The Business of Writing

PICK YOUR GENRE…know who you are in the marketplace!

A genre is a category to describe the primary content and tone of your writing. It will determine the plot type, characters, and setting–key fundamentals when writing a story. Understanding the category or genre you write is essential for defining your identity as a writer and determining your place in the marketplace. Below I have defined key reasons for defining genre. These are not only going to help you write a more focused story, but it will set you up to market your book to the right audience, whether agent or reader. 

Audience Expectations: Each genre has distinct conventions, tropes, and expectations that a reader relies on when picking up a book. Knowing the genre, following the rules of a genre, helps a writer stay focused on the style of writing, the arcs and pacing, and the expectations of the story. Readers of fantasy, for example, expect futuristic settings and imaginary worlds, while historical romance readers will expect a romantic relationship set in historical settings. Readers have expectations from a particular genre. Understanding “the terms” of each genre, a writer can craft a story that resonates deeply with their audience. Give your audience what they want! If you label yourself a romance writer but you do not deliver on a happy ending, your reader may not be happy. When writers deliver within the expected parameters of a genre, it increases readers’ satisfaction and loyalty. You will essentially create a returning customer. 

Craft: As stated above, each genre as a set of rules, structures, and storytelling techniques. Understanding the conventions of your chosen genre, writers can hone their craft more effectively. I write literary romance. With literary there is an expectation from readers to focus on deeper exploration of themes, characters, and language. In other words, I can be more “wordy.” I tend to linger in the descriptive elements and delve into rich imagery. This technique would not work for thriller suspense, where the thriller genre prioritizes fast-paced plots, suspense twists, and high-stakes action. Defining your genre provides a roadmap of your storytelling. Mastering the nuances of each genre will enhance the quality of writing. Just as mapping out your storyline before you write, understanding your genre provides the structure of your story.

Understanding Target Market: I will consistently refer to this key term, target market–the specific group of consumers that you want to reach and sell your book to. Target market = readers. Without an audience or customer, you have no sales. Understanding your genre will help pinpoint who your reader is; define the audience for your book. It will help identify the demographics, interest, reading habits, community, age, and gender of your reader. This understanding enables you to tailor your writing and focus your marketing efforts to effectively reach and engage with your intended readership. In short, it will help you sell your book to the person who will be interested in it. 

Agent Optimization: Effective querying involves more than just outlining the premise of your book; it requires clearly defining your manuscript’s genre and assessing its marketability. In a query letter, agents need to swiftly determine if a manuscript aligns with their interests and expertise. Understanding your genre allows you to target the right agent or publishing house, and may increase the chance of appealing to agents, reducing the likelihood of immediate rejection. At the beginning of my querying process, I thought my book fell under the romance genre because it had heavy romantic elements. I targeted romance agents and publishers, only to get multiple responses that my book was not romance, and therefore, they had to pass. No one wants that response. At the beginning of my writing career, I had no understanding about genre and what that entailed as far as interests and placement. The romance genre has specific “rules” for structure, plot, and storytelling. My book did not qualify under those conventions. I just thought, if it was a well-written book and a good story, agents would accept my book. Wrong! I looked ignorant and unprofessional, not knowing the business or what I was doing. 

And I didn’t know what I was doing! I didn’t have a clue as to the business of writing. 

Agents have to sell books to publishers, publishers have to sell books to the marketplace, and the marketplace has to sell to readers. Agents need to know what your book is, what genre is falls into, to understand where your book fits into the marketplace. 

Agents appreciate authors who demonstrate an understanding of the market and its dynamics. Demonstrating a clear writing style, knowing who your target audience is, and understanding the market not only portrays professionalism but also positions you for success. 

Marketing Knowledge: Defining your genre, and understanding its expectations, can help you decipher current trends, best sellers, and readers’ preferences. This goes back to my marketing tip–give the customer what it wants. Knowing these components helps your book become a marketable commodity. Knowledge about genre conventions and audience preference can help you tailor your work, but by no means is denying your unique voice and creativity. You are not locked into strict formulaic plots or cliches, but rather you are armed with the understanding of the marketability–the potential to be sold successfully in the marketplace. Yes, you may have a “fantastical idea”, but you have to ask yourself, does anybody want to read about it? Is there a market for it? Defining genre helps your manuscript have an identity, making it more appealing to your intended readership, potential publisher or literary agent, and finding a home in the marketplace.

I understand this may seem like a lot of information, but I am aiming to prepare you for the marketing early within the writing process, so it doesn’t feel overwhelming. I get it, marketing scares most writers. But if you tackle it in parts along the way, you set yourself up for when it comes time to sell your book. Understanding your genre is a fundamental aspect of marketing. It helps define your identity as a writer and positions you within the literary marketplace. By embracing a genre, you can craft stories that resonate deeply with their audience, enhance the quality of writing, and increase your chance of success in publishing and building readership.

Have questions? Ask me in the comments below: