Comments on: Beyond Genre http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/12/beyond-genre/ about the craft and business of fiction Thu, 24 May 2012 12:29:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Genevieve http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/12/beyond-genre/#comment-123213 Genevieve Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:35:34 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/12/beyond-genre/#comment-123213 That final suggestion is a tremendous tool. Thank you for that. When I first saw your topic, though, I had a different question. I can't stop writing, but every novel seems to come out in a different genre. Is that a good/bad thing for writers seeking representation? And ... let's say I sent in a query to your agency for one novel, and it was declined. Would it make sense for me to send your agency a query for a novel of a different genre now? That final suggestion is a tremendous tool. Thank you for that.

When I first saw your topic, though, I had a different question. I can’t stop writing, but every novel seems to come out in a different genre. Is that a good/bad thing for writers seeking representation?

And … let’s say I sent in a query to your agency for one novel, and it was declined. Would it make sense for me to send your agency a query for a novel of a different genre now?

Like? Thumb up 0

]]> By: Dwayne http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/12/beyond-genre/#comment-123192 Dwayne Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:15:07 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/12/beyond-genre/#comment-123192 How ironic, I have been pondering this very topic for months. Let's see if I can pinpoint the difference, from the point of view of what I feel after reading genre vs. literary/fiction. After reading a suspense/thriller for example, (Brad Meltzer, John Grisham, Ken Follett) I think: "wow, cool book" and "this guy was pretty clever with the plot." But nothing earth shattering. Sure the characters were drawn well, the writing was, well, coherent at least and it was a page turner. But (and this is a BIG BUT) I still felt EMPTY at the end of the novel. Now, lets take novels like (To Kill a Mockingbird, Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates, Dennis Lehane's The Given Day, Guy de Maupassant's Bel-Ami) these are novels that I still can't get out of my head ... they're sort of engrained in my mind. Why? On top of the excellent writing, the novel appeared to be about something, much, much larger than simply getting from point A to point B, nothing seemed contrived, and the end of the book, you felt like you lived with these characters. How ironic, I have been pondering this very topic for months.

Let’s see if I can pinpoint the difference, from the point of view of what I feel after reading genre vs. literary/fiction.

After reading a suspense/thriller for example, (Brad Meltzer, John Grisham, Ken Follett) I think: “wow, cool book” and “this guy was pretty clever with the plot.” But nothing earth shattering. Sure the characters were drawn well, the writing was, well, coherent at least and it was a page turner. But (and this is a BIG BUT) I still felt EMPTY at the end of the novel.

Now, lets take novels like (To Kill a Mockingbird, Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates, Dennis Lehane’s The Given Day, Guy de Maupassant’s Bel-Ami) these are novels that I still can’t get out of my head … they’re sort of engrained in my mind. Why? On top of the excellent writing, the novel appeared to be about something, much, much larger than simply getting from point A to point B, nothing seemed contrived, and the end of the book, you felt like you lived with these characters.

Like? Thumb up 0

]]> By: Livia http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/12/beyond-genre/#comment-123146 Livia Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:58:53 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/12/beyond-genre/#comment-123146 It almost seems like you're saying here that fitting in a genre category and having a breakout level plot are mutually exclusive. I hope that's not the case! I can think of plenty of good genre novels with intricate and intriguing plots, but that still fit cleanly within genre boundaries. Lord of the Rings, Ender's Game/Speaker for the Dead ... It almost seems like you’re saying here that fitting in a genre category and having a breakout level plot are mutually exclusive. I hope that’s not the case! I can think of plenty of good genre novels with intricate and intriguing plots, but that still fit cleanly within genre boundaries. Lord of the Rings, Ender’s Game/Speaker for the Dead …

Like? Thumb up 0

]]> By: Kristan http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/12/beyond-genre/#comment-123141 Kristan Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:24:40 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/12/beyond-genre/#comment-123141 Oh, that said, I love the books that bend and cross over, as this post suggests! Like Time Traveler's Wife (literary scifi?) or Nora Roberts (romance with strong writing). Oh, that said, I love the books that bend and cross over, as this post suggests! Like Time Traveler’s Wife (literary scifi?) or Nora Roberts (romance with strong writing).

Like? Thumb up 0

]]> By: Kristan http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/12/beyond-genre/#comment-123140 Kristan Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:23:48 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/12/beyond-genre/#comment-123140 I think it can be dangerous to be "just" a literary writer too. That's the mindset that is often encouraged (or you feel like it's encouraged, anyway) in university settings. But what that usually makes is really beautiful writing about nothing. And I think most people would rather read a good story with "rougher" prose than good writing with a "rough" story, you know? I think it can be dangerous to be “just” a literary writer too. That’s the mindset that is often encouraged (or you feel like it’s encouraged, anyway) in university settings. But what that usually makes is really beautiful writing about nothing. And I think most people would rather read a good story with “rougher” prose than good writing with a “rough” story, you know?

Like? Thumb up 0

]]>