Is is appropriate, or helpful, to mention the specific genre or sub-genre directly in your sales copy? For example,
A light sci-fi psychological drama ...
Similarly, what are the pros and cons of stating up front (i.e. in the sales copy) that the piece is "satire?"
HMx9
SHMx1 (Q2'22)
2xCritiquer for Published Winners (Oh yeah, it's now a thing)
What is a "sales copy"?
"There are three rules to writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are."
— W. Somerset Maugham
Drop me a line at https://morganbroadhead.com
SFx1
HMx5
R/RWCx6
"Sales copy is a text that persuades consumers to buy a product or service. You can write sales copy in paragraph form, create lists, or overlay it on an image."
https://www.crazyegg.com/blog/sales-copy/
"This is the copy that you see as part of a book’s description when shopping online or on a book’s dust jacket (if hardcover) or back panel (if paperback)."
https://press.barnesandnoble.com/author-tools-and-tips/copy-basics
HMx9
SHMx1 (Q2'22)
2xCritiquer for Published Winners (Oh yeah, it's now a thing)
My answer would vary based on where the sales copy will appear. If it’s for an online retailer or a traditional bookstore, the retailer will know the genre (from tags you provide), and shelve it accordingly. Customers will often know what genre they’re shopping in, so the genre in the sales copy seems redundant. But if you’re trying to help people who find the book via search… Maybe?
There are lots of other ways to signal genre, particularly cover art and font. Those are more critical. I think, though, that good advice for cover, font, and sales copy is to look at what works for bestsellers in your genre and try to learn from that.
http://nineandsixtyways.com/
Tools, Not Rules.
Martin L. Shoemaker
3rd Place Q1 V31
"Today I Am Paul", WSFA Small Press Award 2015, Nebula nomination 2015
Today I Am Carey from Baen
The Last Dance (#1 science fiction eBook on Amazon, October 2019) and The Last Campaign from 47North
