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

[rogue-poet.livejournal.com]

So, I read your post about genre as I am reviewing the draft of my last manuscript. I thought I had written a SF novel... but now I realize that it is actually a Romance with SF setting and flavor. At least now I'll be able to do a better job with the editing process knowing what kind of story I'm actually working with :)

Your posts should be required reading for _ALL_ writers. "Introduction to writing 101 - the ALG method"

Thanks again and again and again for your tireless effort at making all of us writers a little less ignorant and, dare I say it, a little more empathetic.

Peace

[alg.livejournal.com]

Empathy is good! Although I think we can all take it too far sometimes. :)

Before you hie yourself off to research the romance genre, ask yourself what the tone and sensibility of your book is! Romance is a genre that demands certain conventions, and if you don't hit those conventions, it will be a very hard sell to romance editors...

[rogue-poet.livejournal.com]

I had originally, when writing the draft, been more interested in the science and technology. However, as I read it back again, I see that the strongest part of the story is the developing relationship between the two main characters.

I will have to do the research on the romance genre to see if I am closer to that genre and hitting those conventions than I am with the scifi. Fortunately I know quite a few romance writers so it shouldn't be that hard to figure out. And, not that I think about it, I was working with said authors when I wrote the draft. No wondering where that relationship stuff worked its way in. LOL

Here's to hoping that it will be a seller in both genres.

Peace

[alg.livejournal.com]

GOOD LUCK!!

[rogue-poet.livejournal.com]

THANKS! :)

Luck and timing and some talent are holy trinity of getting published... or so I am told by folks already published. I, alas, am still among the unwashed.

Time to roll up the sleeves and get my hands dirty.

Peace