#191. Fiction Genres Made Easy: Understanding the 5 Dimensions of Genre

Fiction Writing Made Easy

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11d ago 28:20

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Discover the five ways to talk about your story’s genre so you can write, edit, and publish your novel with clarity and confidence.

Ever found yourself staring at a blinking cursor, excited about your story idea but utterly confused about how to describe its genre? 😩

This kind of uncertainty isn't just frustrating. It can have serious consequences for your writing, editing, and publishing journey.

Here’s what you need to know: There are actually five different layers of genre that work together to describe your unique story. Think of this as your story's "genre DNA"—a description that gives readers a comprehensive picture of your work.

Tune into this episode to learn:

[02:22] How to determine if your novel is commercial, literary, or upmarket fiction—and why this positioning matters when writing, editing, and publishing
[05:21] Why your story's time period affects everything from research requirements to character development (and what this means for fantasy authors whose stories often take place in their own temporal contexts)
[07:32] How to select the appropriate age category for your target readers and why this critical decision shapes your word count, content, and marketing options
[11:30] The different reality settings available for your story world and practical ways to manage worldbuilding without getting overwhelmed
[18:15] How your story’s content genre can serve as your writing roadmap by defining the emotional experience readers expect from a story like yours

Whether you're drafting your first novel or preparing to query agents, this episode will help you define your story's genre so you can write with direction, revise with purpose, and market your book with confidence.

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👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

Chapters

1. Unpacking Genre DNA for Writers (00:00:00)

2. Commercial Appeal: Literary to Commercial (00:04:25)

3. Time Period & Age Categories (00:07:30)

4. Setting Reality & Content Genre (00:14:18)

5. Creating Your Story's Genre DNA (00:19:53)

6. Using Genre at Every Writing Stage (00:24:32)

7. Key Takeaways & Resources (00:27:07)

203 episodes

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