From what I read, based on my research, the horror genre is a difficult one to sell. But that doesn’t mean you can’t market it well.
Back in early Hollywood, horror was a fun genre. But in the 70s, most horror disgusted or repulsed audiences.
A nasty reputation gave horror a bad name. Sadly, people still associate horror with gory or sleazy thrills.
But how can you break past the stereotype the genre suffers from? How can you convince readers to buy your book?
Why should they be scared?
I won’t say that any specific horror subgenre will sell millions of copies. That would be an injustice.
However, choosing a specific subgenre or category helps target your reader. There are several subgenres.
There are a variety of categories to choose from. Some experienced writers or writing coaches will tell you to write about your ideal reader.
Is that necessary to sell your book? As a beginner writer, you may not know your reader in detail yet.
For a more detailed list of subgenres, check out this post by Self Publishing School.
Does it look or sound scary?
Let’s talk about your cover and your blurb. Avoid AI at all costs. Hire a book artist if you have the money.
The cover needs to give readers an idea of what’s inside. Ask your friends or a writing community what they think about it.
Your book blurb should be similar to your elevator pitch or logline. Who is the main character?
How do they get involved in the plot? What will make readers want to read this story, and what are the stakes?
Who is the villain of the story? You can also hire a copywriter to write a blurb that will stand out.
For more about a logline, please check out this post, How a Logline Can Sell Your Story.
Is your presence sinister enough?
Anyone can write a horror story. Jimmy Durante is famous for saying:
“Everybody wants to get into the act.”
But then the question is, are you any good? People may buy your books in the beginning.
Down the road, they will start to think. They will question the garbage they are buying.
True, trash sometimes sells. For example, the bad movies that made their way into the mainstream in the 70s.
You don’t want to be one of those storytellers. What you want is to be remembered for giving readers a damn good scare.
What else can I tell you? Do the work. Give it a try. If it isn’t a success, keep experimenting!