Writing Alchemy and Blending Genres—Why So Many New Books Overlap Genres
Is blending genres helpful, or can it make your life as a writer more difficult?
Have you recently walked into a bookstore, scrolled on social media, or scanned genres online and caught sight of some genre blends you haven't heard of before? If so, you're not alone!
Mashing genres together isn't necessarily new, but the trend has definitely increased in popularity lately, and as a result, we're seeing more unique books that cross a wide variety of genres.
Authors combine genres for different reasons; some authors feel they can tell a better story when merging genres, combining genres can catch more readers' attention, and it often gives authors the opportunity to be more creative!
Let's talk a little more about mashing genres together and whether or not it's always a good idea.
Readers want more content, and finding similar or overlapping genres fills that gap.
As a young reader, I was almost insatiable, desperate to find the next greatest book. I could read a book a day, and from what I've heard from others, I wasn't alone in my experience.
When I finished a really good book, the world felt just a little sadder, and I worried I'd never find anything else as good. Often, it took me a little while to find another book that matched my expectations, especially if I was looking in the same genre, which I often was.
However, when you have overlapping genres, you suddenly have more options, meaning you're more likely to find the right book for you. Maybe the last book you read was a horror novel, but you find that you get that same thrill in a romantic suspense book. Or, perhaps you love romance books set in a certain time period and find a historical mystery that satisfies your desire to read more about a particular era.
Essentially, more genre-blending means readers have more to choose from. While genre-blended books won't necessarily appeal to everyone, many of these books have a wide appeal to readers who may otherwise stick to a select few book types.
Certain genres lend themselves to genre-blending (and social media popularity).
You might've noticed that when it comes to genre-blending, there are certain genres that are more often combined than others. For example, if you take a look at the BookTok side of TikTok, you're probably going to see a lot of romantasy (romance + fantasy), paranormal romance, sci-fi horror, and speculative fiction (mysteries set in fantasy or sci-fi settings).
How do you know what genres will work well together? One way is to take a look at the most popular standalone genres. For instance, the romance genre has been growing over the past several years with one statistic from Words Rated stating that the genre grew by 52% in 2023 with 39 million printed copies sold. Since this genre clearly has a solid base of readers, it makes sense that authors would want to add elements of romance to attract a wider audience.
Some genres also tend to perform well on social media, including those we mentioned above. Once you show interest in a certain genre, whatever social media app you're scrolling on will recommend similar content. If you've gotten good book recommendations from others on social media before, you're probably going to seek out more of those same recommendations when you want to find another book.
Drastically different genres can be combined, but the results can vary widely.
While merging genres is often a great idea, if you stick to conventions too much or put two opposing genres together, it can be harder to pull off a fantastic story. Is it impossible? Definitely not! But sometimes, you might be setting yourself up for a lot of extra work. This is especially true if you don't know much about both genres. I, for example, would struggle to write a space Western book because I haven't read many books in this subgenre (which, if you’re wondering, is a real subgenre!), nor have I written anything similar.
If your story naturally blends genres or can easily cross genres by adding or changing a few details, that's great! However, you don't want to make yourself tell a story that feels inauthentic or forced.
There are a few exceptions when you absolutely cannot combine genres. You can't take a biography, for instance, and throw in an element of horror if that simply didn't exist in the story you're telling.
Overall, though, if you want to write a book that combines genres, you can. However, you want to ensure that your story makes sense on its own (i.e., focus less on the genres and just look at the story's overall structure; does it make sense when you put the genres aside?). No matter the genre, good storytelling is what readers want.
Blending genres can be a great way to express your creativity and garner attention from readers—as long as you're still telling a cohesive story.
What are your favorite genre blends? Share your thoughts! And if you found this post interesting, please restack it to let us know. :)
If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Emily, and Jean—would love to help you with creating your book. If you'd like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don't work together, I'm happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:
https://www.kwepub.com/consultation
We look forward to hearing about your incredible book project.
Write on!
Kim Eley
KWE Publishing
“Genres aren’t just systems for expressing certain themes. They are also strategies for storytelling.”
–John Truby
Don’t Miss Short History of a Black Heart!
If you’re a lover of poetry with heart and angst, you won’t want to miss first-time author Edmund Swynford’s collection of poetry, Short History of a Black Heart!
In his first work, Edmund Swynford delves into what stirs all of us—failure, loss, and finding peace. A story of either the best timing or the worst, Short History of a Black Heart was written on two continents, spanning the short life of a love affair.
Short History of a Black Heart is filled with words placed in rhythms to woo, stir, entice, and ultimately, keep the heart from bleeding out by sharing the hope that heartbreak doesn't equate to doom.
Sharon Heno’s Unstoppable Sass: From Struggles to Strength Available Now!
Sharon Heno’s memoir, Unstoppable Sass: From Struggles To Strength officially launched Tuesday, April 8th, and is available now!
With raw vulnerability and laugh-out-loud moments, Unstoppable Sass traces how author Sharon Heno transformed the darkest struggles into stepping stones toward a joy-filled life. Drawing on over twenty years of experience as a mental health professional, Heno reveals the transformative power of hope and faith through deeply personal stories and God's word. In moments when life's struggles seem insurmountable, this book offers a guiding spark-illuminating the way to healing, renewal, and abundant joy. With a fresh and relatable voice, the author uses humor and vulnerability to dismantle the barriers that keep individuals isolated, showing readers how to embrace their unique journey and rediscover their purpose.
What sets Unstoppable Sass apart is its fusion of inspiration and practicality. The author's journey, both with and without God, showcases the miracles that arise when faith meets drive and determination. Designed to entertain, uplift, and inform, this book is a beacon for anyone seeking renewal and release from life's challenges. Whether you're navigating mental health struggles, yearning for spiritual growth, or simply searching for a life brimming with joy, Unstoppable Sass is your first step toward an extraordinary transformation. With humor, profound insights, and unwavering faith, this book plants seeds of hope that grow into a blazing desire to live your fullest, most joy-filled life.
Check Out the Upcoming Nonfiction Writers Conference!
Recently, Sandra Beckwith, author, speaker, and creator of BuildBookBuzz, shared information about the upcoming Nonfiction Writers Conference (along with her affiliate code for a discount), which she’ll be speaking at. I wanted to share this with our amazing authors and anyone else who may be interested in attending! She shared:
I’m speaking at the Nonfiction Writers Conference on May 7-9, and I just found out that the early bird discount ends this Friday, April 11. I don’t want you to miss this chance to save 30%!
This is one of the few events I recommend without hesitation. It’s virtual, so you can attend from your couch (or your favorite writing chair). And it’s designed specifically for nonfiction authors who are serious about building a real career from their work.
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The lineup this year? Does the name Roxane Gay ring a bell? She's the keynoter. You'll also learn from experts on publishing, platform building, book marketing (me!), and author income streams, along with agents and industry insiders who know how to help authors actually move the needle.
And those agents? You’ll have an opportunity to pitch them your next book idea, too!
If you’re looking for:
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Here’s my affiliate link to get details and register. Save 30% with code NFWC30 before the end of the week.
Resources:
Here at KWE Publishing, we want to share a few of our favorite resources with our newsletter readers. Check back weekly to see what resources we recommend!
Marketing is an important part of any author’s journey whether their work is traditionally published, self-published, or published by a hybrid or indie publisher. However, finding reliable marketing advice that’s actually helpful can involve sifting through a lot of nonsense first sometimes. However, one great resource we’ve found is David Gaughran’s website.
David Gaughran is an Irish science fiction writer and advocate for indie authors. For years, he’s written about the publishing world and has shared what knowledge he’s gained with others. In particular, he shares a lot of great information about marketing on his blog. No matter how or when you published your book, there are helpful tips that any author can use to boost their marketing campaigns. Even if you haven’t yet published your book, you’re likely to learn something interesting from his site.
