This is by no means a comprehensive list. Science-Fiction: Cyberpunk, Dystopian, Utopian, Lost Worlds, Space Travel Romance: Comedy, Billionaires, Erotic, No or Low Heat, Regency, Suspense Mystery: Hardboiled, Classic Detective, Cozy, Paranormal, Legal Horror: Body Horror, Gore, Historical, Creepy Kids, Mythic, Comedy What will the characters be like? Where will the tension come from? How will your audience feel when they read your book? Your subgenre helps you really specify for the reader-and for yourself-how this book is going to read and feel. Key Characteristics: the protagonist’s internal transformation is more important than plot and the theme probably invites us to contemplate the human condition.ĭo you see your story here? If you’re still coming up with story ideas, do you see a genre that interests you? Once you’ve chosen it, break it down to subgenre.īecause saying, “I write romance” isn’t quite clear enough What is My Subgenre?.Magical realism is huge in Latin American literature. Key Characteristics: characters live mostly regular lives marked with occasional magical events.Key Characteristics: a narrative spanning multiple generations within a single family, often with a timeline that reaches into the past.Key Characteristics: a setting in the American West, adventure, romance, and themes of survival.Key Characteristics: fictionalized narrative incorporating historical events or people, vivid descriptions, and dialogue reflecting the time and place.Key Characteristics: a sympathetic protagonist, emotional tension, idealized themes on love, and a happy-ever-after.Key Characteristics: a gradual reveal of clues, rising tension, and a single question that moves the reader through the story.Key Characteristics: terrifying images, chases, a suspenseful or spooky mood, and supernatural or demonic forces.Key Characteristics: physical and psychological danger, a sense of pursuit and anticipation, and frequent cliffhangers.Key Characteristics: the presence of supernatural powers, kingdoms, and mythological elements.Key Characteristics: an alternate timeline or dimension, advanced scientific concepts, and a plot defined by the setting.Key Characteristics: swift pacing, physical danger, acts of courage, and a “ticking clock”-the sense of time running out.Your book most likely fits into one of these genres: In short, genre is a powerful guide for how to write a book. A happy ending versus a sad ending, dense description versus snappy dialogue… you get the idea. Break it down to something more specific by answering these questions.Ī genre is a category of storytelling that tells the reader what to expect in terms of tone, tropes, complexity, and more. Okay, so you know you want to write fiction. Here are some lists to help you narrow down your vision for your book. If you plan to self-publish, knowing your genre and subgenre also guides the way you write book descriptions, commission cover art, and design a marketing strategy.

Writing to serve your intended audience,.The answer influences several elements of the book writing process, including: Are you writing a cozy mystery novella or a classic detective novel? Will you share your life story as a memoir, a book of essays, or an inspirational nonfiction book? Even if you don’t know what you want to write about, you probably already know you want to be a novelist or you want to write a self-help book to promote your brand.īelieve it or not, you have to get more specific. This may seem like something you would have figured out before you looked into how to start writing a book. What Type of Book Are You Going To Write? There will be a point where you rely on this reminder to keep you motivated. “These lessons on investment opened up so many possibilities in my life, and I want to pay that forward.”.“I want to continue my grandmother’s legacy through this cookbook memoir.”.“I believe stories bring us joy, and I want to be a part of creating that joy in the world.”.I suggest thinking in terms of purpose rather than reward. Have that answer ready, and make sure it goes deeper than fame and fortune.

You will ask yourself, “Why do I even bother?” At some point, you will spend an entire writing session writing, deleting, and rewriting the same sentence.

You will face insecurities you didn’t know you had. Before you can really dig into how to write a book, you need to clarify why you want to write a book.

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