Genres we write & publish

A book genre is a category that tells readers what kind of experience to expect. A reader who picks up a mystery wants a puzzle with a fair solution. A reader who picks up a self-help book wants something practical to try. Genre is a promise, and a book that breaks it loses the reader.

It also decides where your book sits online and in stores. Retailers and libraries sort titles using shared subject codes such as the BISAC subject headings, so the right genre helps the right readers find you.

Finally, genre shapes the writing itself. Pacing, structure, length, tone and even the cover all follow reader expectations. Knowing the rules does not mean following them blindly. It means breaking them on purpose.

Under each genre you will see subgenres, such as cozy mystery or romantic suspense, which narrow the target further. Your book can sit in more than one of them, and a good team plans for that from the first page.

Readers also tend to be loyal. Someone who loves one thriller will buy the next, so a clear genre makes your second book easier to sell than your first.

Nonfiction turns true experience and expertise into books readers can use or enjoy.

Life Stories

• Memoir: one chapter of a life, told honestly. Family, medical, travel and career stories all belong here.
• Autobiography: a whole life in the first person. Business, sports and political lives are common subjects.
• Narrative nonfiction: true events told with the tools of fiction. Science, history, adventure and true crime all work in this form.

Expertise and Education

• Nonfiction: expertise turned into how-to, reference and popular books. Popular science, guides and reference books all fit here.
• Self-help: practical books that help readers change something real. Wellness, productivity, relationship and finance titles belong here.
• Case study: close analysis of a person, company or event, written to teach. Business, medical, legal and academic cases all need clear evidence.
• Textbook: structured learning materials for classrooms and courses. Higher education, professional and K to 12 workbooks all apply.
• Historical essay: researched arguments about the past and why it matters now. Local, military, social and cultural histories are all in scope.

Poetry covers collections and chapbooks shaped with care for the line, in free verse, formal verse, spoken word and faith poetry, while rhyme covers bedtime, concept and humor picture books with rhythm that reads aloud beautifully. For picture books and early readers, see our children's book writing services.

Every genre changes the plan. A thriller needs a structure that keeps tension high from chapter one. A memoir needs a clear spine so the reader knows why these events were chosen. A business book needs an argument that holds from the first page to the last.

That is why we match projects to people who know the genre. Our ghostwriting services pair you with a writer suited to your book, and our book editing services check your pages against genre conventions as well as the basics, using standards such as the Chicago Manual of Style where they apply.

Series work adds another layer. If your idea may grow into several books, we plan the world, the recurring characters and the timeline early, so book one leaves room for what follows.

Genre also guides the visuals and the launch. A romance cover and a legal thriller cover speak differently, and our book cover design services and book marketing services are planned around where your readers already shop.

Start with the reader. Who is the book for, and what do they want from it: escape, understanding, advice, a good cry? Then look at two or three published books you admire and note where retailers place them.

Next, check how your book fits the conventions of that genre. If your story has a love plot and a crime, decide which one drives the book, and treat the other as a subgenre. Do not worry if your idea crosses boundaries. Many successful books do.

One practical test helps: write one sentence that starts with "For readers who love..." and finish it with two or three authors or titles. If the sentence comes easily, you probably know your genre. If it does not, that is useful information, and we can help you find the sentence.

Still stuck? Send us a sample through submit your manuscript, and we will suggest where it fits.

The genre does not change who owns your book. You keep your copyright, your credit and 100% of royalties, and your ISBNs are registered in your name. Read about contract terms in general at the Authors Guild. For typical costs, see our pricing page, and for the full list of what we do, see all author services.

Whatever your book genres, we have people who know them, and we will match your project with a writer or editor who understands the shelf it belongs on. Get a free consultation and tell us about your book.