How Do I Know What Genre My Book Is?
How do I know what genre my book is? Look at where a bookstore would shelve it and which books your ideal reader already loves. Genre is about reader expectations, not just your topic.
Your genre affects your cover, title, description, categories, and price. If you choose the wrong genre, you may attract readers who expect a different kind of book.
In this article, you will get a clear answer, then the solution step by step, and then an industry hack that makes choosing a genre easier and helps you avoid common hurdles.
Questions and Answers
Q: What if my book fits more than one genre?
A: Choose the main genre that best matches what readers will expect, and use categories for the others.
Q: Is Christian living a genre?
A: Yes. It is a well-known category with its own readers and expectations.
The Solution
Describe your book in one sentence.
Name three books that are most like yours.
Look at how those books are categorized.
Choose the genre that fits your main reader.
Make sure your cover and description match that genre.
The Industry Hack
Ask five people who read books like yours to describe your book in one sentence after reading your description. If their answers match your chosen genre, you picked well. If they are confused, your book's positioning needs work before you publish.
Keywords for Amazon and YouTube
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Want to see how your book measures up? Download the free 10-point checklist at selfpublishmedia.com.
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