Blending Genres in Books for Young Adults

One of the most valuable skills a writer of books for young adults can possess is the ability to successfully blend genres. While most writers specialize in and are known for a particular genre, the ability to combine several in a cohesive manner can strengthen a writer’s work while boosting the number of readers. Most YA readers have a few favorite genres or enjoy all the subgenres of their main selection—so covering aspects of several improves your chances of attracting them to read and like the young adult fiction novels you write.

For example, many paranormal romance books incorporate aspects of fantasy, adventure and even science fiction throughout their story and plot. Twilight is a great example of this, as is Sand Dollar Press’ recent release, Save the Pearls Part One REVEALING EDEN. They both weave supernatural or fantastical elements in each of their stories, to satisfy and entertain a wider variety of readers than would a plain old romance story.

By adding elements of sci-fi, fantasy and adventure, those who would normally not read young adult fiction novels may be compelled to read a novel that crosses genres. Or those who only read adventure may have their interest piqued by a strong adventure romance book.

Likewise, those who like stories about love and romance, but would not necessarily be drawn to a typical fantasy book, often become the biggest fans of paranormal romance novels.

Some of the best fantasy novels in recent history attracted their momentous audiences by acknowledging the audience’s expectations when they read that genre, meeting those expectations and then surpassing them by mixing in other elements. Blending genres like this not only results in a stronger final product, it broadens and deepens your storytelling abilities, while maintaining unpredictability among your readers. Nothing is more appealing to reader who is drawn with the promise of a good book from their favorite genre, and then challenged with new twists infused from another genre.

A perfect example of powerful genre blending is an adventure romance story called Romancing the Stone, which also became a blockbuster film. This story blended romance, action-adventure and suspense while featuring both a strong hero and heroine who ultimately fell in love despite an original disdain for each other.