Discover Genre
Publishers, booksellers, and readers describe books by their literary categories, or genres. Genres determine how books are placed in stores and sold online.
Since readers often choose books based on genre, you want to make sure you're presenting your book to a receptive audience. Understanding your genre can help you demonstrate how your book fits within certain genre conventions, and how it will appeal to a genre's targeted audience.
You should spend considerable time deciding the best genre and sub-genres for your book. Learn more about genre here, via these FAQs:
What is genre? Is it similar to a literary category?
Why is understanding genre important for writers?
How does the genre map work?
What if I don't see my genre?
What if I don't know my genre? How do I choose one?
Which genres are available for workshop and critique?
How can I read and review manuscripts in my favorite genre?
How can I find other Book Country writers interested in my favorite genre?
What are Landmark Books?
Can I purchase or download landmark books?
How can I suggest a landmark book?
What is genre? Is it similar to a literary category?
Yes, genres are essentially literary categories and sub-genres are literary sub-categories. On Book Country, however, searches for members' books by genres and sub-genres can be further sorted by selecting additional literary categories from the results page.
Back to top »
Why is understanding genre important for writers?
Genre is how readers find books, and how book retailers organize books for readers to find. Read more about how this works in this blog post: "Why Genre Matters: Finding the Right Shelf for Your Book."
Back to top »
How does the genre map work?
Our Use the Genre Map FAQs page has the information you need to start exploring genre on Book Country.
Back to top »
What if I don't see my genre?
If you aren't finding a genre or literary category after searching, contact us at support@bookcountry.com.
Back to top »
What if I don't know my genre? How do I choose one?
Please see our blog post, "Choosing Your Genre on Book Country."
Back to top »
Which genres are available for workshop and critique?
Comedic Fiction, Erotica, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror, Literary Fiction, Mystery, New Adult, some Nonfiction subcategories, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, War/Military Fiction, Western, Women's Fiction, and Young Adult.
Back to top »
How can I read and review manuscripts in my favorite genre?
Below "Book Country Titles," you will see a Search titles now link. Clicking this link will allow you to search titles in your genre that were written by fellow Book Country members and are available for peer review. Reviewing other writers' works is a great way to see what works and what doesn't work in that genre, which will help you improve your own writing.
Back to top »
How can I find other Book Country writers interested in my favorite genre?
If you click on "Browse discussions now" on a genre page, you'll be able to search the latest discussions related to your genre on Book Country. Our discussion boards allows you to ask just about any question you have concerning writing and publishing in general. If you're currently working on dialogue or character development, for example, you can find help in our discussion boards.
Back to top »
What are Landmark Books?
Landmark Books are published books from each literary category that are often well-known and popular. We believe they're the must-read books for each category. Read more about Landmark Books on our blog.
Back to top »
Can I purchase or download Landmark Books?
Landmark Books link to the publisher's website where you can find information about where to purchase that particular book.
Back to top »
How can I suggest a Landmark Book?
We know there will be books you love that aren't presently listed as Landmark Books. We'd love to have a conversation with you about them though. Send us an email at support@bookcountry.com to start the conversation.
Back to top »