Genre determination - Writers Forum

Buddhapants · 06-26-2006, 02:59 PM

I am having trouble determining the genre in which my current, completed, book best fits. From what I have read it is necessary to include this in query letters. Also, in looking for agents/publishers I don't want waste the time of people who don't even deal with the type of stories I may be submitting.

This is a problem I find with most of my past, uncompleted, writing as well. I just can't fit a lot of what I write into a box labeled "mystery" or "science fiction" or "romance". Am I doing something wrong?

Here is a short description of my current work:

With an inspirational retelling of a well known fable, I attempt to explore the nature and components of wisdom. The characters are anthropomorphized forest animals and the style is largely fable-like - meaning that the story is well within the ability of most young adult readers to grasp. Humor is also an essential element.

I guess the first thing I have to do is work on my synopsis writing skills...

Anyway, I would welcome suggestions on how to pigeonhole this thing into one genre or another.

Peace

Mike C · 06-26-2006, 04:27 PM

Fantasy. And in your query don't forget to say

"With an inspirational retelling of a well known fable, I attempt to explore the nature and components of wisdom. The characters are anthropomorphized forest animals and the style is largely fable-like - meaning that the story is well within the ability of most young adult readers to grasp. Humor is also an essential element."

Or words to the effect. Just listing a genre is no use, agents want to know what they're going to be reading (or not).

Buddhapants · 06-26-2006, 07:43 PM

Well, now I feel like an idiot.

Fantasy, of course. Why did this never occur to me? Funny.

Perfect. Thanks Mike. I'm going to work on the query letter tonight...study my trusty writers market, maybe look at a few sample query letters on the web, email the finished result to a couple of friends for opinion and comment, then, hopefully, find some agents/publishers to try to contact later this week.

Any suggestions on whether I should focus my efforts on getting an agent or a publisher?

mammamaia · 06-26-2006, 09:50 PM

don't forget to mention your target market is YA...

i'd try both agents and publishers... just make sure you query those who are open to new writers, as well as the YA fantasy genre/market...

Mike C · 06-27-2006, 12:48 AM

Personally I'd focus first on Agents, who (if you're successful) will get you in with a better deal in a bigger house. Save the publishers for the second wave.

Buggs · 06-27-2006, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buddhapants

Well, now I feel like an idiot.

Fantasy, of course. Why did this never occur to me? Funny.

Hey Doc!

Fantasy my eyeball! Just because some human sees it as fantasy doesn't make it go away. It is reality for us wee folks.

And don't you forget it.

Buggs Bunny

Anarkos · 06-27-2006, 06:39 PM

Oh dear. Gimick accounts...sigh.