By Toni Shiloh, @tonishilohwrite

You ever grab a book in your favorite genre and settle down for a good read? Then a portion of the way threw—be it a fourth, half, three-fourths, THE END—you realize the book will NOT end the way you expect?

Now as a reader, there are a myriad of ways you can respond. Mark the book DNF (do not finish) and move on to a different book in the genre. Or you could write a bad review. Or even contact the author (I wouldn’t advise this. The author did work hard in their craft, even if the book didn’t go the way you wanted it to.). 

But as a writer, do you know what expectations there are in your chosen genre? Can you write a book that won’t land you in the DNF pile?

If you’re a romance writer, I can easily help you out with this. Romance readers want a HEA (happily ever after). This doesn’t mean the characters said, “I do” and went out in an epilogue with a honeymoon, pregnancy, etc. This doesn’t even mean that the main characters have to be engaged by the end of the book. But it does mean they’ve committed to a relationship with one another and their future looks bright. Killing off the hero or heroine, or breaking their relationship up does not make for an HEA, just saying.

If you’re writing romantic suspense, readers appreciate an equal dose of the romance and the suspense. Please don’t have them run for their lives the majority of the book then at the end decide they have feelings for each other. Don’t be afraid to have a kiss in between fighting bad guys and dodging bullets. 

If you’re writing women’s fiction, remember that your readers love exploring the depth of their feelings. Whether it’s the main character exploring grief, overcoming a change in circumstances, or starting anew in a new neighborhood, feel free to get philosophical. You can even skip the romance, WF’s readers are perfectly fine with that.

If you’re a historical kind of writer, then please keep your facts accurate. Though I have seen an author or two explain that they used a later intervention to add different nuances for their characters. As a reader, I’m perfectly okay with literary license as long as I know up front (author note up front and not at the end, perhaps). Not only that, but if you had mystery or romance, make sure to give the readers equal doses so we don’t feel the book was heavy on history.

Lastly, I would give the advice to know your genre. Read plenty of books set in the genre you want to read so you know what readers expect and what the rules are. Of course, every good writer knows when they can break the rules, but some are a fast no (see HEA in romance). 

What genre expectations advice would you give for your genre?

 

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In Search of a Prince

It seems like a dream come true . . . until it forces her to question everything.

Brielle Adebayo is fully content teaching at a New York City public school and taking annual summer vacations with her mother to Martha’s Vineyard. But everything changes when her mom drops a bombshell–Brielle is really a princess in the island kingdom of Ọlọrọ Ilé, off the coast of Africa, and she must immediately assume her royal position, since the health of her grandfather, the king, is failing.

Distraught by all the secrets her mother kept, Brielle is further left spinning when the Ọlọrọ Ilé Royal Council brings up an old edict that states she must marry before her coronation, or the crown will pass to another. Brielle is uncertain if she even wants the throne, and with her world totally shaken, where will she find the courage to take a chance on love and brave the perils a wrong decision may bring?

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and an award-winning Christian contemporary romance author. She writes to bring God glory and to learn more about His goodness. A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and of the Virginia Chapter, Toni seeks to encourage authors in the writing industry. She loves connecting with readers and authors alike via social media. You can learn more about her writing at http://tonishiloh.com.