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
Thank You for the advice Victoria, and Good Luck with your own book(s)!
Victoria, here are the keywords for mine: Adult Fiction, Romance, Relationships, Family drama, Contemporary, Inspirational, Human potential, Spiritual, Mental illness, Multicultural
One needs to be careful not to pigeon-hole the novel, or be too specific, I think.
Also the 2 line blurb is very important. looking at the New York bestsellers list should give you plenty of ideas about blurbs. I just read a reference to blurbs on Simon P Clark's blog about the first Harry Potter book. He said he liked below blurb as it got the point across, drew children in, didn't give away the plot and gave the image of an epic.
'Harry Potter thinks he is an ordinary boy - until he is rescued by an owl, taken to Hogwarts school for witchcraft and wizardry, learns to play Quidditch and does battle in a deadly duel. The reason........ HARRY POTTER IS A WIZARD!'
You're right, though. I used the word theme quite accidently in the original post when describing my genre and theme is, of course, quite different. Genre is a bookshelf guide. Theme encompasses your novels central questions, its point, it's reason for being and, I think, is most easily found by figuring out what inspired you to choose that particular story.