Answer me this ... Genre confusion

firedrake · Jul 2, 2009

Right,

I have a WIP which I can't figure out where it fits in terms of genre.

Plot summary:

Set in UK, contemporary, this year.

Grace, the MC, is Assistant Racehorse Trainer. Meets Chris, other MC, a Captain in Grenadier Guards. They fall in love, become engaged ...so, romance, I guess.

Christopher goes to Afghanistan. As the months pass, Grace can tell that it's really getting to him. He is injured and sent home. He doesn't want to see her, he feels he's too messed up.

Eventually, he gets over that, and moves in with her. Not the same relationship as before. He's suffering from depression, emotions subdued, no physical desire for her. Anger issues, drinking issues. Grace has to try and deal with that and work at her job. There's a sub-plot following the career of the most promising horse in the yard. Horse wins huge race at Ascot while Chris has left Grace.

Chris comes back. Still messed up but recognising he needs Grace's help.

After major crisis, and the horse winning a huge race, there is an HEA.

Is it women's fiction? Contemporary romance? General fiction?

Signed, confused of AZ

Danthia · Jul 2, 2009

I'd say general fiction. Doesn't look there there are any definitive genre elements.

Lisa Cox · Jul 2, 2009

Reads more like drama than romance, the way you've described it. :/

suki · Jul 2, 2009

I'd say contemporary fiction.

~suki

WendyNYC · Jul 2, 2009

I would call it women's fiction. All women's fiction means is that it appeals primarily to women, written by women (from what I understand, and I write it.)

CaroGirl · Jul 2, 2009

Sounds like mainstream contemporary to me.

Lifelongdagger · Jul 2, 2009

Hi Sue. Couldn't go wrong with Mainstream, really. As Danthia says, doesn't seem to be one genre that really stands out. Sounds interesting though, especially the complexities you've got going there with the male character.

Best of luck with it, and if you need a little more input than that, you know you just need to let me know.

Speak to you soon.

Ian

john barnes on toast · Jul 2, 2009

I think this would be filed under 'heavy going'

heavy going? get it? No?

Branwyn · Jul 2, 2009

Commercial ficiton. Women's fiction. Whomever your querying--that's what it is. Contemporary, Womens Fic, Commercial. They're going to tell you where they feel it will sell anyway. Go broad spectrum.

firedrake · Jul 2, 2009

Lifelongdagger said:
Hi Sue. Couldn't go wrong with Mainstream, really. As Danthia says, doesn't seem to be one genre that really stands out. Sounds interesting though, especially the complexities you've got going there with the male character.

Best of luck with it, and if you need a little more input than that, you know you just need to let me know.

Speak to you soon.

Ian

Thanks, Ian. I may just take you up on that.

john barnes on toast said:
I think this would be filed under 'heavy going'

heavy going? get it? No?

I get it. hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

btw, why the user name? I remember John Barnes, I don't ever remember seeing him served up on toast.

WendyNYC · Jul 2, 2009

Branwyn said:
Commercial ficiton. Women's fiction. Whomever your querying--that's what it is. Contemporary, Womens Fic, Commercial. They're going to tell you where they feel it will sell anyway. Go broad spectrum.

Yes, I agree with this. It could go either way, so you wouldn't be fibbing.

Irysangel · Jul 2, 2009

I agree - not a romance, more 'women's fiction'.

MsGneiss · Jul 2, 2009

I think it's neither romance nor women's fiction. Contemporary fiction or drama is more like it.

Kurtz · Jul 2, 2009

Screw all genre fiction and just write the book.

john barnes on toast · Jul 2, 2009

firedrake said:
btw, why the user name? I remember John Barnes, I don't ever remember seeing him served up on toast.

OK, one time explanation of my username.

It's hangover from another forum I frequent for supporters of Nottingham Forest (English football team that for a brief period in the late 70's was the best team in Europe, and are now crap.)

Back in the day we were preparing to play the all-conquering Liverpool side of the 1980's and their reputedly unstoppable star player: John Barnes.

Prior to the match Forest's slightly less well remembered defensive plodder Steve Chettle was quoted in the national press as saying that he was going to have 'John Barnes on Toast'.

Obviously we got absolutely stuffed, with John Barnes singling poor old Stevie C out for an extra special rinsing.

Chettle subsequently claimed he'd been misquoted, but was never allowed to truly forget about it.

So, on that other forum my username makes perfect sense, whereas on a website of (primarily American) literary types, it's just plain stupid.

As you were.

firedrake · Jul 2, 2009

Oh, dear. I remember Forest getting stuffed. I always had a soft spot for Cloughie and I've always loathed Liverpool.

Sadly, I was born in Derby and have no choice but to be a Derby supporter. :crazy:

john barnes on toast · Jul 2, 2009

firedrake said:
Sadly, I was born in Derby and have no choice but to be a Derby supporter.

A sheep shagger!

firedrake · Jul 2, 2009

john barnes on toast said:
A sheep shagger!

Derby born and bred, strong in the arm, thick in the head.

Phaeal · Jul 2, 2009

The smaller the geographic area, the more amusing the clan rivalries.

If there's a lot of emphasis on the male MC, especially if there are substantial sections in his POV, I'd be less likely to call this women's fic, more likely to go with contemporary or mainstream. Of course, if there's enough of the horse in it, it must fall into the hot category of equine romance.

Haupe · Jul 2, 2009

I agree, re: mainstream fiction. Women's fiction to me is more about the woman's road to self-discovery/empowerment and it sounds, if anything, like that job belongs to the hero. Romance doesn't usually have such grit and pathos.

Answer me this ... Genre confusion

firedrake

practical experience, FTW

Danthia

Lisa Cox

suki

Opinionated

WendyNYC

fiddle-dee-dee

CaroGirl

Living the dream

Lifelongdagger

john barnes on toast

Branwyn

Print release:Sept.1,'09

firedrake

practical experience, FTW

WendyNYC

fiddle-dee-dee

Irysangel

She of Many Names

MsGneiss

Kurtz

Fix up, look sharp.

john barnes on toast

firedrake

practical experience, FTW

john barnes on toast

firedrake

practical experience, FTW

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

Haupe

Mad Thread Killa