I think as a reader I’m more often put off by a label than drawn in, but as you say we need to tag things somehow. I was about to say I long for a bookshop where all fiction is simply shelved alphabetically, then it occurred to me that my local independent may well do just that. It is a small shop though, and even they separate out Classics.
I hate genre. I write stories and I don't walk into it wondering if I'm writing literary science fiction or one of the -punk genres. I write it first and figure it out later I guess. My debut novel is squarely in that box. It would get along well with Emily St. John Mandel or Chiang or maybe Crouch... but could also live alongside Strout or O’Nan.
And that's the big problem. If I can't figure out where to shelve it, an agent sure as hell isn't going to know.
As a reader, I'm very eclectic, as a writer too. I've written a couple of stories that are very hard to classify and it does make it difficult to know which publications to aim for when trying to get published. I think genre labels can be very restrictive, though I can see how they help marketing and lazy readers too.
I think there’s something about genre that also rustles emotions in me. If I were to put every appropriate tag in it, my novel would find itself on the last page of any search query.
But on the other hand, putting just one (fantasy) would water down the story so much that the romance within it would hit readers like a speeding car. And the gruesomeness would hit like a second car.
And then comes the question—do we really have to adhere to these metrics? Do we want the lazy reader as our audience? Would they sing our praises if we wanted a little audience with some cult-like love for our work? Or do we want something bigger?
I think as a reader I’m more often put off by a label than drawn in, but as you say we need to tag things somehow. I was about to say I long for a bookshop where all fiction is simply shelved alphabetically, then it occurred to me that my local independent may well do just that. It is a small shop though, and even they separate out Classics.
Well, that makes it easy to find favourite authors.
This was a delight to read, I feel seen. This highlights exactly what I've been going through lately with some of my work
Thanks. If we can’t solve the problem, at least it’s nice to know we’re not alone.
I hate genre. I write stories and I don't walk into it wondering if I'm writing literary science fiction or one of the -punk genres. I write it first and figure it out later I guess. My debut novel is squarely in that box. It would get along well with Emily St. John Mandel or Chiang or maybe Crouch... but could also live alongside Strout or O’Nan.
And that's the big problem. If I can't figure out where to shelve it, an agent sure as hell isn't going to know.
As a reader, I'm very eclectic, as a writer too. I've written a couple of stories that are very hard to classify and it does make it difficult to know which publications to aim for when trying to get published. I think genre labels can be very restrictive, though I can see how they help marketing and lazy readers too.
Yes, it’s a double edged sword.
LeGuin, as usual, hits the nail on the head.
She’s absolutely my no. 1 source of inspiration and pithy quotes. Followed by Terry Pratchett.
I think there’s something about genre that also rustles emotions in me. If I were to put every appropriate tag in it, my novel would find itself on the last page of any search query.
But on the other hand, putting just one (fantasy) would water down the story so much that the romance within it would hit readers like a speeding car. And the gruesomeness would hit like a second car.
And then comes the question—do we really have to adhere to these metrics? Do we want the lazy reader as our audience? Would they sing our praises if we wanted a little audience with some cult-like love for our work? Or do we want something bigger?
Something to love and loathe at the same time.