Querying: Know Your Genre

While this may seem like a really basic piece of advice, I read a lot of queries that either forget to mention or mix up the genre. The genre of your book should typically be established before you begin writing (or at least become obvious once you've started the writing process) and you need to make sure the agent you're querying knows for certain what genre your book falls under.

• Research your genre. Writing a science fiction book for middle graders? Read other books in that genre and see how your writing compares. Are you following the necessary guidelines? Does your book have the tropes that your readers will be expecting?

• Include the book's genre in your query letter. Even if you give a (short and sweet) detailed synopsis of your story, the genre isn't always clear. You don't want the agent to be unsure about what type of book you've written. Your query might make it sound like a contemporary romance when really you've done so much world building that the book is technically a fantasy.

• Write a genre that you know well. Don't write a horror novel because it's a trend (for the record, I'm not saying that this is a trend). If you're unfamiliar with the genre, your readers will be able to tell. So will agents - and that's not going to land you a contract.

Studying genres is important for everyone in the publishing industry. Writers, agents, and editors monitor where books are shelved and how different genres need to be sold. There are various expected word counts for genres, various themes that are prevalent, and various character types. Know them well and be extra confident in the one that's important to your manuscript.