Different genres have different expectations from their readers. For these expectations to be met, the author must follow certain rules to satisfy the readers. Let’s look at how you should be writing for your genre.
Fiction
In fantasy novels, readers heavily rely on their imagination. Your job as a fantasy writer is to ease this process as much as possible with descriptive language. Take the time to flush out the world you want to create thoroughly. The book cover is crucial to set the tone of the book. If your book has darker themes, for example, a Lovecraftian novel, it is best to have a darker cover to fit the content. Another thing you may consider is having the most important aspect of the book displayed on the cover, like with A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R Martin. The conflict between the houses is the main plotline, therefore it is only appropriate that the cover contains the different house sigils. If you want to learn more about book cover design, we have you covered.
Now that the cover is out of the way, the next eye grabber is the event that triggers the plot to start. You may want to start out by giving the reader a bit of history about the world, but this may only lead to boredom. Starting out with a bit of action makes it exciting and gets the reader immediately invested. After this bit of action, you may start explaining the reasons for the incident and continue with the history.
Next are the characters. The characters and their motivations are crucial to a successful book. Make sure your characters have a completely flushed-out personality that the reader can relate to. Give them obstacles to overcome allowing them to grow as the story progress. That way the story will naturally lead to a satisfying ending.
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is a very broad genre that can consist of autobiographies, memoirs, textbooks, guides and so much more. The only thing that stays consistent is that they must consist of facts. That means loads of supporting statements and references. It is crucial that you reference reliably and a large variety of sources to ensure you have all the facts.
Another important thing is to figure out who your audience is. If you are having trouble, feel free to check out our article about Writing for your audience.
The other two crucial parts are to stay consistent and have a clear premise. Readers rely on non-fiction for professional, factual information; therefore, it would not be a good look if you drift off the subject at hand or have an inconsistent layout of your book. Another thing that may benefit you is having visual aids if your book allows it. This will help your readers to take in the information you are providing and may allow them to recall the information easier.
Romance
The best way to reach this audience is by getting them as involved as possible with the character’s feelings. This means explaining extensively what the characters are always thinking. You may even go further and show how these strong emotions physically manifest. A great example is the classic, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin. She does an excellent job at showing the yearning these characters have for each other, while still having obstacles to overcome before they may be together. Having these obstacles is essential because it builds that romantic tension over the course of the book and when they get together at the end it makes for a very satisfying ending.
Now that you know how to approach your book, get writing! And if you are planning on self-publishing consider contacting us at Preflight Books. Get a quote to publish your book here or send an email to info@preflightbooks.co.za
Further reading
Writing Romance 101 – Five Basic Elements – Almost An Author
5 Key Elements of a Good Book: Fiction – Author Learning Center
Writer Tips: 7 “Must-Have” Elements in a Nonfiction Book – The Writers For Hire
