Genre isn't gender --difficult writing concepts

Today Author Melodie Campbell discusses an issue dear to my heart--fitting  one's novel into a genre slot.  First those darned editors and publishers demand that you be creative and original. "Ensure your work is unique," they say.  Then, when you're done and pitch it to them, they make you assign a genre.

"Is it mystery?" they ask.  "Suspense?"

"I only do Sci-Fi, isn't this Fantasy?"

"I won't get a government grant to help with publishing costs if this isn't Canadiana Literary Fiction.  Did you say it is Romance?"

*sigh*  Just what is an author supposed to do?

Master of the short story,  well-known columnist, and debut novelist, Melodie Campbell, has it all figured out...sort of.

 Take it away, Mel!

Bad Novel! 
When your Story decides to Switch Genres

A funny thing happened on the way to the mystery novel…it became a fantasy!

I was supposed to be writing a classic mystery, not a comic romantic fantasy like Rowena Through the Wall.  How did that happen?

For twenty years, I have been known as a writer of short mystery and suspense.  With over 30 short story publications and 5 awards for mystery fiction, my first novel had to be a mystery.  Everyone said so.  I started three of them.  Two weren’t bad.  But somehow I could never get up the energy to complete them.  Instead, I was tempted by the ‘lure of the virgin project’, usually a short story.

Then a strange thing happened.  I was sitting at my desk one day, totally overwhelmed with work and family and parental caregiving, and thought, if I could walk through that wall over there into another world, I would.  Rowena had her start that night.  If I couldn’t walk through that wall, dammit, she could! 

What I needed was to escape, not ‘plan’.  Mystery novels have a lot of planning to them.  I had enough of that at my day job.  Why not just start writing something that is a total escape to write?  Something Fun!

For a mystery writer, this is akin to walking off the job.  For the General Manager of Crime Writers of Canada, it feels like treason!  Write 80,000 words of romantic fantasy? 

The shocking thing is how easily it came.  This is when I concocted the writing theory of ‘worst thing’.  What’s the worst thing that could happen when Rowena walks through that wall?  Or the most embarrassing thing?  Or the funniest?  And when she comes back through the wall…wait a minute.  What if she can’t?

Finally I figured it out, and the discovery shocked me:  I was writing the kind of novel I wished someone else would write, so that I could read it.  A no-holds-barred adventure story…sexy, funny, and a wild ride of fantasy. 

I waited for the reaction.  It was strong and varied. “I’ve never read anything like it before, and I love it!” One reviewer said.  Uh oh, said I.  That may mean there isn’t a market for it.

Enter my smart publisher who said….”you know, with a little more romance, we could slide this into the paranormal romance market.”  Will I do it?  Yes!  Did it hurt?  A little.  For writers, our books are like surrogate babies.  We created them, after all.  And then after birth we pass them on to our publishers and editors to ‘raise’ them, and bring them to market.  I have to feel that my publisher knows more about the market out there than I do.  So we compromised on some things – to both our satisfaction. 

And I always kept in mind that the publisher is putting his/her own money into the production of my book.  Adjusting things to reach a larger market just makes sense.

Rowena didn’t care.  She’s off on adventure number two, Rowena and the Dark Lord.

Melodie Campbell’s book Rowena Through the Wall (Imajin Books) is available at Amazon.com and Smashwords.

Amazon - Rowena Through the Wall

Smashwords - Rowena Through the Wall

 

Follow Melodie at

http://funnygirlmelodie.blogspot.com

View trailer and read opening scene at

http://www.melodiecampbell.com/

Melodie Campbell got her start as a comedy writer, so it’s no surprise that editors have called her work ‘wacky’ and ‘laugh out loud funny’.  She has over 200 publications, including 100 humour columns, 30 short stories and one novel.  She has received five awards for fiction, and is the General Manager of Crime Writers of Canada.

_______________________________________________

Thank you for making genre clear for us, Melodie.  Now, to download Rowena and see if she ever makes it back through that wall....

Eileen Schuh, Author
THE TRAZ
Schrödinger's Cat

Sample or Purchase THE TRAZ, a "triple 5-star review" novel:
Amazon - THE TRAZ
Smashwords - THE TRAZ

THE TRAZ, a newly released YA novel, is as daring, raw, and spirited as the young heroine.  It’s exhilarating entertainment but it also contains a vital message for those on the cusp of maturity and for the adults who guide them.

http://www.eileenschuh.com
http://eileenschuh.blogspot.com

You know you're a crime novelist when...

The top ten traits of a crime novelist:

10. When you don’t answer the phone because you’ve just stepped out of the shower you worry for the rest of the day that the robber who called to ensure no one was at home is going to show up on your doorstep–or in your basement.

9. When you see the flashers of a cop car behind you, you’re pretty sure they are pulling you over to ask for your help in solving a major crime

8. You are certain that at some point in your life you are going to discover human remains and it won’t be in a funeral home or a graveyard

7. You know the number for Crime Stoppers and have to resist calling in tips on what murder investigators ought to be doing. You also want to read them your list of suspects.

6. You think your novel is more exciting and more realistic than that "other author’s" True Crime books.

5. You vehemently deny that you ever wanted a ‘real’ career in law enforcement. And you lock all your doors and are in bed by 10:00 pm–unless you are in the middle of writing an exciting scene. In which case you go to bed two hours before your alarm goes off.

4. You believe you would be a good candidate for the next Commander in Chief of the RCMP and are a bit disappointed when no one calls.

3. You believe that cops are simply engaging in an grand conspiracy of denial when they say real-life policing is not nearly as exciting as it is on TV.

2. The lady crossing the street in a wheelchair looks suspicious to you.

AND...the top trait of a Crime novelist:

You think publishers are rejecting your manuscripts because they are afraid either the police or organized crime will come after them if they print your novels

Eileen Schuh
Author "Schrodinger's Cat"
http://www.eileenschuh.com/

On Friendship and Cyberspace Tag

So I get this email around midnight from a writer buddy of mine and the subject line is "OK, don't hate me..."

I think Cheryl Kaye Tardif, Best Selling Canadian Author and Book Marketing Coach [http://cherylktardif.blogspot.com/] is going to tell me that she's come to the conclusion that perhaps the reason I'm not published after years of trying is because I suck at writing...or something equally as dire.

I open the email (because it is late and if I don't open it, I will worry about it all night and won't get a wink of sleep even if I were to double both my Prozac and my sleepy-time tea.)

"Hopefully we'll still be friends after this..." the first line reads.

Oh. Oh. I'm certain now that I'm in trouble for something. I've been known to bust a few cyberspace codes of ethic in the past--the distant past--like a month or so ago when I was still learning the intricacies of social networking. ("Always be professional..." she has reminded me on occassion--or on more than one occassion. Maybe even on several occassions.)

Thusly, I was totally relieved when I scrolled through the message and saw no "thou shalt not's" or "you must never again's" or "I can't fricken believe you posted that's". It was much too late to understand what it was that she was saying, something about doing a blog post and linking my blog to hers and...well...social networking which sounded fine.

The next day I realized it wasn't quite all that "fine." I had been rooked into a nasty and prolific game of cyberspace tag and I was "it". I was "it" in the 7-things game of tag.

"I want you to write about 7 themes found in your works (novels, nonfiction, short stories etc). I'd like to know what made you explore these themes and what research you may have done...." she continued.

Themes? I don't even fricken know what themes are--at least not when it comes to books. I mean, I know what "Theme Parties" are. Like my 25th wedding anniversary when we all dressed in Fortrel and danced to good music and celebrated the 70's. Or, West Ed's "Theme Rooms". I remember sitting in the hot tub in the Polynesian Suite wishing I'd been able to book the room with the bed in the back of a pickup. (It's an Alberta thing, okay?)

Then there are "Theme Songs" like Hockey Night in Canada. However, none of my books were about hockey, pickup trucks, Polynesia or polyester.

About then in my musings the phone rang and it was my best buddy, Cory, reminding me of Fran's stagette. "We've got a theme going," she says.

"A theme?" I perk up. This for sure will be the key to getting me out from under the "it" tag.

"It will of course be a wedding night theme," she continues. "Patricia will be there with her ForeEverNever Personal Pleasure Products."

"Personal Pleasure..."

"Oh, oh. I haven't offended you, have I?" Cory asks.

Now, although NORAEBANG, my adult novel, has a couple of torrid bedroom scenes, I don't remember there being any mention of things with batteries...or edible lotions...or furry handcuffs, or such. I made a mental note to include at least one of those in my next romance.

Okay. So, like...tomorrow was the 27th. The day I was supposed to read Cheryl's 7-things blog and respond with mine. And so far, all my dream theme schemes had struck out. So I dial up Cheryl. "Whatcha all talkin' about,girl?" I say. "Themes?"

"Well, your adolescent novel, AERDRIE. Those things you told me were in that story. Drug abuse, poverty, gangs, bullying..."

I'm counting on my fingers, hoping she keeps going.

"...divorce..." Yes! That's five. Just two more and...she stops.

"And...?" I suggest.

"And whatever else it was you said..."

"Polyester?" I tentatively query.

"Polyester?"

"Personal Pleasure?"

"Huh?"

Ah, well. There's gotta be enough themes in this blog to satisfy the requirements of the 7-things game of tag. I decide that talking to Cheryl and Cory qualifies as research.

And as for the reasons I've written about these themes...

...to get me out from under this "it" tag, of course.

Now, I get to make 4 people "it" and tell them what list of 7 things they ought to blog about.

Hmmm....How about: The 7 Best Things about Being a Writer

http://www.SarahButland.com Sarah Butland

http://deadfrogontheporch.com Jan Markley

http://alisonebruce.blogspot.com Alison Bruce

http://www.bethgroundwater.com Beth Groundwater

Eileen Schuh,Canadian writer
http://www.eileenschuh.com/