genre definition

[Jo Zebedee]

Just sitting here, chilling, reading The time traveller's wife, which I've been meaning to get to for awhile (means Peter Hamilton's still on the tbr pile,) and despite being unable to read any more without critting, I'm really enjoying it, just as I also very much enjoyed Her Fearful Symmetry. (I think that's the title)

Neither are classic sci fi or fantasy (although symmetry is a ghost story), but character driven, romance based. (sort of, in a oh dear, that's not easy fashion)

How does something like this get onto the first rung (apart from it being a joy to read), when according to John Jarrold you need to cite 3/4 authors who are similar to your wip to even be considered. (all new, not established.)

Also, are we too tight in our genre definitions, which would be ironic since we're the genre who are supposed to be able to contemplate anything....

Right, back to reading it.

 

[Mouse]

I'd very much like to know the answer too as I'm dreading trying to find a genre and similar authors to mine. *sigh*

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Some fantasy slips by as mainstream, and I assume it's submitted to mainstream publishers who may not need the comparisons.

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Actually, I think Time Traveler's Wife is meant to be listed under fantasy. I've never heard of the other one you've spoken of, but if it's meant to be a ghost story, then it would at least be under the broad umbrella of paranormal.

 

[Brian G Turner]

The Time Traveller's wife sounds like its primary focus is on romance, rather than anything sff, so I'd be inclined to consider it a romance genre work.

 

[HareBrain]

I've now decided to make mine a romance to improve its chances. And after reading about the success of Fifty Shades of Grey, I think I have the angle I'm looking for.

Does the idea of an otter with a whip excite anyone?

 

[James Coote]

I've now decided to make mine a romance to improve its chances. And after reading about the success of Fifty Shades of Grey, I think I have the angle I'm looking for.

Does the idea of an otter with a whip excite anyone?

Freak!

Now if we were talking insects with chains

___________

Genres on the one hand saddle the reading experience with all the baggage of previous works rather than letting a book shine for what it is.

However, there needs to be a way to describe something quickly in a way that people can relate to

If you're going to create a product, make something that fits with a market you've clearly identified and researched in advance

That market may have a size of exactly 1 person (you), and that's fine, so long as you recognise the book was created for you and anyone else who happens to like it, that's a bonus

​

 

[Susan Boulton]

I've now decided to make mine a romance to improve its chances. And after reading about the success of Fifty Shades of Grey, I think I have the angle I'm looking for.

Does the idea of an otter with a whip excite anyone?

So, you are going to re-write it to fit the new super genre, "Mommy Porn?"

 

[RcGrant]

I've now decided to make mine a romance to improve its chances. And after reading about the success of Fifty Shades of Grey, I think I have the angle I'm looking for.

Does the idea of an otter with a whip excite anyone?

About as much as Christian Grey did.

 

[Hex]

Does the idea of an otter with a whip excite anyone?

I wouldn't say 'excite' but the logistics interest me...

JJ said anything in the last ten years or so probably counted as 'recent'. I picked the things that inspired my wip rather than books that were very similar -- it's about placing things in the market, isn't it?

Do agents come back and say: 'Your selection of two similar books was completely insane'?

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

If they replied to every crazy thing they read in query letters, they'd be very, very busy.

 

[HareBrain]

About as much as Christian Grey did.

His name is actually Grey? I didn't realise that. As in the Shades of Grey of the title, with its hint of moral ambiguities? OMG that works on so many levels!! No wonder it's sold ten copies for every human that's ever existed.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I think one of the main characters is Christian Grey. (Or is that what you mean by "he"?) The book is by E. L. James.

 

[RcGrant]

His name is actually Grey? I didn't realise that. As in the Shades of Grey of the title, with its hint of moral ambiguities? OMG that works on so many levels!! No wonder it's sold ten copies for every human that's ever existed.

Yep, he's called Christian Grey, and he is definitely...morally ambiguous. The female MC is called Ana Steele. Yup.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Yep, he's called Christian Grey, and he is definitely...morally ambiguous.

Ooooo, subtle. Sort of like John Bunyan with sex.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Sometimes I read threads that get, not hijacked, but go down interesting routes, and some people don't seem to like it. I love it. As an derailment of my thread (s and m counts as derailment, I think), all I can say is Holy Moly! Thread stealing, double duh... I love it.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Oh dear, and here's me about to bring the thread back on topic, more or less.

Will mommy-porn become an established genre?

 

[RcGrant]

Will mommy-porn become an established genre?

Christ, I hope not.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

After the success of Fifty Shades, there will be a tidal wave of mommy-porn flooding slush piles worldwide. Possibly with Boy Wizards (TM) and Sparkly Vampires (TM) thrown in to ensure success.

 

[Venusian Broon]

After the success of Fifty Shades, there will be a tidal wave of mommy-porn flooding slush piles worldwide. Possibly with Boy Wizards (TM) and Sparkly Vampires (TM) thrown in to ensure success.

Surely though real vampires wouldn't be interested in procreation, I mean it's really dinner time for them.

As for Mommy-porn, we should fight back and create Mummy-porn...

The rest of the men fled in terror when the granite door slowly crept open, shaking the tunnel like an earth tremor. Only the young Lord Raglan didn't move. Whether he was transfixed by fear or driven by curiosity, he didn't know. He had been exploring these royal tombs for over a year now and had been frustrated by the paltry early finds. He was looking for the big one, the big find. Only that could bring him satisfaction. Torches in the chamber inside magically flared into life with sparks, then burnt with a strong yellow flame. An alluring waft of sweet, perfumed air hit him and he was captivated. He tentatively stepped into the light. He had removed his shirt to help the effort to move the massive stone plug that had just now mysteriously opened of it's own accord, so his manly bare chest glistened in the torchlight. A sudden crash made him jump, and turning he saw the lid of a sarcophagus shatter on the ground. A bandaged bony arm and hand appeared and pointed at him.
"It's been such a long, long time since I've known a man," croaked a dry, dusty voice "Come to me," said the Egyptian princess.