When you walk into your favorite bookstore, do you roam about looking at all the books in all the sections? Probably not. I’ll bet you head for the area labeled with your favorite reads: romance, mystery, teen fiction, etc. Genre labels were created so that bookstores would know where to shelve the books to enable readers to find the books we love the most.
With the popularity of cross-genre books today, have you ever been confused about what label you should put on the book you are reading or writing? Literary agent Lucienne Diver of the Knight Agency gives a great detailed explanation of genres and sub-genres in this blog post.
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6 comments:
Excellent article--thanks for the link.
After reading all that, I guess mine falls in the historicals genre. Although it looks like it could almost fall into several more. Interesting.
My books all cross genres, which made it hard when pitching them to agents.
In addition to the genre sections of the bookstore, I also look carefully at the new books displays and the discount books. That's where I find many cross-genre books that I wouldn't otherwise come across.
SPHINX INK: I'm glad you found the link helpful. I certainly did.
TOM: I think that means your book is complex. Actually I know it is! I think most good books have elements of several genres.
SHAUNA: I think cross-genre books are more interesting. But unfortunately, it does make them harder to place with agents. You have a great idea in looking at the new books display and discount books for new treasures. I always enjoy looking at the new books display to see what authors have new books out, but especially to see the covers.
I crossed too many genres with my first ms too.
Hey, thanks for commenting on my blurb...I think it sort of leaves out a lot about the heroine but I guess you can't put it all in there ???
KIT: I think only a taste of the story is needed in a blurb to make a reader pick up the book. We still want to be surprised by the story. So I'd say, It's all good.
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