Nathan Bransford - The Forums

My current project is a novel which combines several disparate genres-- historical, metafiction/postmodernism, and satire/humor. Although it's a WIP, I've already had trouble "pitching" the book when I attempt to explain it to writing groups or other people who might help me with revision.

Any experiences or suggestions for how to pitch a multi-genre piece?


(Thanks in advance for your help!)

I think you have to pick one and go with it. What is the main plot of your book? Look at other books that have similar stories and go from there. My book is clearly a fantasy, with a decent romance element between the two main characters yet If you bought it thinking I was selling a romance, you would be highly disappointed. My main character has some superheroey (look at that, I made up a word) elements but I'd be careful not to call it superhero.
Let me add that if there is humor/satire, you can show that in your query while writing for a different genre.
Hope this helps.

This is actually also being discussed in another forum: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=52

But with any novel that blends genre, it's usually primarily one. And as I said in the other thread, when in doubt just go with whatever section of the bookstore it will be stocked in.