How to Choose (or Create) the Perfect Genre for Your Book
A detailed guide to choosing the right genre for your book, including insights on blending genres and how genre affects marketing and storytelling.
WRITING & EDITING
How to Choose (or Create) the Perfect Genre for Your Book
Choosing the right genre is one of the most important steps in writing and publishing a book. It determines reader expectations, marketing strategies, and even storytelling structure.
But what if your story doesn’t fit neatly into one genre? Blending genres is a great way to make your book unique, but it also comes with challenges.
This guide will help you:
✔ Understand the major genres in fiction.
✔ Explore subgenres and how they impact storytelling.
✔ Find your book’s core genre and whether you should mix genres.
✔ Learn how genre influences marketing, cover design, and publishing.
Let’s dive in!
Step 1: Understanding Book Genres
A genre is a category of storytelling that shares common themes, tropes, and structures. Readers love genres because they know what type of experience they’re getting.
Here’s a detailed look at the major fiction genres and their subgenres.
1. Fantasy 🏰✨
Fantasy novels feature magical elements, mythical creatures, and unique worlds. They transport readers into imaginary realms where the impossible becomes real.
Popular Fantasy Subgenres:
High Fantasy (Epic Fantasy)
Grand, expansive worlds with rich mythology.
Good vs. evil conflicts.
Complex magic systems and political intrigue.
Examples: The Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien), The Wheel of Time (Robert Jordan).
Urban Fantasy
Fantasy elements in a modern, real-world setting.
Often involves supernatural creatures like vampires, witches, or demons.
Examples: The Dresden Files (Jim Butcher), American Gods (Neil Gaiman).
Dark Fantasy
Blends horror and fantasy elements.
Gritty, morally complex characters.
Examples: The Witcher (Andrzej Sapkowski), The Broken Empire (Mark Lawrence).
Portal Fantasy
A character enters a magical world through a portal.
Examples: The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis), Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll).
Fairy Tale Retellings
Classic fairy tales reimagined with new twists.
Examples: The Lunar Chronicles (Marissa Meyer), Spinning Silver (Naomi Novik).
Science Fiction 🚀🤖
Science fiction explores technology, space, futuristic societies, and scientific advancements.
Popular Sci-Fi Subgenres:
Hard Science Fiction
Focuses on realistic science and technology.
Detailed explanations of physics, engineering, and space travel.
Examples: The Martian (Andy Weir), Rendezvous with Rama (Arthur C. Clarke).
Space Opera
Large-scale adventures in space.
Galactic empires, space battles, and political intrigue.
Examples: Dune (Frank Herbert), Star Wars (Expanded Universe).
Cyberpunk
Gritty, dystopian futures with advanced technology.
Themes of corporate control, hacking, and AI.
Examples: Neuromancer (William Gibson), Altered Carbon (Richard K. Morgan).
Dystopian Sci-Fi
Societies with oppressive governments or post-apocalyptic settings.
Examples: The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins), Brave New World (Aldous Huxley).
Romance 💕
Romance novels focus on love stories and emotional relationships. The central plot revolves around a romantic relationship with a satisfying resolution.
Popular Romance Subgenres:
Contemporary Romance
Set in the modern world with relatable characters.
Examples: The Hating Game (Sally Thorne), It Ends with Us (Colleen Hoover).
Historical Romance
Set in historical time periods, often with aristocrats or royalty.
Examples: Bridgerton (Julia Quinn), Outlander (Diana Gabaldon).
Paranormal Romance
Love stories involving supernatural beings (vampires, shifters, demons, etc.).
Examples: Twilight (Stephenie Meyer), A Discovery of Witches (Deborah Harkness).
Romantic Suspense
A mix of romance and thriller/mystery elements.
Examples: Nora Roberts novels, The Girl Who Knew Too Much (Amanda Quick).
Mystery & Thriller 🕵️♂️🔍
Mysteries focus on solving a crime or unraveling a mystery, while thrillers emphasize tension and suspense.
Popular Mystery & Thriller Subgenres:
Cozy Mystery
Lighthearted, often humorous murder mysteries.
Examples: Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (Alexander McCall Smith).
Psychological Thriller
Twisted, mind-bending narratives with unreliable narrators.
Examples: Gone Girl (Gillian Flynn), The Girl on the Train (Paula Hawkins).
Police Procedural
Realistic crime-solving with law enforcement professionals.
Examples: Harry Bosch series (Michael Connelly), Tana French’s Dublin Murder Squad.
Horror 👻🩸
Horror fiction aims to evoke fear, dread, or suspense.
Popular Horror Subgenres:
Supernatural Horror
Ghosts, demons, possessions.
Examples: The Shining (Stephen King), The Exorcist (William Peter Blatty).
Psychological Horror
Focuses on the human mind, paranoia, and madness.
Examples: Psycho (Robert Bloch), The Silence of the Lambs (Thomas Harris).
Gothic Horror
Dark, atmospheric settings with haunted mansions and doomed romances.
Examples: Dracula (Bram Stoker), The Haunting of Hill House (Shirley Jackson).
Historical Fiction ⏳
Historical fiction brings past time periods to life, blending fact and fiction.
Examples: The Nightingale (Kristin Hannah), The Book Thief (Markus Zusak).
Literary Fiction 📖
Literary fiction emphasizes deep themes, emotional depth, and strong prose.
Examples: To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee), The Goldfinch (Donna Tartt).
Step 2: Should You Mix Genres?
Many bestselling books blend multiple genres:
✅ The Hunger Games = Dystopian + Action + Romance
✅ Outlander = Historical Fiction + Romance + Time Travel
✅ Jurassic Park = Sci-Fi + Thriller
If you mix genres, make sure:
✔ One genre is dominant (for marketing purposes).
✔ You meet the reader expectations of both genres.
Final Thoughts: How to Choose Your Genre
📌 Identify your story’s core themes (love, adventure, survival, mystery).
📌 Consider the tone & setting (fantastical, futuristic, contemporary).
📌 Test your genre by comparing your book to successful titles.
What genre is YOUR book?
