basically categories that your book best fits under, exactly as you would see when searching for a book in a store or online. And the reality is, these genres do have certain rules.

For example, a fantasy book needs to be fictional. And a romance novel is, of course, going to have a love interest as its primary focus. But where it gets confusing is sometimes a book can essentially fit into two categories or genres. 

What about a paranormal novel? Many of them fit into both romance and fantasy. 

Here are some tricks for choosing your genre. 

1. Read up on various genres. 

You don’t need to know every sub-category out there or adhere to every single rule, but it pays to know what the main genres mean and what the publishers focusing on those genres may be looking for. This will help you not only in writing your novel, but also in applying to the correct publishing houses and in tailoring your submission letters. 

2. Look at your novel’s main theme.  

Now that you know about genres, think about your own book. What is the main purpose of your writing? Is the focus on the blossoming romance between two characters, even if they are, say vampires? (therefore, a paranormal romance). Or is it about a chilling murder and the hunt for a serial killer? (a thriller, perhaps?). Whatever combination of elements in your story, it needs to be promoted for the main theme it encompasses. 

3. Consider your audience. 

This works hand in hand with the last tip. If you’re not sure what the main theme is, then look at it from a reader’s perspective. What will they see as the main focus when they read your story? And remember, if you’re unsure and  you plan on having it beta read, you can always include that as one of your questions. 

There you have it. Three easy tips on choosing your genre. And just remember, a chosen genre is just the main category. It doesn’t mean you can’t deviate slightly from the general rules of that category. You can still have a fantasy with some romance, or a mystery set in a fantasy land. But by choosing a genre and approaching it from that angle, you will find the jobs of submitting to a publisher, marketing on your social media platform, and even choosing beta readers that much easier. 

Now you can get back to doing what you love: Writing! 

Katie-bree Reeves

My name is Katie-bree Reeves, editor of Fair Crack of the Whip Proofreading and Editing. I’m an Australian editor, enjoying life with coffee, cats, and books. My focus is on giving every author a fair chance at writing their book, and although I work across multiple genres, I specialize in the fantasy, romance, and YA genres.