Do you have a burning need to write fiction? Are you agonising over what you should write? I’ve been there. Stressing over choosing the right genre can often lead to writer’s block or overwhelm. Or you may have a story idea, but you don’t know where it will fit in. When it comes to writing genre fiction, it’s tempting to chase a trend. I’ve published 23 bestselling books over the last ten years. I’ve learned a lot about writing during this time and seen a lot of changes in the publishing industry too. My best advice? Enjoy the writing process and take it one step at a time.

Writing Genre Fiction

It is easy to fall into a negative spiral when it comes to writing. There just aren’t enough positive news stories online. But they’re there if you dig deep enough. You only have to look at the Amazon book kindle charts to see authors smashing it in a few different genres on a daily basis. It’s just that when it comes to writing and selling your book, it’s often considered ‘bad form’ to blow your own trumpet, which is fair enough. If you’re struggling to get an agent, the last thing you want is for some other author to be banging on about their umpteenth deal. But hun, you need to turn your thinking around. Having a positive mindset will help you on your writing journey. You’re a lot less likely to give up, for a start. Now, I know, I know…author jealousy is real. We’ve all felt it from time to time – even me! But we also need good news stories to keep ourselves afloat. Look, if you want to write a book, just go for it. What have you got to lose?

What Qualifications Do You Need To Write?

You don’t need a tone of experience or letters after your name to begin. I didn’t have a clue when I started off. No university degree. No contacts in the industry. But I had one heck of an imagination. As my teacher used to say in school, ‘daydream’ was my middle name. But I also worked incredibly hard on my craft. If you’ve dreamed of writing a book, there has never been a better time to start. Don’t believe me? I’m happy to back it up with some inspirational industry figures. Are you ready? Lets begin. 

Fiction sales hit a record-breaking £552.7 million in 2024, surpassing the previous year’s total by nearly £50 million, according to The Bookseller as they discuss the most popular genres. You can’t argue with the stats. Readers are hungry for romance, fantasy, thrillers, and horror, so whatever genre you love, there is a growing audience ready to discover your story. And guess what…all those authors out there who are selling a gazillion copies are paving the way for you. Because readers are voracious, and they don’t stop at just one book.

So let’s break down what’s working right now, why fiction is thriving, and how you can make the most of this exciting time as an author.

Romance and Romantasy Genres Are Taking the Lead

If you’re interested in writing romance, you’re in the strongest genre in publishing right now. There are lots of difference genres to explore when it comes to romance, too. Swoonsome historical romance your scene? Then you’ll definitely have an audience. The Bridgerton series is testament to that. (Loved that series!) According to The Bookseller, Romance and sagas hit a record £69.1 million in sales, surpassing even the Fifty Shades era. Authors like Colleen Hoover (£8.5 million), Ana Huang (£3.5 million), and Elsie Silver (+358 percent growth) are soaring thanks to BookTok and strong reader engagement.

Emily Henry’s sales jumped by 50 percent, proving that rom-coms and feel-good love stories continue to attract readers. Rebecca Yarros began writing in 2014 when her husband was deployed to Afghanistan. But it wasn’t until 2024 that her writing career went stratospheric. Her Empyrean series has sold over 12 million copies in the United States (and counting!). The third book in the series, Onyx Storm, sold more than 2.7 million copies in its first week, making it the fastest-selling adult novel in the last 20 years. She has done amazingly well, but this wasn’t ‘overnight success’. It was the result of consistent, hard work.

What This Means For Romance Writers

If you’re thinking about writing romance or have a romance novel idea in a sub genre, now is a great time to write it. Romantasy, the blend of romance and fantasy, is truly having its moment right now. It’s exciting to see this genre growing so quickly, reminding us that we all crave a little wonder and connection in our fiction. Anything that gets people reading can only be a good thing. 

BookTok continues to drive visibility when it comes to the romance genre, so authors who engage with their audience online have a big advantage. I know it can be off-putting as most writers are introverts at heart (ahem!) But it is worth pushing yourself to get your romance books seen. Don’t stress over having no writing experience. Read the books you love and be inspired by them. Enjoy writing. Have fun with it. Every author has to start somewhere.

Keep exploring what makes you unique as a writer— in a crowded market, authenticity and passion make stories memorable, so don’t be afraid to let your voice shine through. Resilience is key.  Literary agent Vicky Weber

Crime, Thrillers, and Psychological Suspense Genres are Thriving

Murder, mystery, and psychological suspense novels are stronger than ever.

The crime, thriller, and adventure category brought in a whopping £143.2 million, its highest total in 14 years. Readers are looking for dark, gripping stories, including police procedurals, domestic thrillers, and psychological dramas. True crime and crime fiction crossover books are keeping the genre fresh and innovative. There are a lot of crime books on the market, which is why you need to work hard on your writing and produce something that stands above the rest. Our writing masterclass, Brave The Page, can help you with that. Real life crime is always of interest and the same storytelling rules apply (along with a lot of respect, sensitivity and permission, if needed – please handle with care).

Author Angela Marsons received over 5,000 rejection letters over 25 years for her Kim Stone crime series. It eventually went on to sell over 6 million copies, was translated into 30 different languages and optioned for TV by the BBC.

What This Means For Crime Writers

Have an idea for a crime, mystery or suspense book? If you love plot twists, dark secrets, and tension-filled storytelling, there will always be room for more well written crime and psychological thrillers. I should know. I’ve written both. Readers are voracious. I’ve often received emails from readers telling me how much they enjoyed my book. It could have taken me nine long months to write it, but they’ve read it in a day and want to know when my next crime novel is out! Crime fiction has a loyal, binge-reading audience, so one book can lead to a long, successful series. I highly recommend writing a series of three to four books. Work hardest on promoting the first in the series above all the others.

If you want to write thrillers, mysteries, or detective fiction, the demand is always there. But write it honestly and from the heart. 

The Horror Genre is Having Its Biggest Year Ever

Who doesn’t love a good spooky story? Stephen King is my favourite author for a reason, although for me it’s not so much the horror, but the thrill of not knowing where his stories will take you. If you have ever thought about diving into the horror genre, gothic fiction, or supernatural thrillers, 2024 was the best year in history for such books. Horror and ghost stories hit £8 million in sales, nearly double what the category earned annually from 2008 to 2022.

Stephen King dominates, responsible for 25 percent of total horror sales, but new authors are emerging. Literary horror and folklore-inspired stories are attracting new audiences.

What This Means For Horror Writers

Horror is reaching a mainstream audience beyond niche readers. (This is great news!) If you enjoy reading horror then this may be the chosen genre for you. Dark academia, psychological horror, and folklore-based horror are particularly strong. Horror is thriving on TikTok and Bookstagram, giving new authors a chance to go viral.

Find that support group! You’ll need fellow writers around on your journey, people you can celebrate your successes with and cry over your failures with. Linda Camacho of Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency

Writing Different Genres

Want to write and publish a book in other genres? After all, we’ve not touched on science fiction (sci fi), young adult, or some of the other genres that readers love. How can you pick one genre over another? You could write both. Don’t be afraid to blend genres. Horror combined with thriller, fantasy, or another subgenre is attracting attention. 

Write what lights a fire in your heart. When I started writing, I published crime fiction laced with the paranormal. My crime thriller series featuring DC Jennifer Knight launched my career. But it also limited my readership as not everyone was prepared to venture into the supernatural genre. I progressed onto writing ‘straight’ crime thrillers with some very strong characters, but go with what works for you. For me, it’s always been a balance of writing what I love and reaching as many readers of the genre as possible. 

General and Literary Fiction is at Its Best Since 2011

Not every bestseller comes from TikTok trends. Readers still crave deep, emotional, character-driven fiction. According to The Bookseller, general and literary fiction hit £163.1 million, its highest total since 2011. Emotional, sweeping, and thought-provoking books are connecting with readers. Contemporary and historical fiction are performing well, especially when they tap into big emotions and universal themes.

Why Now is the Perfect Time to Write Your Book

Write the book you want to write. Trends matter, but strong storytelling always finds an audience. Book club-friendly novels that spark conversation perform well. If you enjoy writing layered, complex characters, this is your time, but invest some serious time and effort into your craft. (We can help with that.) 

So, my dear writers, fiction is thriving. Whether you are working on your first novel or your tenth, the key is to stay consistent, find your unique angle, and get your book in front of the right readers. All authors who do well have worked really hard to get there. 

Need Help Getting Started?

If you’re ready to write a book, see my Brave The Page writing course—a step-by-step guide to outlining, writing, and finishing the first draft of your fiction novel in just 30 days. This course has been created by me, a published author who is still writing and publishing bestselling books. I tackle things like dealing with writer’s block, coming up with a great story idea, choosing the right genre, how to write a book, what to write about, the writing process, the issues many writers face, how to write character development, writing plot, learning structure, how to write setting well, writing great dialogue, and all my secrets about my author career.