Genre Guides

Quick-Reference Visual & Creative Patterns by Genre

Not every book fits one genre. Use this as a starting point — the specific book's tone and metadata always override.

1. Mystery / Thriller

Reader Identity

• Crime fiction lovers
• Suspense seekers
• Puzzle solvers who love red herrings

Angles (from Module 03 framework)

1. The mystery that demands an answer — "Who did it?"
2. The irresistible question — "How did they get away with it?"
3. The difficult choice — "Trust or investigate?"
4. The unexpected premise — "The detective is the killer."

Visual Treatment

• Palette: Deep navy, noir shadows, amber streetlight
• Lighting: Low-key, strong contrasts, rim lighting
• Camera: Dutch angles, close-ups on details, slow reveal
• Detail focus: Fingerprints, letters, clocks, shadows
• Avoid: Action sequences, car chases, gunfights (too literal)

Hook Patterns

• "The last thing she remembered was her own name."
• "Three words on a note changed everything."
• "The perfect crime. Until the body turned up."

CTA Examples

• "Can you solve it before the book reveals how?"
• "The twist you'll never see coming."
• "Mystery lovers — this one's for you."

2. Romance

Reader Identity

• Hopeless romantics
• Love-grovelers
• Those seeking emotional satisfaction

Angles

1. The emotional dilemma — "Duty or desire?"
2. The difficult choice — "Leave or stay?"
3. The reader identity — "This is the kind of book you love."
4. The atmospheric experience — "Feel the tension."

Visual Treatment

• Palette: Warm ivory, jewel tones, golden hour
• Lighting: Soft, warm, intimate
• Camera: Close-ups on faces, hands, eyes
• Detail focus: Hands touching, glances, barriers between characters
• Avoid: Explicit content, modern anachronisms (for historical)

Hook Patterns

• "She was promised to another. Then he sailed into port."
• "One touch and she was ruined. Or saved."
• "Enemies by day. Something more by night."

CTA Examples

• "For readers who love a slow burn."
• "Free with Kindle Unlimited."
• "Your next book boyfriend is here."

3. Fantasy

Reader Identity

• World-building lovers
• Escapism seekers
• Magic and adventure fans

Angles

1. The fantasy of entering another world — "A place beyond imagining."
2. The irresistible question — "What power does she wield?"
3. The difficult choice — "Save the world or save herself?"
4. The unexpected premise — "Magic comes with a price."

Visual Treatment

• Palette: Cool blues, jewel tones, ethereal whites
• Lighting: Ethereal, magical glow, ambient
• Camera: Epic wide shots, slow push-ins
• Detail focus: Magic effects, maps, ancient artifacts
• Avoid: Modern weapons, technology, contemporary clothing

Hook Patterns

• "The last sorceress. The first lie."
• "Magic comes at a price she can't afford."
• "Seven kingdoms. One throne. No allies."

CTA Examples

• "Escape to another world."
• "Epic fantasy for readers who love magic."
• "Start the trilogy — free with KU."

4. Literary Fiction

Reader Identity

• Literary fiction readers
• Character-study fans
• Those seeking meaning and insight

Angles

1. The relatable personal struggle — "We've all been here."
2. The surprising insight — "A new way to see it."
3. The reader identity — "Books that make you think."
4. The atmospheric experience — "A mood you'll remember."

Visual Treatment

• Palette: Muted tones, monochrome with one accent color
• Lighting: Natural, soft, contemplative
• Camera: Static compositions, slow zooms, negative space
• Detail focus: Objects with memory, quiet moments, faces in reflection
• Avoid: Dramatic effects, quick cuts, commercial sheen

Hook Patterns

• "She had been waiting for this letter her whole life."
• "Some silences speak louder than words."
• "The thing about growing up is that no one tells you how."

CTA Examples

• "For readers who look beneath the surface."
• "A story that stays with you."
• "Discover your next literary obsession."

5. Nonfiction (Practical)

Reader Identity

• Self-improvement seekers
• Professional developers
• Problem-solvers and practitioners

Angles

1. The practical transformation — "Work smarter, not harder."
2. The surprising insight — "Everything you know is wrong."
3. The recognizable problem — "This is exactly my issue."
4. The irresistible question — "Why does this keep failing?"

Visual Treatment

• Palette: Clean whites, restraint orange, professional grey
• Lighting: Bright, clear, documentary-style
• Camera: Direct address, clean backgrounds, text overlays
• Detail focus: Diagrams, checklists, before/after comparisons
• Avoid: Stock photography, corporate clichés, overly casual tone

Hook Patterns

• "Three mistakes that cost you 10 hours a week."
• "Everything you know about [topic] is wrong."
• "The one habit that changed everything."

CTA Examples

• "Free chapter in bio."
• "Your problem solved — link in bio."
• "Download the free checklist."

6. Memoir / True Stories

Reader Identity

• True-story lovers
• Curiosity seekers
• Those who want to understand different lives

Angles

1. The relatable personal struggle — "I've felt this too."
2. The atmospheric experience — "Live this moment."
3. The recognizable problem/experience — "This is my life."
4. The reader identity — "For anyone who's ever..."

Visual Treatment

• Palette: Authentic colors of the setting, documentary realism
• Lighting: Natural, available light, authentic
• Camera: POV shots, handheld documentary, intimate close-ups
• Detail focus: Hands, environments, objects, authentic textures
• Avoid: Dramatization, reenactment with actors, sensationalism

Hook Patterns

• "You see an ambulance go by. You never see this."
• "I never told anyone this story. Until now."
• "The day everything changed, I was..."

CTA Examples

• "True stories — link in bio."
• "The real story behind the headlines."
• "Read what really happened."

Angle Selection Matrix

Appendix A: CTA Decision Matrix