There are a few questions today about genre so I thought I would post something to help.
When we write something as large as a novel there are often crossovers to other genres. This especially applies to great big epics like mine. I've been giving some thought to what metatags I might use on a website and it occurred to me it might help others place their genre.
For instance, some keywords which apply to my series of novels are;
Travel, Children as carers/breadwinners, Mental Illness, LGBT, Bisexuality, Metrosexuality, Fiji, Gap Year, Backpacking, Secret Internet Forums, Family Saga, Will they/Won't they Romance, Toxic Waste, PTSD, Miscarriage, Genetic Abnormalities.
There is no genre which covers that mixed bag but fortunately for me the one theme running all the way through the main characters' lives are each other and no matter what happens to them the relationship is always centre stage, so I can easily place my genre as romance.
What are your keywords? Is there one which runs as a theme thoughout your novel? What one subject underpins your story? Feel free to list your keywords and let others help. Vxx
It's fine, Louise. As long as the exercise was useful, it doesn't matter how :)
Jonathon, I understand your reasoning, but the genre of my novel is definitely chivalric.
Is there a difference between the blurb(s) one might use to attract an agent's attention, a publisher's attention and a book-buyer's (reader's) attention?
Perhaps the last at least can be left to the marketing people?
Genre for me (main work) - Post Apocalyptic.
Key words - survival (obviously), recovery, practicality, caution, purpose, relationships.
Theme - what does anyone do when they wake up and 99% of the population is dead? (In my view they do not dress up like Mad Max...)
David