If I had to define what type of writer I am, my first label would be fantasy, closely followed by romance. That's just what I like to write. It's what I like to read as well.
FURY I considered romantic fantasy. DRAGON QUEEN was fantasy, with touches of YA and romance. MORGUE TREE is YA fantasy. ONE THOUSAND is historical fantasy (also with romance). And LAST OF THE ELVES is romantic fantasy.
All of these are novels or WIPs. Big projects, as it were. However, while my short stories have similar elements of fantasy and love, they also tend to branch away and take other routes.
I recently wrote a short story for a for-fun contest on the WD Sci-Fi/Fantasy Forum. We had to take two eerie pictures (one of a misty castle and dragon and the other of a skull-mountain oozing blood) and write a horror story. I've never considered horror one of my strong suits, but I had a lot of fun exploring the genre. Making it eerie and creepy and giving it a not too happy ending.
But it still ended up being fantasy. And it still ended up having romance.
WTF?
So I looked at other stories. "For the Love of a Zombie" is about a vampire turning his beloved into a zombie, a bit of dark humor. But still, there was fantasy and there was romance.
"Eater of Worlds" is about a man returning to his homeland to destroy it and finds out it's his sister's fault that he has to do so. Fantasy, check. But romance? No. Yet there is still love there. Between siblings.
"Faceless" was a play into sci-fi. As a short story, it's possible that escapes my niche of fantasy and romance, but as I've thought about expanding it into a novel, what has it become? You guessed it. A romance.
"The Vulture and the Dove", about two clashing winged beings in a future Tokyo, also had the fantasy and romance.
It's like I can't escape it.
So, tell me, when you've branched out from your typical genre, have you noticed familiar things slipping in? Or can you completely break away from your usual writing style?
Assuage my curiosity. :)
Showing posts with label genres. Show all posts
Showing posts with label genres. Show all posts
Monday, November 22, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
It's Fantastical!
Ah ha! A writerly topic at last!
I've been browsing and researching agents and I've come across certain things that have befuddled me as a novice in the industry.
Subgenres. Particularly in fantasy.
Some agents like paranormal romance, but aren't interested in high fantasy. Others seek epic fantasy. Some want urban fantasy.
It's enough to make your head spin. I thought I was on the right track with just labeling a work "fantasy," but I've really just skimmed the surface. Here is the list provided by Wikipedia, JUST ON FANTASY SUBGENRES!
I've been browsing and researching agents and I've come across certain things that have befuddled me as a novice in the industry.
Subgenres. Particularly in fantasy.
Some agents like paranormal romance, but aren't interested in high fantasy. Others seek epic fantasy. Some want urban fantasy.
It's enough to make your head spin. I thought I was on the right track with just labeling a work "fantasy," but I've really just skimmed the surface. Here is the list provided by Wikipedia, JUST ON FANTASY SUBGENRES!
- by Theme
- by Place
- by Time
-
- Fantasy Cross Genres
- Speculative Cross Genre fiction
- Are you befuddled? I'm befuddled. It's even more befuddling trying to pin your story down to one subgenre. For instance, Ms. Agent does not like Dark Fantasy, which you could label your novel as, but there are also elements of Paranormal Fantasy, which Ms. Agent adores. Do you scratch Ms. Agent off your list or submit it as a Paranormal Fantasy in the hopes that she'll like it despite its dark elements?A conundrum, for sure.My advice? Take the chance, but make sure you have a good reason. And let that reason be known to the agent, that way Ms. Agent won't be all "RAWR, this is clearly Dark Fantasy and I DON'T REPRESENT DARK FANTASY. WHY DO PEOPLE NEVER READ MY SUBMISSION GUIDELINES???"If you feel like you must choose and stick with one subgenre, go with what you consider your novel MORE of. What books do you see it next to on the shelf? What author's works would you compare it to? Those are good starting places.Or, if you're like me and feel like a novel is equal parts one subgenre and the other, but feel compelled to submit it as one or the other, close your eyes and point. So, FURY would be a High Fantasy with dark elements. Right? We'll see.
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