Question

Now that I've finally finished my novel,I am looking for agents. The problem is that I write horror. Plus,vampires.


As I've searched for agents,it has become quite apparent that the ground is indeed thin with regards to the genre and the subject.

My question is for anyone who is currently querying or already has an agent.

Did you sort of fudge the truth about your genre? As in calling it dark fantasy, dark suspense,etc? Do you think this helps in anyway with a prospective agent?

I ask this because it is discouraging to see how hardly anyone accepts horror. The stats for vampire fiction are even more dire. So,I wondered if perhaps dressing up the genre a tad might get the novel through the door. I know a kick ass query gets the job done but so many agents don't accept horror at all. So what's a horror writer to do?

Thanks in advance!

Nissie said:

Agents will recognize paranormal stories as paranormal stories even if you call it dark fantasy. If you have a vampire in them, I suggest taking what makes your vampire unique against all the others already out there, and then spin it hard for your query. I don't think all the agents immediately reject queries with vampires in them - they're just looking for a different kind of vampire than is the standard right now.

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Thank you for responding. I am going to try your advice. Sigh, it seems we missed the good old days of horror

mshaw2268 said:

"So what's a horror writer to do?"

Don't let them know you're a horror writer. Take Nissie's advice but also give yourself and the genre a spin. It's a supernatural thriller or paranormal adventure or a dark fantasy. Anything but horror.

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Thank you!