The best genre for June ultimately depends on your goals, but historically and commercially, light summer fiction, contemporary romance, and personal growth nonfiction dominate. Writing in these categories during the early summer months aligns perfectly with seasonal reader habits.
June marks the beginning of summer vacation and major cultural themes, making these genres highly profitable and sought after by both publishers and readers:
Light summer fiction / beach reads: for summer vacations, readers look for high-concept, easy-to-digest fiction, and feel-good novels and breezy mysteries perform exceptionally well by the pool
Romance: statistically one of the most profitable and highly consumed genres in the publishing industry, romance maintains consistent, year-round demand; June is a popular month to dive into sun-drenched romantic comedies aka rom-coms or romance-heavy fantasy aka romantasy
Personal growth / nonfiction: in June, readers view the halfway point of the year as a time to reset, making nonfiction focused on self-improvement, travel, or acquiring new skills a top target as summer break kicks off
How to Start Writing in June
The summer months mean no school, fewer work expectations, and vacation time. If you want to write a short story for the very first time or start a novel, it is the perfect season. You have extra free time with a lot of sunshine and positive energy, as well as plenty of people-watching opportunities. Hit the pool with a waterproof notepad and play detective. See what you can write about this June with these tips:
Identify your passion: successful writers prioritize the stories they are most excited to tell over temporary market trends
Study your market: in June, explore a new genre, reading books and stories in that genre extensively to identify the pacing, tone, and tropes that works for you as a reader
Pick a path: use online resources like Reedsy's Genre List to explore various sub-genres and read guides from publishing experts like Jane Friedman to help determine where your book best fits
Sources
Reedsy’s Genre ListJane Friedman, Reporting on Book Publishing Industry