The Top 6 Genres in Self-Publishing

With e-books becoming more popular by the day, authors are taking publishing rights into their own hands. If you’re thinking about self-publishing, consider why it’s important to know which genres are most popular. What do readers want to see? How can you write a novel that reaches more people? Is your chosen genre exciting to your audience?

If you’re interested in seeing what other self-publishing authors have accomplished before you, Amazon offers a list of best-selling self-published books here. However, if you simply want to know what types of stories people like to read, see some of the most popular genres in publishing, in no particular order.

1. Fantasy

The fantasy genre includes ethereal elements that entice and activate readers’ imaginations. Things like magical spells, mystical creatures, foreign worlds, and other supernatural phenomena define this ultra-popular category. Both the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings series are prime examples of successful fantasy novels. One of the main attractions of this genre is being able to immerse oneself into an alternate universe to escape what some people view as a mundane reality.

2. Thriller-Mystery-Crime

The thriller genre is characterized by stories that get readers’ hearts pumping, and includes all kinds of subject matter from murder and cold cases to mental illness and paranormal occurrences. They may also include elements from other genres, such as romance or religion. Thriller novels generally build up a lot of suspense and then hit readers with shocking revelations. Readers who enjoy deep thinking, puzzle solving, and the occasional scare would probably be drawn toward thrillers.

3. Horror

Horror is a category that appeals to individuals who enjoy a good adrenaline rush or have some sort of fascination with the paranormal or the occult. While it is more of a niche genre because many readers simply can’t handle the scary stuff, legendary authors like Stephen King and Dean Koontz have proved it to be quite popular and profitable. Salem’s Lot, Carrie, Whispers, and Darkfall are a few notable horror titles.

4. Science Fiction

Science fiction novels are defined by futuristic themes and ideas, but there’s much more to them than robots and laser guns. They might include advanced technology, space travel, alien encounters, paranormal experiences, or post-apocalyptic scenarios. Authors typically explore themes such as morality, law, social structure, or even sexuality in science fiction books.

5. Biography

There are so many fascinating people in this world who have important stories to share. Many books in this genre are biographies or autobiographies that cover all of the major life events of an individual, while others go into depth about a specific life event or eventful period of time.

6. Religion-Spirituality

Religion is big business, and the television evangelists are living proof of that. Religious books appeal to those readers who currently have or had faith in a higher power and who might find religious books to be essential for maintaining or regaining strength in their beliefs.

If you’ve ever considered turning your writing into a career, now is the time to get started. Visit www.diggypod.com for the information you need to get started on your self-publishing journey. Check out our blogs for helpful tips, industry secrets, and more!

Kevin Osworth