tween \'twen\ (n) (14c) : between
Yep, it's in the dictionary. Tween is a real word, tweener is not. Also, betwixt and between. 'tween a rock and a hard place. Usually associated with children who aren't teenagers, but aren't really children any longer.
I could be talking about my kidlet today . . . but I'm not.
I'm talking about writing. Specifically novels that are such a mixture of genres that they can't be pigeonholed by publishing. I suspect many of us fall in this category. I know I do. My current manuscript, DEMON is urban fantasy, mystery, romance, dark, and comedic, it doesn't fall into one particular genre.
--too light to be a 'dark' paranormal
--too much external plot to be a 'true' romance
--not enough mystery to make it a mystery
--but it doesn't fit under Fiction, because most of those novels are literary, women's fiction, memoirs, autobiographies, etc.
In my case, I'm going to keep on writing, trying to get interest via the traditional route. Is it frustrating? Yup, Rejections hurt. And if you don't know what to do to make the story salable (reading similar books helps, but it isn't the answer), then you simply float along in the ether.
Friend A has decided to be proactive about her writing career (when I'm ready, I may follow her example). She's self-publishing via Smashwords. She retains most of her rights and something like 80-90% of her earnings. She is taking this one step further by seriously editing her story, I think she is on round 5 after receiving feedback from CP's and beta readers. As one of the aforementioned beta readers, I knew exactly why she couldn't generate any interest in the story. It wasn't because it wasn't a good story--it is. Trust me. I would probably call it a light romance, not heavy on the emotional angst, but it had mystery, murder, and paranormal. None of it was written with a heavy hand. The paranormal aspect was too light. The murder wasn't the focus. And the mystery element? Well, you knew who done it, but didn't know if the characters would be able to 'fix' things.
--it was a tweener of a novel
Friend B has opted to go a different route . . . for the moment. This friend has finaled in RWA's Golden Heart twice with two different MS's, but she can't seem to generate the editor interest the story deserves. She's gone on a writing sabbatical to read. A published author friend recommended about ten books she needs to take a look at.
Friend C knows she wants to sell to one of the Harlequin category lines. They have very narrow guidelines and are very voice oriented, in the sense they want the same 'word feel' from all their authors. I'm not saying this is an 'easy' route to publishing--it isn't--but if you can write to their style then more power to you. But it takes a lot of work to fit within their guidelines.
Friend D has finished a story that is the book of her heart, BUT she knows it will be a hard sell. It isn't stopping her from attempting the traditional route.
So there it is. Many writers are tweeners. The question becomes, will editors take a risk? In this current publishing picture, well, your guess is as good as mine. After all, this is a business that wants to make money. No one knows what will be the next sleeper novel.
Until later . . .
Write on!
Frind A is waving hi. lol
ReplyDeleteFor the most part, I don't think publishers take risks, especially now. A writer (and I can't remember who it was--I hate that) said she'd ran into an editor at Orlando who had recently rejected her book. The editor gushed all over her and said that she LOVED her book, but she had to turn it down because she knew she wouldn't be able to get it sold.
That's sad. It's why many writers will take the same route I'm taking. I recently read a blog by a bestselling Kindle writer. After he became a bestseller, an editor did contact him, but he turned her down. He was making more money by himself and didn't want to sign his rights away. I thought that was very interesting.
Traditional publishers have never been big risk-takers, and that's a hundred times truer now. I remember talking to a writer back in 1991 who'd been shopping a book that didn't fit into any of the niches, and got the same response from every editor: wonderful book, I loved it, but we don't know how to market it. My own romance/comedy/paranormal/light/fluff series got that response, too, from six or seven houses: we love it but that's not what's selling. (How do they know if they don't try???) (And if they love it, does it stand to reason that others out there would, too??)
ReplyDeleteThe big difference now is the Internet. It's almost hassle-free publishing, it's available worldwide, and it's easy for both writer and reader. Add in print-on-demand, and you've got a great opportunity. My new agent wants to look at the paranormal series, but if it goes through another round of rejections, the electronic option is going to look really, really good to me.
Wow, it's something to think about, isn't it, Edie! As you know, I'm following your story with bated breath! I've actually thought about putting one of my MG serial stories up on Smashwords. Maybe at the turn of the new year.
ReplyDeleteI saw you mentioned on the Knight Blog, Marilyn! Congrats! Is Melissa your new agent? I hope you can sell your paranormal, personally I think the world needs a little bit of light and fluff . . . to help pave the way for the rest of us. :-)
ReplyDeleteI believe I have one of those Tweener MS, and I'm not sure where to turn. Good points on your post. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteKeep your eye on Edie, Meg. I know I'm keeping tabs on her progress with Smashwords and Amazon.
ReplyDeleteI'm not even going to ATTEMPT the traditional route for anything I decide to publish. Why bother? I've written enough to know my writing is good, and I can edit it just fine myself with a little bit of input.
ReplyDeleteOne day, not in the too distant future, editors will be BEGGING "self-published" writers to give THEM some of their work back. They are going to go the way of the dinosaurs unless they adapt.
Big shift coming. STay tuned!
Actually, Jody, the editors begging part has already started. I read one story posted . . . somewhere, can't remember where as I read so many blogs, etc. But there was a self-pubbed author--doing well--and an editor contacted him. He turned them down because he would have to give up so much of his income and control.
ReplyDeleteHey! Who's the blonde in your profile photo wearing the stupid towel? :)
ReplyDelete*snort* :-)
ReplyDeleteOh, I hadn't seen that. Thanks for mentioning it. Yep, MJ's my new agent. I'm keeping all my fingers and toes crossed for a good response to the women's fiction series I'm working on. She likes it bunches, so first hurdle's done.
ReplyDeleteI love reading stuff that makes me laugh! The world needs more of it.
I hope things work out, Ms. Marilyn! I like fun and snarky, too . . . which does explain where my characters come from!
ReplyDelete