What do I write?

kborsden · Feb 7, 2007

This question puzzels me. What do I write? I know it's fiction, but that's about it. I don't seem to have any specific genre. My stories have hints of every genre. So what is it? I use several plots in a single novel, each character has his/her own. How do I pitch it to an agent? I also have no idea exactly who my audience is. Is that good or bad?

Willowmound · Feb 7, 2007

Sounds like you've got Literary on your hands

kborsden · Feb 7, 2007

Thanks, not being too knowledgable about the actual market, just how sellable is literary?

Willowmound · Feb 7, 2007

I mostly making a joke because I don't know what you've got. Seems to me, a lot of rather confused writing gets labelled Literary, receives prizes, and sells about 35 copies. I mean, that's the genre writer's stereotype.

Care to explain a little more about your actual story? I or someone else might be able to provide a better answer.

kborsden · Feb 7, 2007

Most of my novels are really more like mozaics of personalities and events than full-length stories. Told through many POV's and the like. All the events and personal stories converge in some way or another to form a larger thing. It's confusing to write but easily followed when reading.

Willowmound · Feb 7, 2007

Well, then it really does sound like you have a Literary work. Literary tends not to be as commercial as, say, spy thrillers. But it gets more awards.

Like with anything, if it's good, you shouldn't have any problems getting it published.

Edited to say: by not "any problems", I mean relatively. No more problems than any other talented writer with a good product.

Penguin Queen · Feb 7, 2007

That does sound like literary. And quite interesting, actually.

Unless you have wizards or dragons in it, in which case it's Fantasy. Or spaceships, which is SciFi. :tongue

What published writer's work does it resemble? That might help find your "slot". But really, most agents seem to handle most fiction things, although there are of course some that specialise in crime, fatansy or other genre stuff.

jerrymouse · Feb 7, 2007

what puzzles me is how ireland got the put in at the scrum when it should have been a penalty to wales.

edit-wrong board, i think.

kborsden · Feb 7, 2007

Jerry, tell me about it...to be honset, I don't really want to think about that shitty game. Nearly everything that happened was wrong. From the fumble in the first 40 seconds to that try in the last 15 minutes. Were Ireland really the better team? I don't think so, their play was all over the bloody place. AND what was that frumpy git Alan Jones playing at? Even his mother hates him now. The only ones who had a good game were Popham and Hook(also a Port Talbot boy, he went to my comprehensive school too, Glan Afan.)

Sean D. Schaffer · Feb 7, 2007

I think you should just write the story and then decide what you've got after you're finished. It might be a little easier that way, since your story will have been completed by then and you'll be better able to tell what genre your work leans more toward.

I hope this helps. Good luck to you!

kborsden · Feb 7, 2007

Penguin Queen said:
That does sound like literary. And quite interesting, actually.

thanks, I think it is anyway.

Penquin Queen said:
Unless you have wizards or dragons in it, in which case it's Fantasy. Or spaceships, which is SciFi.

no, no dragons at all.

Penguin Queen said:
What published writer's work does it resemble? That might help find your "slot".

I'm not sure, I have tints of Raul Duke and smidgens of Irvine Welsh, but I'd like to think it stands on it's own.

kie

Penguin Queen · Feb 7, 2007

kborsden said:
no, no dragons at all.

What, and you a good Welshperson, and all? :tongue

Great sig line, BTW.

Button · Feb 7, 2007

If it is your own special snowflake butterfly, you may have a hard time trying to convince most editors to publish it. Where does it fit on the bookshelves?

Find a reader who loves literary and have them tell you what it sounds like.

sfecphory · Feb 7, 2007

If you're going to submit it to an agent just make sure that "literary" appears in their "What I'm looking for" section. Other than that, let them worry about how to sell it. Check out MISS SNARK and type in "query" in the search window to find out how to get your query letter up to speed.

What do I write?

kborsden

Has a few recurring issues

Willowmound

Lightly salted

kborsden

Has a few recurring issues

Willowmound

Lightly salted

kborsden

Has a few recurring issues

Willowmound

Lightly salted

Penguin Queen

Break the rules.

jerrymouse

kborsden

Has a few recurring issues

Sean D. Schaffer

kborsden

Has a few recurring issues

Penguin Queen

Break the rules.

Button

Resident in Question

sfecphory