In this ninth episode of How to Write a Book, Elizabeth Day’s new podclass series, hosts Sara Collins, Sharmaine Lovegrove and Nelle Andrew discuss genre. From literary fiction to romance and even the occasional fantasy novel, no genre is left un-discussed.

What has genre-blending got to do with braiding a Senegalese Twist? Should writers stick to one genre or experiment across multiple? And why should genre be thought of as an identity for your book?

Our three experts are here to help you answer these questions. Together, Sara, Sharmaine and Nelle are your on-hand writing community giving you the push you need to get started on that novel, memoir, or piece of non fiction you've always dreamed of writing. And as ever, Elizabeth ends the episode with her own final reflections.

We hope you enjoy our ninth episode. Stay tuned for next week’s episode on… GENRE.

Books discussed in this episode include:

•  World War Z by Max Brooks

•  Lord of the Rings by John Tolkein

•  A Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

•  Friendaholic by Elizabeth Day

•  In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

•  This Is Not A Pity Memoir by Abbi Morgan

•  Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

•  Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

•  How the Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk

We also talk about:  Margaret Atwood, Elizabeth Gilbert, Josie Silver, Benjamin Black, Lisa Jewel, Emily Henry, Jojo Moyes and Marian Keyes

Executive produced by Elizabeth Day for Daylight Productions and Carly Maile for Sony Music Entertainment.

Produced by Imogen Serwotka.

Please do get in touch with us, your writing community, with thoughts, feedback and more at: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices