Genre is one of the most important and overlooked the element of publishing. Not only does it help an audience discover and fall in love with your work, but it also helps us professionals plan a marketing strategy, predict how it may perform in the current market and help when it comes to organising book signings and events.

Agents and editors look for books that fall into certain genres.

Audience targeting. When we as you who your targeting audience is, and you said ‘everyone’ – you’re digging yourself your own grave.

How do I know what my genre is? Look at similar books and base it upon that.

Book shops have specialised events and days. They hold genre-based events. Be it a poetry slam, a thriller night or a kids corner. You’ll be more likely t be able to take part in events if you know what genre you lay in.

Clubs and Specialist websites. Some book clubs and book sites only read and stock a particular genre. There are entire websites, magazines and book clubs dedicated to mythological books. So, don’t just call your book a fiction. Look deeper!

You can have more than one genre. Genres very often interact. In fact, it’s common for certain genres to follow hand in hand with one another. E.g. thrillers > crime, spirituality > religion and children’s fiction > adventure.

Remember the more specific the genres you fall into are, the more people you’re going to appeal to. So, please, don’t just put ‘fiction’ or ‘poetry’, be imaginative! And that’s everything!