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Genre Selection

Writers Room uses BISAC (Book Industry Standards and Communications) genre codes—the same system used by publishers, bookstores, and libraries—to classify your manuscript and provide industry-aligned feedback.

Why Genre Matters​

Different genres have different conventions, reader expectations, and storytelling techniques. By knowing your genre:

  • Feedback is properly calibrated - The editor understands what's an expected genre convention vs. an actual problem
  • Reports are tailored - Get genre-appropriate analysis (e.g., romance-specific reports for romance novels)
  • Sensitivity considerations apply - Genre-specific reader sensitivity notes help avoid common pitfalls
  • Suggested feedback types improve - Generated feedback types match your genre's expectations

Automatic Genre Detection​

When you import a manuscript, Writers Room analyzes the content and automatically detects your genre. During the import process:

  1. Your manuscript is analyzed for genre markers (setting, characters, tone, plot elements, prose style)
  2. The detected genre appears in the chat alongside a brief explanation
  3. A confidence level (high, medium, or low) indicates how certain the detection is:
    • High confidence: Clear, consistent genre markers throughout
    • Medium confidence: Strong markers with some cross-genre elements
    • Low confidence: Experimental, literary, or doesn't fit neatly into categories
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You don't need to manually select a genre—Writers Room handles this automatically during import, but you can chat with the editor and change it if it doesn't match your intent.

BISAC Genre Categories​

Writers Room uses the complete BISAC subject heading list, giving you access to highly specific genre classifications:

Fiction Categories Include:

  • FICTION / Fantasy / Epic
  • FICTION / Fantasy / Urban
  • FICTION / Romance / Contemporary
  • FICTION / Romance / Historical / Regency
  • FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Cozy
  • FICTION / Science Fiction / Space Opera
  • FICTION / Thrillers / Psychological
  • FICTION / Literary
  • FICTION / Horror
  • And many more...

Young Adult and Children's Categories:

  • YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy
  • YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance
  • JUVENILE FICTION / Fantasy & Magic
  • And more...

The specificity of BISAC categories means your feedback is calibrated for your exact niche, not just a broad genre.

How Genre Affects Feedback​

Expected Conventions​

Each genre has conventions that are expected and should not be flagged as problems. For example:

  • Romance: Instalove, internal monologue about attraction, happy endings (HEA/HFN)
  • Fantasy: Infodumps for worldbuilding, invented terminology, prophecy tropes
  • Thriller: Cliffhanger chapter endings, multiple POVs, time pressure
  • Literary Fiction: Slower pacing, ambiguous endings, character-focused over plot

Actual Problems to Watch For​

Genre-specific issues that should be flagged:

  • Romance: Lack of relationship development, missing emotional beats
  • Fantasy: Inconsistent magic systems, geography confusion
  • Thriller: Predictable twists, pacing that drags
  • Literary Fiction: Pretentious prose, characters that lack depth

Sensitivity Considerations​

Writers Room includes genre-appropriate sensitivity guidance to help you avoid common pitfalls related to:

  • LGBTQ+ representation
  • Racial and ethnic representation
  • Disability portrayal
  • Mental health depictions
  • Religious portrayals
  • Body image
  • Gender representation
  • Age-related concerns
  • Socioeconomic portrayals
  • Trauma handling

It's still important to collect feedback from editors and beta readers in these groups, though.

Viewing Your Detected Genre​

After import completes, you can see your detected genre:

  1. In the chat history from your import session
  2. In Story Analysis Reports where genre-specific analysis is provided

Changing Your Genre​

If you want to change your genre, ask the editor to change it in chat. It'll help you identify the best BISAC category for your manuscript.

Cross-Genre Manuscripts​

Many manuscripts blend genres. Writers Room handles this by:

  1. Detecting a primary genre (the dominant classification)
  2. Identifying secondary genres that influence the work
  3. Applying guidance from multiple genre contexts where relevant

For example, a Romantasy novel might be classified as "FICTION / Fantasy / Romantic" with secondary elements from both Romance and Fantasy traditions.