Need help with sub-genre definition

Synonym · May 3, 2013

Obviously, if you know what you've written, then it's much easier to write the correct submission to the right publisher. After several attempts, I'm stumped.

Briefly, I have a romance. With all the usual conflict, tension, together/apart plot-lines. On the other hand, there are strong secondary support characters, humor, back story (that comes into play to explain reactions between the love interests) and well--that seems to kick it out of the 'romance' category into 'chick lit' (according to my last response).

Apparently 'chick lit' has fallen out of favor and there's now something called 'women's fiction'? That's a new one on me. Oh. Did I mention that I've been away from AW for awhile? Perhaps that explains why I'm so behind? :flag:

One editor suggested that I had erotica. No. It's not nearly that 'hot'. The last offered suggestions on how I could trim all of the other characters, (as well as any back story), and focus on the romance. *sigh* If we did that, I might as well start another book.

I tend to write what I love to read. Which is currently Janet Evanovich's "Plum" series and the J. D. Robb "In Death" series. Strong characters that have friends, a career, foibles, and a bit of romance as well. Mine aren't chasing criminals. They are middle-aged women, divorced, trying to get it right the second time--with a little help from their friends. This is the stage of writing that I'm in right now, but I'll be damned if I know how to categorize it.

Any ideas?

LJD · May 3, 2013

It sounds like it could be women's fiction, but not necessarily because of this:

Synonym said:
On the other hand, there are strong secondary support characters, humor, back story (that comes into play to explain reactions between the love interests) and well--that seems to kick it out of the 'romance' category into 'chick lit' (according to my last response).

I don't see those things as making it not a romance.

Apparently 'chick lit' has fallen out of favor and there's now something called 'women's fiction'? That's a new one on me. Oh. Did I mention that I've been away from AW for awhile? Perhaps that explains why I'm so behind?

The term has been a little passé for a while now. I think of it as a type of women's fiction. Which is sort of a catch-all term and hard to define.

One editor suggested that I had erotica. No. It's not nearly that 'hot'. The last offered suggestions on how I could trim all of the other characters, (as well as any back story), and focus on the romance. *sigh* If we did that, I might as well start another book.

Are these comments from people who have actually read the book? Or just based on your query or premise?

They are middle-aged women, divorced, trying to get it right the second time--with a little help from their friends.

That really sounds like it could fit into women's fiction. I'm curious: are you following multiple women's romances or a single romance, and which POVs do you have?

(Also, for whatever reason, middle-aged women are a little old for genre romance. I'm not saying it should be this way, but usually the FMCs you see in genre romance are under 40.)

Synonym · May 3, 2013

Let's see...the comments are from submitted partials by the editors of that particular line.

The two that I've been subbing are both of women in their 40's. (I had a certain publisher in mind, when I wrote them, that has a specialty line for 'seasoned' female characters.) Frankly, I like a character that has some experience, which can add a bit of complication to the plot line...and heck. I'm old too.

Evangeline · May 3, 2013

Synonym said:
I tend to write what I love to read. Which is currently Janet Evanovich's "Plum" series and the J. D. Robb "In Death" series. Strong characters that have friends, a career, foibles, and a bit of romance as well. Mine aren't chasing criminals. They are middle-aged women, divorced, trying to get it right the second time--with a little help from their friends. This is the stage of writing that I'm in right now, but I'll be damned if I know how to categorize it.

Any ideas?

Heh, there's your disconnect: from the sound of your book, you aren't writing Stephanie Plum (humorous mystery series) or In Death (futuristic suspense series). It sounds like regular "women's fiction" to me--which includes a large umbrella of elements.

If you can take the romance out of the story, or scale it back, and your story still makes sense, it isn't a romance novel.

Also, what's your hook, your angle? If you have something really compelling (think, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, or The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, or The Help), you could market it as "upmarket women's/commercial fiction"--the types of books that appeal to book clubs. Publishers are always hungry for those types of books.

gingerwoman · May 4, 2013

If you have all the elements of a romance including an ending that focuses on the romance and has a happy ever after then it could be romantic comedy. Best to call chick lit romantic comedy these days. Although perhaps you've strayed away from the main romance far too often with other plot lines and then it might be "Women's Fiction".

julie_a_w · May 4, 2013

Another vote for women's fiction.

Synonym · May 4, 2013

Thank you for the input.

I realize it's a bit difficult to make any sort of a judgment call on such limited information. The bones of the story is the romance. Without it, there's no impetus to move forward.

The problem I seem to have with the last submission is that they don't want the 'baggage' that we all carry in life, only the romance. This seems too one-dimensional, IMHO. Our network of friends, along with the blunders we may have made in the past, all seem to shape how a relationship might or might not grow. So, I included that greater interaction in the story. Some of the humor, some of the heartache, and a bit of irony here and there.

Silver-Midnight · May 4, 2013

julie_a_w said:
Another vote for women's fiction.

Seconded.

LJD · May 4, 2013

Synonym said:
I realize it's a bit difficult to make any sort of a judgment call on such limited information. The bones of the story is the romance. Without it, there's no impetus to move forward.

The problem I seem to have with the last submission is that they don't want the 'baggage' that we all carry in life, only the romance. This seems too one-dimensional, IMHO. Our network of friends, along with the blunders we may have made in the past, all seem to shape how a relationship might or might not grow. So, I included that greater interaction in the story. Some of the humor, some of the heartache, and a bit of irony here and there.

In women's fiction, it is not uncommon for the romance to be quite important to the story, but with the focus on the woman's personal journey. You might look at the RWA Women's fiction chapter and the definitions they use.

Also, I found this blog post on Kristan Higgins (scroll down, formatting is weird) interesting. Note that this refers to her earlier books. Although they were published as romance, the writer of the post argues that they were more women's fiction. Her later ones--after this post was written--are more clearly contemporary romance, IMO.

Synonym · May 4, 2013

LJD, thank you. I'll look at both sites as soon as I get a chance.

Much appreciation to all that have commented!

Synonym · May 4, 2013

Women's fiction, as defined by the RWA website, is the definition I've been looking for.

Thank you all again!

carastone · May 5, 2013

Synonym--

Although I agree that this sounds like women's fiction, I think it's often true that people see what they want to see. So if you feel that your novel can be categorized by several genres, why not refer to it as a romance novel when querying an agent who specializes in romances, and refer to it as women's fiction when querying an agent who specializes in that? Just get your writing in the door, and let the story speak for itself.

Good luck,
Cara Stone
sites.google.com/site/carastonenovels/

Cathy C · May 5, 2013

Fortunately, many agents who rep one genre, also do the other. If you call it WF, and mention the strong romance, you should be fine.

Synonym · May 5, 2013

That's exactly how I worded it in the query letter. Women's Fiction with strong elements of romance. I hope that covers most of the bases!

Silver-Midnight · May 6, 2013

Cathy C said:
Fortunately, many agents who rep one genre, also do the other. If you call it WF, and mention the strong romance, you should be fine.

^This

Need help with sub-genre definition

Synonym

LJD

Synonym

Evangeline

Twirling in a glass of champagne

gingerwoman

julie_a_w

Synonym

Silver-Midnight

LJD

Synonym

Synonym

carastone

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

Synonym

Silver-Midnight