Genre

[alg]

Genre as a marketing category!
Publishers and editors do not think about genre the same way authors do. Here's an explanation.



... Now I write an ode to spinach:

spinach,
you
are green
and
i wish i had more
of you than
what I ate
(yum yum yum)
at five in the morning,
dawn
creeping
up
you are
(my sunshine and)
the perfect delivery method
for salt and
garlic.

Comments

[neutronjockey.livejournal.com]

People like categories. Categories make us feel safe. They help us know that we are getting what we want. Most people do not buy books wanting to be shocked or appalled or surprised.

YES.

It is a sad fact that the majority of people no longer are willing to experiment. Books are expensive. I don't know about you, but I don't have seven dollars to spend on an author I've never heard of if I don't have the faintest clue where to slot the book in my head.

YES.

Here's the story: I say to Waldenbooks, "This book doesn't have a genre." Walden says, "So what are we supposed to do with it?" I say, "I dunno." Walden says, "How about we just skip this title and buy twice as many of that romance novel?

And OMFG. YES!

Since my departure from the Navy I've been slaving amongst the bottom feeding trolls in the weekly season of avarice (see: retail) at Ye Olde Borders. Customers only see two things (and keep in mind I'm talking your average reader, not an expert reader and not a writer/reader <--- each of those creatures shops differently); these two things are: 1) big sign noting genre and 2) bright!shiny!cover!
That's it.
Really.
I've tried using the words 'sub-genre' and 'cross-genre' while attempting to assist a customer and I get a blank stare.
Customer: I'm looking for a new mystery book for my husband.
Me: What kind of mysteries does your husband like to read?
Customer: *blank stare* He likes mysteries.
Me: Do you know the author's name he's currently reading?
Customer: No, I don't remember, but it's got a shiny blue cover.
Me: Okay, is he more of a crime and forensics guy or more of a tech guy?
Customer: Oh he loves CSI.
Me: Okay, I know a number of really good mysteries based on real cased studies with enough forensic geekery to keep any CSI buff happy...I'll show you to them.
Customer: I think he'll like this one!
Me: Ma'am, we're in fantasy/sci-fi and that's Terry Brooks.
Customer: That's okay I'll buy this one for him.
Me: (*ScrubsMeta*) Look Barbie...

In short form: I totally agree: don't sweat the genre.

In another form: don't you think a savvy writer, one who writes for intent of being published should keep their eye on the market trend as to what their genre is doing and what cross and sub-genres are hot? I mean, if writing is your business, don't you have to give in a bit to make a living?

-=Jeff=-

[alg.livejournal.com]

don't you think a savvy writer, one who writes for intent of being published should keep their eye on the market trend as to what their genre is doing and what cross and sub-genres are hot? I mean, if writing is your business, don't you have to give in a bit to make a living?

Yes and no. The way to keep track of what your genre is doing is to go join your genre's writers' organization and watch what is being *sold* -- not what is being offered on the shelves. The shelves are two years out of date!

As I said in another comment, (at least) 99% of the time, a writer's genre is pretty easily nailed. 50% of that 99% of the time, the writer is the person making it more complicated, because s/he desperately wants to be a unique snowflake.

[marycatone.livejournal.com]

Your ode to spinach is my new favorite poem. I have to go make some RIGHT NOW!

[the-lady-m.livejournal.com]

*Unique Snowflake*

Can I just be a Unique Flake?

Thank you! and: May I ask a quick favor?

[(Anonymous)]

I've been reading your blog for a while now and hope that I am not overstepping my bounds with this request. I am an English writing major and am currently taking a communications course. For said course, I have to do a presentation and the topic I've chosen is "Communicating Through Fiction." I've developed a five-question survey and am wondering if you would mind filling it out. Either way, thank you for your time, and thank you for such a helpful blog. I appreciate your willingness to do this.

Sincerely,
Jess
kaluna_rain_caller[at]yahoo.com

[(Anonymous)]

Spinach
you are green
and I am glad Anna loves you
for I don't.
At all.
Even with salt or garlic.

Cie

:) Hope the teeth are feeling better.

[alg.livejournal.com]

Spinach
I will eat
all
of
you
Even Cie's
portions
Especially with
salt
and
garlic

Thanks, darlin!

[ambyr.livejournal.com]

Here's the story: I say to Waldenbooks, "This book doesn't have a genre." Walden says, "So what are we supposed to do with it?" I say, "I dunno." Walden says, "How about we just skip this title and buy twice as many of that romance novel?" I say, "All right." Then your book nets, oh, 6,000 mass market copies, and you don't ever sell another book again. The end..

Heh, if anyone's curious, this is equally true of academic books. . .if an author send me a prospectus listing the ten wildly different disciplines that he thinks will clamor to adopt his book in their classrooms, I will immediately (and generally correctly) interpret it as having no classroom potential at all.

*Sniffle*

[the-lady-m.livejournal.com]

Are you coming back to post - or have the evil tooth demons vortexed you out of live journal?

*g*

Hope you're feeling better.

Lady M

Re: *Sniffle*

[alg.livejournal.com]

I don't usually post all that often -- I have a day job. *g* I usually post once or twice per month -- this crazy posting three times per week thing won't last. :)

[southernwriter.livejournal.com]

I’ve just discovered your blog, so I’m way behind, but I’m fascinated and must ask a question. First, however, I want to thank you for your hard work here. I’ve never read anything that so plainly explains what it’s like to be on your side of the desk. I’m seeing my manuscript in a whole new way. I am an instant fan! Bravo!

My question is about genre. Another author told me what I write is called woo woo. I had never heard of it, so I Googled, but came up with nothing. Have you heard of this, and if so, can you define it for me? Is it considered as derogatory in the publishing industry as it sounds to my ear?
I catagorize my ms differently depending upon who I’m querying. For one agent or publisher, I think I called it metaphysical, for another a paranormal romance (which I see now was a terrible mistake), and yet another, I categorized it as women’s fiction with a romantic paranormal twist.

If I query an agent who is looking for “quirky, unusual, eclectic,” and call my ms woo woo, a) are they going to know what I'm talking about? And b) am I going to have to change my name and start writing something different if I ever hope to be published?

(It’s too long to submit to Tor, but you might personally like it because it’s full of Tarot and astrology. Wink.)

[alg.livejournal.com]

itâ™s full of Tarot and astrology.

"Woo woo" is often a term for books with New Age content -- it sounds like whoever you were talking with meant New Age. There's not a big market for New Age books, unfortunately, but there are some small presses, I am sure, that publish it.

[southernwriter.livejournal.com]

What a prompt reply! Thank you again.

[scixual.livejournal.com]

Robbins, Moore and Gaiman are three of my favorites! And likely my influences as well...