I often receive emails from writers who feel they’ve hit a genre decision roadblock: memoir, fiction, memoir/self-help hybrid, effectively saying, “Help! I don’t know what my book genre should be anymore.”
In Maria DiElsi’s case, the retired art historian has been working hard on her literary memoir, including receiving consistent feedback from a savvy group of writers. Her memoir explores her experiences of a sense of déjà vu connected to past lives. She also wants to share lucid dream experiences that tie her to the past.
She wrote, “I thought if I wrote a memoir, I’d be able to encourage others to explore these phenomena. Some readers have struggled with the idea of past life experiences hinted at by déjà vu or my lucid dreaming. So I have relented, which doesn’t make me happy, and have started rewriting my introduction/ prologue/ memoir and cloaking it in the guise of fiction. ”
Gut vs. Book Critique Group vs. Beta Readers
Clearly, turning the book into fiction had taken the joy out of her experience, which seemed to be a clear enough indication that switching to fiction was not the right path for her.
photo by Emily Homonoff
Who were these beta readers anyway? Well, they might not even be called beta readers. They were her book critique group—strong writers and excellent with feedback on writing and style, but were they her target audience?
Your critique group is not necessarily your target audience. While past lives and lucid dreams might be outside the group’s comfort zone, this book was clearly for people who are curious about those things. Perhaps some share similar experiences. Some have read about past lives and/or lucid dreams and wish to know more (or even tap into such knowledge).
Your beta readers should be people in your target market. So, test this with your target audience, not your critique group, unless they are that audience.
Ask Your Creative Muse to Help Clarify Genre Decisions
I am a big fan of asking the creative Muse for guidance, so I suggested Maria listen to my free Meet-Your-Muse guided visualization and ask her Muse what genre would best serve her book.
She got back to me the next day with the response she’s permitted me to share with you:
Photo by Maria DiElsi
“Took your advice—meditation and connecting with my spirit guide/muse is familiar to me. As soon as I started I was right there where I’ve been before, in the woods at the edge of a meadow standing at the foot of one of my grandpop trees, an ancient white pine—literally. This describes a corner of a piece of land where my gardens grow and my partner and I are building a house, each of us hammer-in-hand. Here is what I wrote after the meditation:
“Reciprocity: Sitting under the ancient white pine, my Muse, I look up and my spirit rises along the trunk and out in all directions, in every direction flowing out from the tips of every pine needle and flowing back to me. I’m receiving energy and creative guidance. I put out both hands, palms facing the sky, asking, “Memoir or fiction?” The hands of my Muse touched both hands and replied, ‘Memoir, and you’re not finished writing.’
“…Many thanks for reminding me that my spirit guide is always there for me, and, yes, I am so grateful for the well of creativity that resides in my spirit.”
Other Factors in Genre Decision
Photo by Maria DiElsi
Of course, a variety of factors can influence your genre decision:
Your vision for how you’ll reach readers
Your goals for book sales
Various aspects of your vision and goals for the impact of your book—what it will do in your world, for your business, etc.
Whether you would like more freedom than nonfiction affords: consider what genre the book lends itself to.
Whether you feel strongly about trying a traditional book deal
What kind of platform you have
What type of readers you currently reach
You might be able to add some bullet points to what I’ve listed. Just be clear that when you consider feedback from others, those people are part of your target market before changing your genre based on their advice or reaction. Again, here’s where your Muse (or a coach) can help you gain clarity.
If you’re curious about past lives and lucid dreaming, check out Maria’s website, Radiant Realm.
Lisa Tener is an award-winning book writing coach who assists writers in all aspects of the writing process—from writing a book proposal and getting published to finding one’s creative voice. Her clients have appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, CBS Early Show, The Montel Williams Show, CNN, Fox News, New Morning and much more. They blog on sites like The Huffington Post, Psychology Today and WebMD.
My Publisher Tamara Monosoff: From the gorgeous cover to inner design, to the original inspiration for QR codes and putting every single one of those crazy videos on my website, and guiding me patiently throughout the process, Tamara is my dream publisher. Thank you!
The most talented photographer in the world, Seth Jacobson
PR Trainers Chris Winfield, Jen Gottlieb, Brittany Sisko, and the entire community at the Be Seen Accelerator
Beta Readers: Joshua Home Edwards, Tracy Hart, Stephanie Meyers, Laurie Hunt, LiDona Wagner, Mia Potter, Gael Johnson, Amber Hanks, Melissa Sones, Gael-Sylvia Pullen, and Paula Schonewald. I hope I did not leave anyone out—if I did please let me know so I can add you here!
Title Support Howard Van Es, Tamara Monosoff, Lorraine Segal, Tama Kieves, Kristin Meekhof.
Launch Consulting Howard Van Es
My Health and Wellbeing Posse who helped me survive the stress-induced health challenges I encountered on the way
Dear Friends Johannah Cremin (and her prayer circle) and Virginia Swain; Qigong teacher, Leah Franklin, and the lineage of Mei Hua Qigong masters from whom she learned; dream shaman Kari Hohne; loving guide, Linda Yael Schiller; acupuncturists Nancy Graham and Patricia Gilmartin; Lynne Ahn, MD and John McGonigle, MD; dowser, Erina Cowan; and special friends Linda Broadhead and Seraina Wood.
Book Ambassadors: Louise Brownell
Podcasters, Show Hosts and Early Adopters: Dan Janal, Sharon Burton Ways, Josh Steimle, Leslie Draffin, Robin Kall
Bloggers and Blogs: San Francisco Writers Conference, Jane Friedman, Nina Amir, Howard Van Es
My Supportive Family: Tom, Will, and Luke Patterson, and Mimi Sammis, you are the lights in my life! Tener and Arnold families, and the Patterson-Potters and Pattersons
My many colleagues from Harvard Medical School’s CME publishing and women in healthcare leadership courses—director Julie Silver, et al.
All my students!
All my amazing writing colleagues
Intellectual property advice, Attorney Dana Newman
A special thank you to my many clients and colleagues who gave me permission to quote their wonderful words in this journal
The brave souls who appear in the accompanying videos.
I could probably go on thanking deserving people for another twenty pages, so for those not listed, please know you have my gratitude.
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Photo by Maria DiElsi
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