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Q&A Sugar-coating a niche genre

I think of Steampunk as being science fiction (with some fantasy elements) based in the Victorian era. The term "punk" might turn off some readers. Simply being unfamiliar with it might be the t...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Answer
#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-20T00:40:39Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/42589
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T11:00:58Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/42589
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T11:00:58Z (over 4 years ago)
**I think of Steampunk as being science fiction (with some fantasy elements) based in the Victorian era.**

The term "punk" might turn off some readers. Simply being unfamiliar with it might be the turn off for others. So better to explain it using terms the reader will understand (by all means market the book with the niche term Steampunk to reach the readers who want that, but that's not what this question is about).

In your case, you're not really marketing your book, you're selling it. To one particular person. The person whose view of this book is most important to you (since you wrote it for her). So focus on her. What books does she enjoy? Find something similar and make your case. (This works for larger marketing too where you'd tie the book into similar but better known genres/styles/etc.)

In the end, I suspect you're going to have to fall back on guilt. _I wrote it for you, please just give a try._ That is the best marketing available for family members.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2019-02-24T21:59:08Z (about 5 years ago)
Original score: 5