Saturday, January 15, 2011

A Contest & Some Progress

While I’m waiting for responses to my one full and two paritals out with agents, I thought I’d entertain myself with the "Dear Lucky Agent" Contest over at the Guide to Literary Agents Editor's Blog. It is for "Literary Fiction," defined there as:

"...fiction that falls outside the categories of genre fiction. Much fiction falls into the so-called popular commercial genres of romance, mystery, suspense, thriller, Western, horror, science fiction, and fantasy. Writing that falls in none of these categories is often called "literary."

By that desctiption, Story for a Shipwright definitely fits, though I have found that many agents' opinions of what constitutes "literary" varies greatly. For some, it seems to get tossed in with General, Mainstream, and Commercial fiction. I queried Story for a Shipwright as Literary at first, but found it didn't fit what agents who represent Literary fiction required. I queried it as Commercial, only to be told, 'I don't represent Literay fiction.' Go figure.
 
So, I adjusted my approach.
 
Now I'm querying it as Commercial fiction with a literary bent or Literay fiction with commercial appeal. Honestly, sometimes the whole querying gig feels like a crapshoot, and that's okay. The worst an agent can say is, "I'm sorry, this just doesn't sound right for my list." And that's okay, too; at least 8 agents have felt like my novel had/has enough potential to ask for more.

28 comments:

  1. Hi
    It's probably best to say commercial, or general fiction, which includes literary fiction! You are surely doing something right if 8 agents have asked to see more! hey, thanks for the comment over at my blog. I am an artist too. (as well as being an author). Now I'm going to check out your art blog. Cheers! Catherine

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yeah, Catherine, that's what I'm finding out--a little too late in some instances...oh well.

    And yes, I noticed that you too are an artist! It seems there are a few of us writer/aritst combos out there--such a delight to meet another. Thanks for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Liza, that 'Gotta Follow Through No Matter What' part of my brain won't let me do otherwise!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yeah, it's always tricky trying to define the story, especially when your book doesn't easily fit the categories. Luckily all you need is one person to see an opportunity and have a vision about how to exploit it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Defining it can be the hardest part sometimes, but it's not as important as writing a good query that gets your plot and characters across. And if you're getting awesome agent interest then you're definitely doing great even without the "right" genre! :) Good luck querying!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Bryan: I was hoping it would be as simple as 'where in the bookstore would it be shelved,' but apparantly that's not entirely true across the board (that's likely the case with some Genre--and especiall cross-genre works, too). And when some agents represent, General, Commercial and Literary fiction, as though they are 3 different catagories, it muddies the waters even more.
    So...yes, I'm hoping for that one person--even if in the end it happens to be only me!

    Amanda: To me, Story for a Shipwright is simply mainstream fiction with a light-handed 'literary' bent. I do think I finally got my query right, at least enough to garner some interest, and for me, that's a pretty big deal. Thanks for your support and for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete
  7. From one of my "heroes" - Neil Gaiman.

    "Everything you wanted to know about literary agents.."

    http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2005/01/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about.asp

    ReplyDelete
  8. Craig: Great resources--some I've consulted and some new. Thanks for the heads up :)

    Thanks for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Let's see. You go to all the trouble and anguish to write a book....and then they want you to stick it in a pigeon hole? Well, pfffft on them!

    If eight like it.....it must be a whopper.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Well, eight liked the query enough--some even really liked my writing and would read more of my stuff...now just need one that has to have this story in all its genre ambiguity.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I get so overwhelmed by genres sometime ... I wish that I could just say, "My manuscript is a little bit of everything" and have done with it ;)

    ReplyDelete
  12. KLo: yeah, I never realized that 'Name That Genre' would be such an important part of the publishing process. Maybe I'll try that "little bit of everything" in my next query ;)

    ...and thanks for popping in!

    ReplyDelete
  13. That's wonderful you've gotten interest in your novel! Congrats!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks, Lydia! Let's hope it turns into more than interest! :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love the new look of the blog, JB. It has a very earthy (that's a word, right?)

    Also wanted to alert you to my new writing blog:
    http://pjwriter.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  16. Earthy feel is what I was trying to say ;)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks, PJ...Hehe...I knew what you were trying to say :)
    I will definitely check out your new blog! You've been very busy...

    ReplyDelete
  18. I know, too busy. Sorry I haven't been the best of friends of late.

    ReplyDelete
  19. No worries PJ--best to be busy during winter! Makes it go faster :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Good luck!! It sounds like an exciting time!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks, Paul...yeah, it's actually more 'excitement' than I can stand...:)

    ReplyDelete
  22. You know you're on the right track, if you're getting that kind of success! Keep going, and you'll get there eventually. Good luck!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thanks Susan, I'm hoping for the best--and lately, I've been thinking that will include submissions to small press publishers. It's only a matter of time...

    Thanks for stopping by :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. @JB Awesome! As soon as I finish up these edits (hopefully this week), I'm going to start my hunt for the elusive MG small press. :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wow, Susan, it hadn't even occurred to me that finding a MG small press would all the more challenging. Best wishes to you for your submissions!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Okay, this answers the question I just asked on the another post. ;)

    I know what you mean. Sometimes it's hard to know if an agent will be interested, especially when she's vague as to what she's looking for. Telling me she's interested in YA tells me nothing. What kind of YA is she mostly likely to get excited about? What kind does she definitely not want to read?

    ReplyDelete
  27. Stina, At the risk of being annoying, I’ve just queried the agents anyway, and I’ve had requests from those who represent Literary, Commercial, Mainstream and General. Go figure. But it is nice when the agent is specific so you can tailor your query to them personally. I imagine that with YA, the subgenres are as vast as the 'parent' genres...

    My bigger problem now seems to be marketing a story that revolves around relationships when it’s told in the male POV. Apparently, that tends to distance female readers, but that’s a whole ‘nother topic...

    ReplyDelete