what does "edgy" and "quirky" mean?

It suggests to me (not knowing what your proposal is about) that they want more personality to emerge from the writing - less academic and more an expression of personality or attitude. Edgy and quirky are often terms used to describe a style that pushes boundaries and draws readers in, the way someone with a distinct voice or eccentric way of viewing the world compels us to watch or listen to them.

Edgy tends to mean a hint of the transgressive or dangerous but nothing explicit -- while quirky tends to mean something like 'idiosyncratic and fun'.

That's my take on it anyway... Edgy is a bit of a cliche these days.

I clicked the link on your profile and read some of your Suite101 articles. Reading them in light of the "edgy" comment . . . I think the writing style shown there is too dry; too factual. Not that you don't want to be factual . . . you just want it to be livlelier.

Take my book Look Me in the Eye, or one of my brother's books and read a passage from that, and compare it to those articles. To me, your articles are "drier." It's hard to explain better but both my brother and I have been called the things your publisher seeks from you.

Well, I hope that helps.

Provocative is probably a good thought. Also humor or some kind.

veinglory said:

Edgy tends to mean a hint of the transgressive or dangerous but nothing explicit -- while quirky tends to mean something like 'idiosyncratic and fun'.

That's my take on it anyway... Edgy is a bit of a cliche these days.

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I'm unable to offer any constructive advice, but I do offer some sympathy...in a way I think the demand for "edgy and quirky" suggests
a cultural milieu where some coolness is desired but everybody knows
cool isn't cool any more and...well...let's face it...how edgy and quirky are edgy and quirky? Perhaps a few vaguely "neato" pseudopersonal, pseudo-boomer cultural notes will do it as in, "I always thought I hated the little plastic images of Joey Bishop that decorated the Prudy Diner...but now that they are gone...I miss them a little."

Laurie PK said:

I wanted all these insights regarding edgy and quirky writing in one place, so I gathered them up --- and then decided this stuff was too good to keep to myself! So I put it on my website - I quoted some of you directly.......I hope you don't mind.......

http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/archives/72

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Wow! You did that so fast. From asking the question yesterday, to posting a comprehensive treatise on it today! I'd still be pondering and cogitating!

I'm writing a How To on Wine Importing, which could be very dry with all the Federal and State licenses, label approvals, container clearances, brand registrations... *yawn* So, I've attempted to spice it up with stories of my own travails in the industry, especially in the beginning when I knew nothing and no one told me anything either! I think interviews, your own experiences, humour and a unique perspective can all liven up even the driest material.

Good luck. Boy, a year is a long time to wait. I've been sitting on pins and needles for five months and feel as if it's forever.

ask them what they think edgy & quirky means.
every single word we use means something different to everyone.