I’m not a horror writer ordinarily, but I’m going to type in a sentence now that will strike terror in the hearts of many of my female readers:
I went jeans shopping yesterday.
Yes, it’s a horrific experience. And it really shouldn’t be. But apparently blue jeans manufacturers go out of their way to make all of us feel like freaks when we’re trying on their garments.
I for one, though, was desperate. I am so done with hip huggers. Come on clothing manufacturers! It’s not fun having to hitch up one’s britches. Besides, these jeans don’t hug hips. If they did, then I may not have this complaint. But they don’t. They behave as though my hips are not even there.
I have this problem in other areas, too. The Hollywood producers and cinema franchises decide what I’ll watch. But I don’t want to watch gory movies, action movies, or movies with a distracting amount of profanity in them. Could I once watch a subtitled film in a real movie theater?
And television? If I had my way, it would run British police procedurals all day long. Instead, television honchos seem to think I want reality shows.
On to books. Too often, the media tells us what we should be reading (Dan Brown, anyone?) That’s not to say that I’m not planning on reading The Lost Symbol. The whole Freemason thing is very interesting to me. But I just object to the way it was pushed down my throat by the media.
This brings us to individual writers. Some of us have books that don’t easily fit into a standard genre or description. This could throw up a red flag at a publisher—how will it be marketed? What’s its hook?
Of course, that’s a problem I don’t have. I love reading traditional mysteries and that’s what I write. It’s fun for me to work inside the parameters of their standards and rules.
But I want to make sure that there is variety out there to read. That it’s not all stuff off an assembly line that will be easy to market and a clear blockbuster. I may not be interested in reading what a marketing department thinks should sell well.
What do you think? Are you writing a book that defies easy packaging? Do you plan to adapt your manuscript to fit commercial standards of length, subject matter, genre-labeling? Or are you a writing rebel?
Elizabeth – I’m so glad you brought up the notion of variety in mystery genre. I, too, think it’s absolutely critical that there be all kinds of books, even within the mystery genre. As for my own writing, I wouldn’t say it fits neatly within the traditional format. On the other hand, it probably fits there better than anywhere else. My mysteries aren’t exactly cozies, but they’re certainly not psycho-thrillers, horror thrillers, or, strictly speaking, police procedurals. But that’s fine with my. They work for me, and so do my jeans, regardless of what Madison Avenue says I should wear.
I believe I was born a contrarian. Not that my wife has said that. Much.
My Forte series doesn’t fit in a convenient label. I won’t hype my books here on your blog, Elizabeth, but suffice it to say I could’ve made more money actually writing for the media slots. But then I’d have to live with myself. I believe a writer should writer the story that strikes their own fancy, not that of the crowd. One’s audience will find you (Okay, a little “Hey, over here!” doesn’t hurt either.)
I agree with Glen – as writers, we need to share the stories we want to share, and not worry about what the market may tell us will sell. Readers who are meant to read what we wrote will find us. Okay, so maybe it’s not entirely a case of “if you write it, they will come,” and a little PR certainly never hurt anyone, but I definitely can’t imagine writing something just because I might think it will sell better.
When I wrote Buckley’s Story, I wasn’t sure how it was going to be categorized – pet memoir? Memoir? Pet health? Advice (loss and grief)? Because it’s all of that, and more. It was categorized as memoir, which is fine with me, even though I believe it really doesn’t fit a mold, and that, too, is just fine with me.
I think all my books break those conventions in some way – I was writing a mystery, only it turned into a romance, but I didn’t know what it was “supposed” to do. I ended up with a small press that would look outside the envelope, and my books did well in contests finishing up with some big name writers, so I knew it wasn’t the writing or the story. It just wasn’t big NY press marketable.
I’m doing the same thing now with my mystery. It’s part police procedural, part cozy, and who knows if it’ll ever see life beyond my hard drive, especially in an economy that is making everyone uber-cautious.
I think there are some writers who specifically write for the media. Their first book is popular, and their second book is, except for the characters names and location, just like the first book. When I write, the characters are like real people, they grow and change, it’s always interesting to see a potential murderer end up being a good guy. To me, it’s important that if I’m going to put something out there for others to read and like, I should like it as well. Thanks for the questions you list at the end of your posts.
I think writing with mainstream in mind is important, but then take it a step further to make it stand out a little…to represent your style.
P.S. I would rather meet an IRS auditor for lunch, fold the laundry of an entire city, or listen to hours of Congress try to agree on anything than to go shopping for jeans (or a purse). But I have to do that soon.
I am so with you on the whole media pushing things we don’t want or need down or throats. I hate clothes shopping! Hope you found a pair, though.
As for writing, I am working on writing from my heart and soul, no matter what genre I am writing in. Whether it will ever see the light of day in terms of publishing (the new piece, I mean)well, I can’t worry about that while I’m writing.
Karen
When I go into a bookstore or library, I see a tremendous amount of variety on the shelves. Novels about scrapbookers, serial killers, vampires, books written from a dog’s POV, vampires, historicals, pseudo-memoirs, vampires–literally thousands of different types of books. I think it’s pretty hard to come up with something that totally defies categorization.
As for other “rules,” if you want a better shot at getting published, you should heed many of them. No one is going to pay $24.95 for a 65-page book. Likewise, no publisher is going to publish a 450,000 word middle grade novel. Rebel writers have a much more difficult road to publication, in many respects.
Writing what you want and writing what can sell are often two different animals.
Choose wisely.
(Yes, I’m in a little bit of a contrarian mood this morning.)
Wonderful post.
It drives me crazy with publishing. They seem to jump on a bandwagon and its impossible to find anything else. I used to really enjoy urban fantasy, but if I see one more book featuring a woman in *shudder* hip-huggers with a bare midriff armed with her demon slaying sword, I’m going to scream. I’m amazed at how publishers and agents are looking for something fresh and new but continually offer the same old thing.
I think as a writer it is easy to be seduced into writing for the market. But its impossible since the books we see published today were sold a year previously. My new thought is to try and become the trendsetter with something fresh and well-written.
One of the manuscripts I have sitting on a shelf is a good example of a tale that doesn’t fit anywhere. I intended it to be a historical mystery, but my critique group says it’s women’s fiction. Now I’m thinking about rewriting it to be edgy YA. Historical edgy YA.
As for jeans, I had to do that shopping thing recently because all my other jeans shrunk. :) Since I also hate shopping for clothes, it was extra painful. The hips were low-slung and the legs slightly flared, but I gotta love that stretchy fabric. Also gotta stop eating those M&Ms.
Great post!
My completed ms is in this dilemma – it’s kind of a romantic suspense novel, but not hard-core suspense. It’s more of a mystery with a romantic edge. That’s how I’ve decided to query it anyway :) Hopefully it will work!
You can make me smile and laugh writing ab out anything, lol. Yes, I think we get “packaged” and promoted products and our “tastes” are far too dictated by the influence of mass media. I write cross over genres myself. Owen Fiddler is one, and I have two more WIP’s that cross over the lines between genres. I like books theat defy being pigeonholed into a specific niche. Viva la variety!
Marvin D Wilson
I wish I could slip my WIP into an identifiable niche, but I can’t. Is it a historical mystery? Literary fiction? (I hate that name; isn’t all fiction literary?) Traditional mystery? No idea.
I’m glad you found some jeans. I want to find a dressing room mirror that doesn’t make me look like a contender for Bride of Frankenstein.
Elspeth
Margot–I think so too. I definitely see trends, but it’s nice to have some originality.
Glen–Oh, hype away! I think it’s fun to blend genres, too..creating something fresh in the process. I don’t do it *myself*, but I like seeing it done.
Ingrid–With social media these days, it’s so much easier to promote books that aren’t standard cookie-cutter. And to find a niche of readers.
Terry–That’s a great thing about small presses. I went in that direction for my first book 5 years ago. A lot of people aren’t interested in what NY is interested in…you can get a readership that’s looking for something different.
Judy–You’re right. Especially after a book is a blockbuster, there are all these copycats that feed off the formula.
Journaling Woman–Good point. We have to figure out what we’re looking for at the beginning of the process. Are we writing solely to please ourselves? Our readers? The marketing dept?
And your p.s. was too funny! Can I also add how awful the lighting is in the dressing rooms? Gack.
Karen Walker–It brings out the rebel in me. I’ll read what *I* want to read, thank you very much!
I did get a pair of jeans. I have a feeling they’re not in style.
I’d definitely just enjoy writing your book and leave the marketing worries for later.
Marvin–Cross-over–that’s a great term. It’s always such a surprise to the media when a particular book or song or movie does well across different audience groups.
Alan–No, you bring up a good point. I think of myself as a commercial writer. Is that bad to say? I put a spin of originality (I hope) on what I do–but I’m writing with my reader, my editor, and my publicity department in mind. But I *read* across the board. I want books that aren’t full of vampire Freemasons that go to wizard school.
Right now, I think you’re right–there’s a nice selection of many types of books. But small presses (who put out a lot of this stuff) are going under pretty regularly. My hope is that e-books will level the playing field and keep things fresh out there.
Rene–I’m covered up in vampires right now. Not that I have a *problem* with vampires, but there’s just too many of them. Everything seems really derivative and driven by the current trends.
Becoming a trend-SETTER, like you mentioned–that would be the way to go.
Patricia–Those darn jeans DO shrink! :)
Maybe when you query for your manuscript (if you decide not to go through Five Star), then you can play up different angles with different publishers. Might be a good way to find out what’s hot right now.
Variety is the spice of life–but planetarily we’re fast becoming one bland homonogeous glob of cheese whiz.
At 65, I’ve no interest in hip huggers–in fact, at 18 when I weighed in at a big 100 lbs soaking wet, I had no interest in hip huggers. They were demeaning & disfunctional and they still are.
Outgrew most genre about 30 years ago. Even when I try to write it, such as the few romances I’ve tried, the story and characters get away from me and come out as real people in real places. (Sigh)
;)
Jemi–Best of luck with the querying!
Elspeth–And publishers really like our WIPs labeled, don’t they? You could say it’s a cross-genre manuscript.
I think the department stores steal their dressing room mirrors from fun houses…
I think most of us want to write something different, but not too different. Something outside the box, but not too far outside. Something new and different, but still familiar enough to draw in big numbers of readers. Something unique with universal appeal…
I so agree with you on jeans. Frankly, I want jeans to come up to my waist, otherwise, I’m constantly tugging on them, trying to get them to sit on my waist.
Helen
Straight From Hel
Helen–Exactly. We want to pen a successful, unusual, rule-breaking, bestseller! :)
My new jeans do. They come all the way up to my bellybutton and that makes me *happy*!
This is a great post. I also have issues with what the media deems as acceptable and what’s unacceptable.
Also, I enjoy books that are a culmination of two or more genres. These books are often very interesting and well-written. A great example of this is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. It’s science fiction, historical fiction, romance and mystery all in one.
I just attended a writer’s conference on Saturday and two agents basically told the audience that you can’t break out of the box, the publishers want rehashed novels, like one author spitting out something so tried and true, basically a copy of what another author has already produced. So it goes, with TV, movies, and books. They want what they believe is the next SURE thing. When a risk is taken, that’s when you have an original break out work. Like “The Help”. What an amazing book.
Juliet–Well said! Sometimes it IS a lot like cheez whiz at the bookstore. Sounds like you’ve got some great stories raring to come out! Thanks for coming by and commenting.
Chary—I enjoy those, too. Something fresh and different for the reader, too–and can introduce them other genres.
Elizabeth–What a depressing conference! I really hate to think that’s true. But then we still have some wonderful, original fiction. I’ve got “The Help” on hold at the library.