Please welcome author Julia Karr who is joining us to discuss writing genre fiction. Julia’s debut novel XVI will be released in January 2011.
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I had never considered that even PB can be written in a genre. I’ll look at them from a whole new perspective now.
Great vlog.
Thanks Julia!
I write PBs and YA – believe it or not. Thanks for a fresh perspective.
This was great, Julia. you should vlog often!
Julia, thank you for taking time out of your busy day to join us at WriteOnCon. You have made me think of genre fiction in a whole new way.
Thank you, Julia — I understand genre a little better. And I feel as though we’ve actually met now!
Thank you Julia!
Thanks so much everyone for joining me! It’s great to “meet” you all, too!
And, Vonna, thanks! – I might just have to vlog more now!
Thanks! Very helpful information, especially it being okay to mix genres and the importance of visualization.
Thanks Juila. Very thought provoking.
Thanks for that, Julia. I had difficulty placing my novel into genre, because it could be so much. It ended up YA Fantasy Adventure (with a hint of Paranormal Romance, but I skipped that in the description, because that’s the sub plot). It took a lot of reading to figure it out.
Thanks, MP and Heather!
You know, MP, if you think about it, some of the most entertaining books are dual or multiple genre. I’d say that most often romance gets mixed in with other genres. And, visualization – sometimes when I am stuck on a scene, I go into my head and try to picture it as a movie to see what the characters would do next. It helps!
Thanks for joining WriteOnCon!
Hey, Tessa! Thanks for being here! I think that it’s easy to get bogged down in trying to peg one’s writing if it’s mixed genre. In which case – and maybe someone else will pipe up here – but, I honestly thing it’s best to put it in the broadest category and let your agent/editor work out the details. Just write the best book ever & maybe they’ll make up a new genre category! Thanks again for joining WriteOnCon!
I gelieve books are crossing over and spanning two genres.
You are a natural vlogger!
Funny, but I had never thought much about the definition of speculative fiction even though I know I’ve heard the term… it’s definitely what I write and I had never thought about it that way. It is good to hear specific definitions every once and a while.
Oh Julia…great vlog. I agree, you should do it more often! Particularly liked your advice to avoid generic genre pitfalls.
AND–so great to see you live and in person!!
Thank you so much, Julia! Good luck with your debut novel!
100 Monkeys – definitely cross-genre is out there!
Erin – so glad this was helpful! (and thanks for the thumbs up on the vlogging!)
Deb – is that you?! I know it is! Thanks so much for being here & glad I had some good advice! And, maybe we’ll actually meet in person some day! lol! (but, ’til then I promise to vlog more!)
Thank you, Jamie! So glad you are here at WriteOnCon!
That was great!
I’m a writer who’s just getting started, and all my projects are genre fiction, mostly fantasy of several varieties and some historical fiction. Thanks for talking about what’s what in speculative fiction and thank you for the advice about making it visual.
I know steampunk and urban fantasy are hot right now. What else is hot?
I wrote down your email address, and I might send you a note asking for advice, like, how did you get started, where do you recommend I send novel xyz, that sort of thing.
Hi Patricia! I’m glad my vlog was helpful! One thing to remember about what’s “hot” is that by the time you hear about it, the market is probably flooded with it (or at the very least – it is in a publishing house being readied for publication.) I did hear at SCBWI-LA 2010 that Mysteries are a sought-after commodity. I would definitely say not to follow trends (it’s always best to start a trend!) instead – write the best book you can that speaks to you. Well-written books are the ones that have the best chance of finding a home. Feel free to send me a note, I’ll get back with you as soon as I can. Cheers!
Thank you so much Julia. This information is really helpful. I was wondering your opinion on whether or not you think locally based historical novels could have a wider audience, provided they are well written of course.
Hi Kellie – not sure that I am the authority on this! I think locally based historicals might be saleable to a regional publisher easier than to a national/international one. However, if the story has a universal appeal, this may not be the case and might appeal to a larger audience. Stories about Jesse James and Bonnie & Clyde and Billy the Kid (who were all regional) had broad appeal. And, of course, The Little House on the Prairie books were regionally historical, but are loved all over. I think it is really going to depend on the writing. Great writing trumps everything!
Thanks so much for coming to WriteOn Con! Cheers!