Re: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
Alternate history is definitely a thing. It's grouped under the huge meta-umbrella of speculative fiction (which, of course, encompasses absolutely everything that isn't just the real world as it is or...
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Reading through this I felt like I should ask about this story idea I had. I guess it would be "alternate historical fiction" since it would take an event in history and make the opposite occur. My...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
I don't tend to worry about theme and supporting my theme until I have a first draft. I do end up with themes in my stories more often than not. However, for me, the first draft is just a matter of...
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What's especially baffling is when The Left Hand of Darkness gets labeled as "LGBT" or "feminist". Come on! There are no female characters, and no gay characters... almost all the characters are...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
I agree - strongly - with the LGBT thing. In my experience, the only time a novel featuring an LGBT main character won't immediately get classified as "LGBT fiction" is when the character's sexuality...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
A lot of the time, I don't really care much for suiting specific genres, since most of my novels are a mix, according to most people. The novel I wrote last year, some of my friends called it sci-fi,...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
For me... I don't worry too much about fitting a story I write into a single genre. Almost anything I write can fall under the broad heading of Speculative Fiction, just because that's how my mind...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
Like I said above, it's not really important unless you want to get it published. Just write the story you want to write and deal with everything else later.
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
The more I write, the more I'm finding myself flat out not giving a crap what genre it "falls under" anymore. But thank you, I appreciate any advice/tips/help/what have you.
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
Right now I called mine DYSTOPIAN just for now but I will honestly have to keep writing before I settle on that. Maybe you should keep writing and the perfect genre for your story will pop up in your...
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When people ask me I just say, "Philosophy." Because any story can be taken with a deeper meaning, and aren't all stories just children of idle thoughts anyhow?
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
I think a lot of people will slap the sci-fi title onto it, even though I feel the sci-fi part is more like the background piece and not some forefront thing in the spotlight. Eh, whatever.
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
Lately I've been showing people the synopsis and telling them to figure it out themselves :) If I was held at gunpoint and told to pick a genre, I'd probably go with thriller, but yeah. To me it's more...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
BTW, a word of advice to save you some time with folks asking about your story: Just pick a genre and tell them that's what it is. Even if you don't feel that fully and completely explains what your...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
I think you've just helped me out, actually. I haven't even considered the idea of actually planning out subplots and how they fit into the whole over-arching plot! I think I need to crack that chapter...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
I say, leave it to your editor (should it reach that stage) to figure out what genre it fits under. :) That being said, if it has any science fiction/fantasy elements in it at all, it will likely be...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
I never worry about fitting into a particular genre. My project this month has several aspects of various genres, so it's ... multi-genre, I guess.
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
Then....you don't care about writing a coherent story? Okay, that's a little harsh. Yes, new genres can be created, and it's possible to break mainstream genre conventions (mostly because "mainstream"...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
Agree with you N.L. LeBlanc. I'm new here but I uploaded a novel to the kindle earlier this year and, as I put on my author page here, when they gave the options, I chose "fiction, non-classifiable."...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
Knowing your genre is really only important if you plan to get the work published. I write mostly as a (serious) hobby and usually never START OUT trying to make my story fit into a particular genre....
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That is excellent and exactly why I so love independent bookstores. The alternative (what they did in the chain bookstore I worked at) is to have a list of which authors are "like" other authors. Much...
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That's a legitimate way of looking at things, but for real, readers will have much less trouble placing your book in a genre than you will, so you might as well get the jump on them and own it.
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
Pretty sure they're independent. And yes, it's convenient and makes it a lot easier to stumble across things I wouldn't even have walked past before.
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
Really? That's awesome. They are doing it right (despite what I said, I'm a fan of separating subgenres so people can find the books they want). Is it an independent bookstore, genre-specific or some...
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I think most people write cross-genre fiction. I've rarely read anything that doesn't have elements of at least two genres. I like to read experimental fiction, and I support anyone who is just doing...
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Oh, I never said anyone claimed it's an exhaustive list of genres. Hence why I worded it "...just happen to not be listed" I was referring to the hipster/doing it ironically comment and that was in...
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Really? My local bookstore actually has a political/military fiction section. Huh. I guess I should hit up different bookstores.
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
I really want to read a steampunk horror erotica story.
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
I like to believe that genre is really just a guideline. As an example, I like Jim Butcher. I have seen his Harry Dresden series classified as Urban Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy, or just plain...
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What are you planning to write that doesn't fit, if I may ask? Choosing a genre doesn't mean you can only visit that genre's forum. I tend to hit multiple threads in multiple genre forums based on...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
Since I am planning to just post my story for free this year too, I am not concerned where it would be in a bookstore. But I miss having a sub-forum here on NaNoWriMo.org to bounce things with...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
Right there with you... I can't just settle what I am doing into one particular genre.
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
[quote=rinabean]Try describing your novel however you can to many people and see what they latch on to.[/quote] The reason that works is because you'll naturally emphasize the most important aspects of...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
[quote=SandyGunfox]I would say there are several bestselling authors like Tom Clancy and WEB Griffin and so on who would quite like to hear the claim that military fiction isn't a genre![/quote] No...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
[quote=mandiiminx] I pretty much agree. I think the Adopt-a-plot should have a separate thread for Fantasy plots. It's hard to find stuff I'm interested in writing while muddling through. Even some...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
[quote=SandyGunfox] There's also those of us who put in "real" genres that just happen to not be listed by NaNo - I would say there are several bestselling authors like Tom Clancy and WEB Griffin and...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
I'm deciding I don't really care if my novel gets into a genre or not. It's so amazing (in my opinion), it's going to make it's own genre! Just watch.
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
There's also those of us who put in "real" genres that just happen to not be listed by NaNo - I would say there are several bestselling authors like Tom Clancy and WEB Griffin and so on who would quite...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
Other people's stories aren't always as easily-labelled as you might think. My original 'compressed' description for my novel was: literary fiction, fantasy setting, mystery semi-plot. That's the...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
If this were a Facebook post, I'd hit the like button.
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
Honestly, I'd say labels could be a force for good or for ill. They're good if they help you focus and sharpen your ideas of what's appropriate for the work. They're good if they help you communicate...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
[quote=bibliosylph]I think the tide is turning a little bit, as the overly precious nature of belonging to the special "invent your own" genres is wearing thin with a lot of people, and yet of course...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
Hm that sounded a bit snooty. I've written Fantasy, I enjoy it, but not for every novel ever ever.
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
I pretty much agree. I think the Adopt-a-plot should have a separate thread for Fantasy plots. It's hard to find stuff I'm interested in writing while muddling through. Even some 'normal' ones take a...
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
When I want to write, I don't think "i want to write a fantasy", I think "i want to write a story, good or bad". I just acknowledge that my story will have enough elements of fantasy that it might as...
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Then a sadean unemployment erotica procedural you shall have! Wi respect, *k*
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
I would read a sadean unemployment erotica procedural, strictly because it's fun to say lol
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
Your post reminded me of this post: http://metaquotes.livejournal.com/6994557.html The fortune cookie "...in bed" game, with hymns. :P
View ArticleRe: But I don't care about fitting into a genre
For me, it's the writing itself that's the important thing. Keeping myself interested, letting the story drag me where it will. Irvine welsh tweeted the other week, something like, well, that's another...
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