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Most of you probably already know what is meant by the phrase "genre fiction." But just in case, I shall explain.
"Genre fiction" is the term usually reserved for fiction that is specifically in a loosely defined genre, such as "Fantasy" or "Mystery" or "Romance."
Fiction that is not specifically in a genre is called a lot of things, but "Literary Fiction" is one of the more widely used terms. "General Fiction" or "Mainstream" or "Commercial" are others.
Genres crop up that book stores don't know what to do with, too. Look for "Urban Fantasy" in most book stores, and you'll end up browsing the entire Fantasy section looking for things that are "Urban."
So, here's where this is leading. I am writing a mystery/urban fantasy story. It could be a novella, novelette, or novel. At this point, I have no idea where it's heading or how many words it will take to get it there. (At least I finally figured out whodunit, and even how and why!)
When I read the second piece of the story aloud at my writers group the other night, it became painfully obvious that the group members who write YA Sci-Fi, Poetry, Romance, Thriller, Mainstream, Christian/Inspirational, and/or Historical Fiction had basically no clue what to do with my genre. They kept flagging words that I assumed were widely used even outside the genre as "wrong" because they had no idea why I was using them the way I was using them. So I wanted to get your impressions on two of these. The third question is included to let me know if you're "one of us" or "one of them." :)
[Poll #1446429]
"Genre fiction" is the term usually reserved for fiction that is specifically in a loosely defined genre, such as "Fantasy" or "Mystery" or "Romance."
Fiction that is not specifically in a genre is called a lot of things, but "Literary Fiction" is one of the more widely used terms. "General Fiction" or "Mainstream" or "Commercial" are others.
Genres crop up that book stores don't know what to do with, too. Look for "Urban Fantasy" in most book stores, and you'll end up browsing the entire Fantasy section looking for things that are "Urban."
So, here's where this is leading. I am writing a mystery/urban fantasy story. It could be a novella, novelette, or novel. At this point, I have no idea where it's heading or how many words it will take to get it there. (At least I finally figured out whodunit, and even how and why!)
When I read the second piece of the story aloud at my writers group the other night, it became painfully obvious that the group members who write YA Sci-Fi, Poetry, Romance, Thriller, Mainstream, Christian/Inspirational, and/or Historical Fiction had basically no clue what to do with my genre. They kept flagging words that I assumed were widely used even outside the genre as "wrong" because they had no idea why I was using them the way I was using them. So I wanted to get your impressions on two of these. The third question is included to let me know if you're "one of us" or "one of them." :)
[Poll #1446429]
no subject
And--full disclosure--the only reason I haven't is that I kept getting them mixed up with a horribly boring and incomprehensibly dull book I tried to read called The <somethingorother> Files. I seem to have misplaced my copy. And I don't want it back.
re: Dresden Files