For this week’s You Tell Me there is a poll included! Yes, we’re getting fancy. It also means that all of you reading the blog via e-mail or through an RSS reader may need to click through to cast your vote and see the results.
I thought it might be fun to get a snapshot of what people are working on out there. So, for all you writers out there: what’s your genre?
I know genre distinctions are blurry, so just pick one in case there’s overlap. And remember, when in doubt: go with the section of the bookstore your book would be stocked in. I added “paranormal” to the categories even though it’s not typically a bookstore section simply because there seems to be so many people writing about vampires, werewolves, etc.
And, of course, feel free to discuss the results (or your WIP) in the comment section.
Nathan Bransford says
laura-
Aren't they?
Mira says
Rick Daley – if you're still browsing….I'm curious about what you said re. word count for humor. Do you know what the standard word count for humor is? I'm having trouble getting an answer for that.
Nathan, if you know, that would be cool, too.
also, Bryan/Ink, you didn't say what your WIP is.
Laura Martone says
Nathan –
Yes, to a certain extent, Chabon, Irving, Shreve, etc., are literary authors, but wordsmithing doesn't seem QUITE as important to them as it was for Faulkner. I guess that's why I would've said that they're somewhere in between "literary" and "mainstream."
In your humble opinion, do you think that I would be better off (in this current economic/publishing climate) to call my novel "women's fiction" and not "literary" or "mainstream"?
I'm eager to understand my genre dilemma. Thanks!
Anonymous says
Word verification: aediat
Rhymes with "idiot"? Quite possibly, as I guess what I call "mainstream" you probably call "literary."
The Weight of Silence (Heather Gudenkauf) probably comes the closest to my WIP in terms of some of its plot elements. You probably call Richard Russo's work literary, but his plot lines aren't exactly experimental and weird (cf. That Old Cape Magic, which is downright accessible). Jonathan Tropper's This is Where I Leave You likewise.
Going back a ways, a lot of things weren't exactly literary when they first came out. I mean, what was David Copperfield when it hit the scene? For that matter, I still don't buy John Irving as literary, probably because he wrote the same book over and over again.
To me, truly literary fiction includes stuff like Finnegan's Wake and Alphabetical Africa.
Can you tell I spent too many years in grad school? 😉
Nathan Bransford says
laura-
But literary fiction can encompass everything from very accessible to the most esoteric.
I'd be true to your book. I do think there's a bit of a stigma against literary fiction at the moment, but it won't do you much good if it's really literary fiction and you call it something else.
Most importantly: don't overthink genre labels. You don't even HAVE to tell the agent what you think it is. If you wrote the query well the agent will already know.
Nathan Bransford says
anon-
Important to remember that in publishing terms, "Literary fiction" is a category, not a value judgment.
CKHB says
I picked "women's fiction" but I've been told that my novel is in fact "chick lit", an ever-so-similar yet way-less-marketable category right now. Any particular reason you didn't give chick lit its own category? Is it simply a much-maligned subset of women's fiction, or is it such a dead category that it doesn't even go on the list anymore?
dylan says
How about you, Nathan?
What category is the pseudonymous manuscript you've been secretly working on during stolen moments?
dylan
Nathan Bransford says
ckhb-
I consider it a subset.
Anonymous says
Word: grodi
Blogger is laughing at me.
Nathan, care to quantify what makes literary "literary"? And where would you put Gudenkauf's book?
Nathan Bransford says
dylan-
It's kind of a cyberpunk PLUS steampunk women's fiction slasher romantic comedy.
novashedragon says
As Mira pointed out, there was no option for "erotica." Could that possibly fall under "Romance?"
At any rate, my other WIP is a romantic comedy, so I chose "Romance." Good poll, Nathan!
jbchicoine says
Nathan,
re: your reply to Laura: Does that mean if I were to query you, I would not have to provide genre?
Nathan Bransford says
anon-
To the FAQs!
Karen Schwabach says
Nice to get YA and middle grades broken into separate genres– people always seem to assume that "YA" and "middle grades" *are* genres.
My next book coming out will be middle grades historical, but I'm working on two YA fantasies. Great to see so many others doing the same– I love that stuff!
Sara J. Henry says
Someone recently asked me what genre my upcoming novel (fall 2010) is and when I told her literary suspense, she asked if that was what Dan Brown wrote.
Ah …
Vacuum Queen says
I am in the 1% category with MG-general. I also have a YA general and picture book going. Does anyone else work on more than one project at a time?? Just curious.
Nathan Bransford says
Whoops, forgot about erotica too. Sorry erotica people.
R. says
Nathan– thanks for the amazing blog! I am wondering how you would classify "Wicked" by Gregory Maguire or "Watership Down" by Richard Adams. Are these fantasy? Literary fiction? Something else?
Nathan Bransford says
jb-
I really need to know if you consider it YA, but short of that it's not something I'm worried to much about.
M. K. Clarke says
Okay, I'm a dope: I posted my comment before reading the durned poll! **sigh**
I had to post OTHER because–yes, VQ!!–I'm working on more than one project at a time, but can only REVISE one at a time. Bummer, eh?
Got a spec fic upper MG totally in the other catt (MC can breathe underwater and doesn't yet know why); an upper YA also in the other catt, but mystery/thriller, too; and a third other either an EC or MG narr. NF read that was originally going to be a picture book, but expanded to something much more.
~Missye
Don says
When I started it was MG SciFi, but the situations just weren't working with pre-teen characters, so they had to grow up a few years.
Anonymous says
Yeah, I've read (and just stopped to re-read) your FAQ on the literary vs. commercial issue.
Problem is, no one's buying literary fiction. Is anyone buying book club fiction?
Ink says
Laura,
Those are all literary writers (from a bookseller's perspective). There's a fair bit of stretch in any given category, and that one more than most. So you can say you write literary! With pride! See, that way I'll know where to find your book when you get published. 🙂
scott g.f. bailey says
Like Nathan says, "You don't even HAVE to tell the agent what you think it is. If you wrote the query well the agent will already know."
My agent and I have never had a "what genre is this book" discussion, and I didn't claim anything in my query letter. Though, just between you and me, it's literary fiction (a fast-and-loose retelling of "Hamlet" set during the Reformation).
Bane of Anubis says
Perhaps we should define literary as a genre that would bore your average teenager*… j/j – kind of 😉
* average teenager = someone who thinks Michael Bay makes excellent movies.
Steena Holmes says
I'm writing a supernatural thriller – from a totally Christian point of view – pastor who lost his faith type of theme – dribble in a few demons and voila!
Cheryl says
I thought for certain I knew the category, but it wasn't an option. So I read up on the category definitions and chose another. Now I'm reading your feedback and I find myself feeling….
*bangs head on desk*
Great blog, btw.
Ink says
Mira,
My WIP are:
A fantasy duology. First is called The Dreams of Crows and the second is called The Dead Road.
Also in progress a literary novel (which could also be "literary crime novel" perhaps) called The Terrible Weight of Gravity.
And I want to revise another literary novel (literary + military surrealism… Ha! I totally got that niche covered) called A Love More Desperate.
So, yes, this poll was very difficult for me. Almost as difficult as warding the Colombians away from my catapult…
Alexis Grant says
It's interesting to see what audience you've got, Nathan! Is this the audience you thought you catered to?
I'm writing a travel memoir!
Laura Martone says
Thanks, Nathan. I appreciate your perspective re: my genre dilemma.
(And here, all this time, I was living under the misconception that I HAD to include the genre in my query.)
Oh, and thanks, Ink. Your viewpoint (as a bookseller) is also appreciated!
Laura Martone says
Hey, Bane, watch it. The Island was freakin' awesome!
Mira says
Ink –
Well okay then.
Military surrealism. Wow. Quentin Tarantino may be calling you.
You mean the Columbians are back? Even though you read them Strawberry Shortcake? Wow, they're tough. Maybe it's time to pull out the big guns. Do you have Barney in Canada?
L. T. Host says
Ach; I figured it out. NoScript, while a life-saver at times, at other times just boggles me. I miss a lot.
At any rate, voted!
Word veri: sessest… I wish that was a real word. Sounds like it would be fun to use!
David Burton says
MG steampunk fantasy.
Ink says
Well, Barney tried to come to Canada. But I had him whacked.
JM Reinbold says
My wip is an English village mystery/crime for modern times with lots of twists and most definitely not cozy!
Cary Kearns says
Nathan, what would you like to see outside of the recently most popular genres? Does sports fiction (golf) with a legitimate and behind the scenes view work at this time? I know that it is a tough niche, but on a 1-10 scale, how do you feel about this? Assuming it is compelling and well written?
Nathan Bransford says
cary-
Re: Sports Novels
DebraLSchubert says
This was fun, Nathan! Great idea.;-)
Leigh Lyons says
My WiP is actually cross genre Mystery and Paranormal.
Patti Milheron says
It's actually finished. It's a creative non-fiction memoir called INSIDE OF STONE WALLS. Chapters 1-11 are posted on Authonomy.com if anyone's interested in reading some of it.
Thomas Burchfield says
Hmm, interesting–no comic fiction or satire in the list (Like Wodehouse or "Catch-22."), though, those kind of books would be under "Literary" at the bookstore.
My latest Red Room essay (a look at fame, featuring George Clooney)would definitely be filed under humor.
MersonPerson100 says
Hi. I feel privileged as no respondents for Early Reader. I'm working on a series of books that will turn in to short animated children's tv shows. Bit like Bob the Builder if you know that.
Somewhere In Between says
I actually just started my WIP today! It's been a long time coming, but I've finally started (after I got the big idea last night). Interesting poll! I'm looking forward to seeing all of the results.
Scott says
I chose 'literary fiction' based on the definitions found on your site. It's more character driven than anything. Some might consider it commercial. That's the whole problem with genres. ; )
Lydia Sharp says
I voted science fiction because that is the majority, but I have more than one WIP, so here's the breakdown:
Novels:
Science Fiction: 2
Short Fiction:
Science Fiction: 3
Fantasy: 1
Jen says
I'm in the romance crowd…historical romance if you want to get specific. The current WIP is set in Regency England.
Kimber An says
What? No option for
'No Freakin' Idea' ?
Oh, wait, 'other' will work for that.
Bane of Anubis says
Laura, that's only b/c you like Obi-wan running around in a skin-tight outfit :p