There seem to be few of us who don't have some sort of problem with the genre we must assign our books. What additions to the genres would you make to better classify your book. Or if you were to replace genre classification altogether, what system would you use instead?
Um... being serious this time...
I completely agree with Jonathan.
That said I do not agree that any writing has to fit into any specific "genre" or other definition. I certainly do not agree that a writier has to understand each and every genre they might be touching upon.
Genre's are (as far as I am concerned) a superimposed system of classification. Yes, this system will definitely have a commercial significance but it is not and should not be the over-riding influence on any work.
The thing that should matter is that a story is well written (and I do put that first), interesting (to put it mildy) and something that the reader is going to want to keep reading - through to the end - and (preferably) into the next work.
I do not think that new authors should be made overly concerned about where their work will fit into a commercial structure. The commercial aspect is significant - but - without new authors and people willing to "give it a go" there will not be anything to be "commercial" with.
If I let myself really get on a box about this I would say "Stuff genre! Just write!".
But I probably wouldn't do that as getting onto a box would probably contravene Health and Safety...
David
Regrettably, selling books has little to do with the author unless he or she is some sort of 'celebrity'.
That being the case, a writer has to make it easy for a publisher to accept their book, the publisher has to make it easy for the retailer to stock it, and the retailer must make it easy for the reader to find it. Anything else is a recipe for failure in all but the most exceptional of cases.
If your book doesn't fit into some recognised genre it'll struggle right the way through that process, especially the first part. That's why 'crossovers' are so difficult to sell - nothing to do with content, it's just economics.
I see no point categorising a book past one sub-genre because it's more likely to put people off, IMO, even though we may be simply doing our utmost to describe it as accurately as we can.
That may sound cynical (who, me? lol) but it's real life.
Authors with original ideas may think twice about adding unique aspects to their novels, if the question of genre is going to be an issue. I would hope not. Authors should be bold.
I wouldn't replace the existing system. I would add to it. With fiction anything is possible, but then there is the danger of having to many genres.
Crossover is mentioned a lot by professionals in the publishing trade. Proof that authors are trusting their instinct, rather than conform to a specific genre. Good luck to them.