The term ‘genre’ is a French word; it means a ‘kind’ of something, or a ‘sort’ of something. The idea of sorting art into categories is nothing new: it goes back to the Ancient Greeks where Aristotle categorised literary works into three main categories: tragedy, comedy, and epic. These early genres were based on the tone, style, and themes found within each work. As literature evolved over time, new genres emerged to reflect changing societal values, technological advancements, and shifting cultural norms. And the process is certainly not limited to literature: as human beings, we simply love categorising and then drilling down to sub-categorises.

In the context of this blog, I’m thinking of genre as a method for cataloguing and organising story conventions.

In this post we’re going to be looking at the basics of genre: its definition, characteristics, and some examples. Then moving on to how you can choose a genre, or even multiple genres, for your writing. And finally finish up with some tips for writing across genres.

1. Genre basics

Genre refers to the category or type of story being told, such as romance, science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, mystery, thrillers, etc.

Understanding genre can help you to write books or stories, that you like, and also what your readers like as well, and with you creating a sense of expectation for your readers when they see or are told about a new book from you.

Some common genres in literature, include:

• Fiction: Romance, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller.
• Non-Fiction: Memoirs, Biographies, Self-Help, History, Travel.
• Hybrid Genres: Magical Realism, Historical Fiction, Cyberpunk, etc.

Individual genres have key characteristics and tropes associated with them, for instance:

• Romance novels often feature a central love story, emotional conflict, and a happy ending.
• Science fiction stories typically involve advanced technology, alternate worlds, or futuristic societies.
• Fantasy tales frequently include magical elements, mythical creatures, and quests.

2. Choosing a Genre for Your Writing

Understanding Your Target Audience

So, who is your target audience? Or to be more precise, who are you actually writing your book for? Are they like you, where you enjoy certain genres but not others?

For myself I like historical fiction, history, crime, the occasional fantasy, science fiction, or romance. But other than those tend to leave me cold! But I may try one book first before deciding to continue reading in that genre.

Once you know your target audience, its easier to tailor your story to their interests and expectations.

Identifying Strengths and Interests

So how can you, as a writer, identify your strengths and interests?

• Think about your favourite books or authors, what topics do they write about and explore in their writing? (Simon Scarrow, and books about the Romans, for me)
• What are the stories or books that you read again, even though you know whats going to happen in the end? (The Thirty-Nine Steps, and The Riddle of the Sands)
• What genres inspire you and make you want to write like that or them?

Researching Popular Genres

So how do you find what are the trending popular genres in publishing, and the reading public in general?

You could try:

• Reading bestseller lists or genre-specific publications (e.g., Fantasy & Science Fiction)?
• Following industry news and social media conversations?
• Attending writing conferences or workshops focusing on specific genres?

3. Writing Across Genres and Finding Your Niche

Benefits of Genre-Hopping

If you can write a book which involves several genres (known as ‘genre-hopping) you increase your target audience, which has several other benefits too:

• You expand your audience reach by appealing to readers who enjoy different types of stories.
• You develop new skills and perspectives as a writer through experimentation with various styles and tones.
• You help avoid burnout or stagnation through writing in one genre alone.

Challenges of Genre-Hopping

But genre-hopping does have some challenges that come with writing across genres, such as:

• Balancing different styles and tones to create consistency throughout your work does tend to be difficult.
• Researching and immersing yourself in a new genre’s conventions and expectations does take time.
• Managing reader expectations when switching between genres or tone may be awkward or just plain difficult.

Tips for Successful Genre-Hopping

So, what makes for successful genre-hopping? You could try:

• Conduct thorough research on your chosen genre, or genres, to ensure authenticity and consistency.
• Identify common ground between genres (e.g., themes, characters) to create a cohesive narrative.
• Edit and revise your work carefully to maintain tone and style throughout.

Conclusion

In this post we’ve looked at what genres are, and how we can use them to our advantage, and showing the importance of understanding genre for writers.

Try experimenting with different genres and find what works best for you. But do be aware that finding your niche as a writer takes time, patience, and practice.

I hope you now have a better understanding of genre and how you can use genres to your advantage and benefit in your writing? Let me know in the comments below please?