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People are always looking to arouse their desires. One of the ways that has become popular is the literary genre paranormal erotica. The genre is filled with magic, cursed people, and romance. This is the genre of someone who wants to see romance happen where science fails to explain what is happening. Another way that people are drawn in is when authors have a new take on old legends. All of this accounts for a popularity that has kept mythology alive and writers still delving into the myriad of possibilities. One simply has to pick up a Laurel K. Hamilton novel to see how far someone can go.
Read more: What Is Paranormal Erotica and Why Should You Read It?
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When you're starting out as a fiction writer, one of the biggest questions you’ll face is which genre to write in. Some genres—like romance, thrillers, or fantasy—have enormous fan bases and commercial momentum. Others are quieter corners of the literary world: genres with smaller audiences, limited demand, or declining popularity.
But make no mistake: less popular doesn’t mean not worth writing. Many authors find purpose, passion, and even success in writing for a niche market. Still, it helps to understand the current literary landscape so you can set realistic expectations, make strategic choices, and think creatively about how to position your work.
Here are seven of the least popular adult fiction genres today, and what you can take away from them as a new writer.
🏜️ 1. Westerns
Once iconic, now niche.
Westerns were once a dominant genre, romanticizing the American frontier with tales of cowboys, outlaws, and rugged justice. But today, traditional Westerns have largely faded from mainstream publishing.
Why they struggle: Modern readers often find the themes outdated or repetitive. The genre’s historical focus and lack of diversity have also limited its reach.
Opportunity: Westerns that break the mold—such as feminist, Indigenous, or speculative takes—are carving out space in indie publishing and film.
Read more: The Least Popular Adult Fiction Genres (And What Writers Can Learn From Them)
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The 'sex is evil' mantra will probably never stop. A couple weeks ago, board members in a school district stated
“I think we should throw those books in a fire,” said board member Rabih Abuismail, according to LGBTQ Nation. They were vehemently against a book called 33 SNowfish. I've never read it, but their hated of sexy books didn't stop there. They sought to ban all sexy books. Sometimes people's first thoughts on a subject are started with a book. Books present ideas and information in a non-threatening and completely safe way.
Understanding Erotic Literature
Erotica literature is composed of both factual and fictional based stories and memories of human sexual relations that could possibly have enough power to or are very much intended to sexually heighten a persons sexual interest while reading. These erotic reads as such, take on the form of novels, poetry, short stories, memoirs of true life, and sex how- to’s.
What is a regular feature of this type of genre is fantasies that are sexual, that talk about the not so normal subjects of gang bangs, prostitutes, orgy parties, homosexuality, sodomy, bestiality and many more taboo fetishes and subjects, where some authors may or may not express their thoughts in such an explicit tone. There are other common reasons, such as social criticism that authors are afraid to voice certain wants or thoughts because of this.
Erotic Literature in History
Despite the cultural differences on such things, the circulation of erotica books was not viewed as a major thing before the invention of actually printing out the material, the costs of printing individual manuscripts put a limit on distribution, meaning only a very small select group of readers could enjoy. When printing was invented in the 15th century, it brought along with it both a bigger market and way more restrictions than one can imagine. The invention of censoring and legal restraints on books being published on the grounds of being to obscene. Due to this, many of the productions of any of these type themed material became feared and kept a secret.
Erotic Literature in the Renaissance and Romantic Eras
During the period of Renaissance, a lot of poems were not written to be published; instead, they just got circulated in form of manuscript to a limited number of readers. This was how the original way of William Shakespeare’s work got around to be circulated. William Shakespeare, who also wrote the Sonnets, Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece erotic poems. In the 18th century, after 1750, the Romantic era began, thats when the quality of mainstream slut writing was on decline. This brought sex written novels and literature to be driven out in the later years of the 18th century. They cut off imaginative, climaxing English literature making the secret literature of sex the more poverty stricken and considered more boring in European culture.
Steamy novel writes often cause authors to write using pen names, or pseudonyms, for so many different reasons. Authors who are will do it to cross over genres and keep from changing the minds of their fans. Under a pen name, it can protect the author from being judged and the writer can be reborn safely.
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Over the years we have all no doubt become acquainted with the various genres that exist in adult fiction novels. From romance to mystery, to science fiction, we know all about these. But have we ever taken the time to wonder which ones are the most popular with the public, this might be information that an aspiring writer would most definitely be interested in knowing. Well, before going into the tops five it might be surprising to know that the genre that is most popular when polling individuals about which genre they like to read the most, and the one that makes the most profit per year isn't the same. That answer is a bit different, so when going over the list ranking by popularity we will also give a projection of annual profit.
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Many adults wonder why other adults read Young Adult fiction or even middle grade fiction intended for much younger audiences. What about YA and MG fiction appeals to older audiences? There are several reasons how fiction that is targeted at younger readers can appeal to mature folks.
YA and MG Literature as Escapism
A 2012 survey showed that 55 percent of YA readers are adults. People have asked if this is a problem. The first point often brought up in regards to why YA literature is so popular among adults is how good YA books are at building fantastic and inventive worlds. The great imagination and fantasy often written into these YA books can really be appealing to anyone. Some argue, though, that for adults YA literature is a perfect source of escapism.