A literary genre is a kind of book classification based on several elements that include content, literary technique, tone and critics' definitions.
Why Choose a Literary Genre for Your Book?
The genre of your story is useful for Marketing. Specifically, if appropriately named, your genre creates expectations that you are already prepared to satisfy. This is most evident when readers and publishers select your work based on their preferred genre. In fact, some writers produce all or most of their work within a single genre with the hope of encouraging loyalty among previously satisfied readers.
Since the genre is one of the first things that readers, publishers and other interested parties usually want to know, be prepared to provide it. It certainly allows others to see that you are serious about your work and know what you are doing.
-->
How to Identify the Genre of Your Book?
1. You should already have at least a rough idea about the content, tone, who your target readers are and other considerations that are clues for defining your genre. Such considerations include the following. (A more complete list is at the bottom of this post).
2. If uncertain of the name of your book's literary genre, consult lists of genres. Spend time reviewing the characteristics of literary genres and sub-genres. They will not only help you to choose appropriately but to also to understand specific literary expectations that you must satisfy. For instance, the thriller genre is characterized by its use of suspense, tension and up-and-down mood stimulation. Writers within this literary genre are therefore expected to use literary devices like cliff-hangers, red herrings and plot twists. Further to the above, the conspiracy thriller sub-genre is characterized by a heroic protagonist who confronts his antagonist, a powerful villain like a group, organization or government whose evil intentions are known only by the protagonist. If you are still uncertain, borrow ideas from the genres used to describe similar stories. Naturally, this will require you to read similar stories. Your classification may even include demographic descriptors of your target readers like Afro-American, Female, Teen and so on. Since it is possible to choose a literary genre that is debatable, simply do your best.
-->
3. Select a literary genre that is as clear and specific as possible. For instance, rather than stating the genre of your book as 'fiction', consider 'romance comedy' to be clearer. In short, it is acceptable to combine 2 genres. In some cases, 3 is acceptable. In fact, you can even extend genre to explain minor but noteworthy elements 'Romance memoir with thriller elements'. However, avoid an overly narrow or complicated classification.
4. If your story involves many genres, consider these approaches. Select the genres that dominate your plot, especially if your target readers like those particular genres. Use the genres of similar books that your target readers like as useful indicators. This requires you to read similar books and to know or at least be capable of imagining the literary genre that will attract your target readers.
What's Next?
After knowing the expectations of your literary genre, the next step(s) should be as follows.
- Broad Story Structure
However, as shown in the ordered list below, I think that choosing a literary genre might be easier if tackled after other steps within this preliminary writing plan stage. Specifically, you should already have an idea about the content, tone, who your target readers are and other considerations that essentially characterize a literary genre.
- Theme
- Character Arc
- Character Development
- Pre - Writing Synopsis
- Choose your Literary Genre
CJ
Once Upon a Writing Block
PS.
PS.
- See the synopsis of Bliss, a story that fits into the dark humor genre.
No comments:
Post a Comment