What genre are you writing in? In fact, how does one choose a genre? Do you write the book and then try to figure out what genre it fits in? Or do you consider the genre before you start writing and then try to conform to the standards of that genre.
Who decides those standards, anyway? Aren’t some of the newer genres and sub-genres the result of authors writing outside the box of traditional genres?
I’ve been told by a few that my cozy mysteries are actually “revved up cozy mysteries.” Have I stumbled over into a new sub-genre with my Klepto Cat Mystery series?
The things to consider when writing your next blockbuster novel is which genres are popular? Where are America’s readers focusing their attention? You certainly don’t want to claim a non-traditional, little-known and seldom read genre for your book. Advertise it as a meta-historical, ergodic literature or visionary fiction and you may exclude many of your potential readers.
Sure there are readers in even the most obscure genres, and a book that fits in one of them should be advertised as such. But you’ll have more freedom when it comes to promotion and you’ll most likely have a larger audience base to work with when you label your book with a genre that is known, understood and, in fact, embraced. Just make sure your book fits into this genre.
You might consider genre before you start writing your book. Some authors make changes to their stories in order to conform to a certain genre. Not a bad idea, actually, unless you want to make your mark in a certain and specific genre.
Don’t try to fool your readers, though. Don’t try to slip something past avid readers of a specific genre. Few readers of romance novels or historical novels, for example, will tolerate erotica mixed into the books they read. If you write erotica, for example, and you want to attract a larger audience for your novels, you’re going to have to tone down the sex or your book will not fly with any group except those who read erotica.
Choosing a genre can be confusing. Here are a few articles and sites that might help.
http://selfpublishingadvisor.com/2011/10/11/how-to-choose-a-genre-for-your-book
http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/how-to-choose-the-right-genre-for-your-book
http://writersrelief.com/blog/2011/07/determine-book-genre
http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/choosing-your-genre
I gave myself a Christmas gift yesterday. I established a Facebook fan page for my novels. Check it out here: http://www.facebook.com/kleptocatmysteries