Make or Break – Know Your Genre!

Most authors know what genre their newly-written book falls into but what does surprise me is how many I hear about who don’t really know what other publications are out there in the same genre, let alone have read any. If you are pitching to an agent or publisher, they will expect you have a clear idea of what other books you would consider to be similar and why.

The genre is your book’s identity. It’s how readers (and retailers) figure out what to expect. If someone picks up your book thinking it’s a cosy romance but it turns out to be a dark psychological thriller, they’re going to be disappointed and probably leave a review you’d rather not read. This emphasises the important of the cover – but that’s another blog! Read more here: https://brilliantfish.co.uk/blog/2024/08/why-people-do-judge-a-book-by-its-cover/

Your genre affects everything: the tone of your writing, your cover design, your keywords on Amazon, how you pitch it to your local bookshop to stock and even the way you market yourself. Without a clear genre, your book risks getting lost in the shuffle.

Who Are You Writing For?

Once you know your genre, you can figure out who your ideal reader is. Are they fans of fast-paced crime novels? Do they love magical fantasy worlds? Or maybe they’re looking for a heartwarming feel-good read after a long day at work?

Knowing your audience means you can speak directly to them—on your book cover, in your blurb, and in your social media posts. If you try to write for everyone, you’ll end up connecting with no one.

Check Out The Competition

Here’s a step too many self-published authors skip: checking out other writers in your genre. Grab a coffee, open Amazon, and look at the top-selling books in your category. It’s not cheating – it makes absolute sense to see what you are up against. That will then help you define what makes your book stand out.

Pay attention to:

Covers: What colours, fonts, and images are popular? Look at the bestsellers and I guarantee you will see a theme – and there’s a good reason for that. They sell books!

Blurbs: How do they hook readers? Take their lead and compare them to yours. Does yours stand up?

Reviews: What do readers love—and what do they hate? Can you see any similarities with how people may perceive your story?

This research helps you avoid common pitfalls and see where your book fits in. It also shows you what readers expect so you can deliver on that promise—while still putting your own spin on things.

Here are some of the main genre categories which I hope are helpful:

Fiction Genres

Romance – Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance, Romantic Comedy

Fantasy – Epic Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Dark Fantasy

Science Fiction – Space Opera, Dystopian, Cyberpunk

Mystery – Cozy Mystery, Police Procedural, Hard-Boiled Detective

Thriller & Suspense – Psychological Thriller, Crime Thriller, Action Thriller

Horror – Supernatural Horror, Gothic Horror, Paranormal

Historical Fiction – Based on real historical settings or events

Young Adult (YA) – YA Romance, YA Fantasy, YA Dystopian

Middle Grade – Books for ages 8–12, often adventure or fantasy

Literary Fiction – Character-driven, focuses on themes and style

Women’s Fiction – Emotional journeys, relationships, and personal growth

Non-Fiction Genres

Memoir & Biography – Life stories, celebrity memoirs, historical figures

Self-Help & Personal Development – Motivation, habits, mental health

Business & Finance – Entrepreneurship, investing, leadership

Health & Wellness – Fitness, nutrition, mindfulness

Cookbooks & Food Writing – Recipes, culinary essays

Travel Writing – Guides, travel memoirs, adventure stories

True Crime – Real-life criminal cases and investigations

History – Historical events, cultural studies

Science & Technology – Popular science, tech trends

Parenting & Family – Advice, stories, educational approaches

Hybrid & Popular Cross-Genres

Romantic Suspense – Romance mixed with mystery or thriller elements

Historical Romance – Love stories set in the past

Paranormal Romance – Romance with supernatural elements

Fantasy Romance – Love stories in magical worlds

Science Fantasy – Combines futuristic tech with magic

Horror-Thriller – Fast-paced horror with suspense elements

Interestingly, here are the Top 15 Best-Selling Self-Publishing Genres:

  1. Romance – especially ContemporaryRomantic Suspense, and Paranormal Romance
  2. Thriller & Suspense – including Crime Thrillers and Psychological Thrillers
  3. Fantasy – particularly Epic Fantasy and Urban Fantasy
  4. Science Fiction – DystopianSpace Opera, and Post-Apocalyptic are strong performers
  5. Young Adult (YA) – fantasy, romance, and dystopian themes do really well
  6. Mystery – Cozy Mysteries are huge for indie authors
  7. Paranormal & Supernatural – vampires, witches, shifters, etc.
  8. Horror – particularly Psychological and Supernatural Horror
  9. Women’s Fiction – emotional stories, relationships, and family themes
  10. Historical Romance – a steady favourite for romance readers
  11. LitRPG & GameLit – popular with fantasy and sci-fi readers
  12. Erotica – particularly romantic erotica (must follow platform guidelines)
  13. Memoir & Personal Stories – especially niche or inspirational journeys
  14. Self-Help & Personal Development – mindset, habits, and productivity books
  15. Health, Fitness & Wellness – including diet books and holistic living

Writing your book was the creative part. 

Publishing it is the business part. 

And like any business, you need to know your market. 

✅ Define your genre. 

✅ Know your reader. 

✅ Study your competition. 

Do these things, and you’ll give your book the best possible chance to shine in a crowded marketplace.

If you are looking for support on your writing journey, whatever the stage, I’m here to help. Call me on 07702 808137 or email liz@brilliantfish.co.uk

Leave a Reply

Scroll to top