How do you label your writing? Can you describe it with a common term, a few well-placed adjectives, or does it require some verbal gymnastics that uses “kinda,” “like,” and lots of dashes? The vampire/werewolf-goth-romance-tough chick-paranormal-western-memoir?
I’ve seen it said that the only thing genre labels are good for are the booksellers. They tell the bookstores where to stock the new novels they’ve gotten in. Unfortunately, most bookstores have a limited shelf space, and so must bow to such traditional titles as Mystery, Science Fiction, and Fiction. But with speculative fiction crossing over into so many side-genres lately, it has been a common occurrence to find a fantasy or science fiction book stacked in the Romance aisle, or maybe the New Age section.
This article from Wired.com talks about how a lot of people in the entertainment industry seem afraid of using the specific label of “science fiction” for everything from books to films to t.v. shows. It can be called speculative fiction, edgy storytelling, or even “fleshed-out reality.”
Since we’re on the topic, what are your opinions? Do you think a lot of work can’t or shouldn’t be genrefied? Are booksellers clueless and should just shelve books according to the ROYGBIV color scheme and their cover art? How important is your genre to what you write?
Personally, I still claim one of three: science fiction, fantasy, or speculative fiction (when I want to be inclusive). I think those cause less confusion, especially for people who want to know what I write, but aren’t necessarily fans of the genres, or clued in on such subgenres as steampunk, urban fantasy, or surreal hard science fiction.
I’ve seen some folks become pretty testy when asked to give a mental compartment for their work to sit in. Not sure if they feel providing some borders for their literary wunderkind is insulting, or what, but I personally don’t see the damage done. The main benefit I could see to fiddling with a genre label would be for the marketing team, where they realize, hey, fantasy isn’t selling so well right now, so let’s dream up some mythoescapist title to push it under and get better sales numbers. But if your work is so far out there and the elements are so muddled that you can’t condense it down for your audience, is that helpful, hurtful, or just confusing?
I see that smile.
Surely part of the problem here is the reader? Speaking as one, yes I do need some way to find what I feel like browsing in the book shop. If there were no genre labels, I wouldn’t know where to begin. I also think it’s fun to browse in, say, the crime section and find something surprising; say, a murder/mystery that’s set in a world full of mostly werewolves instead of people (!)
I think what bookshops should work on is very general labels, and educate readers to expect the unexpected when they look in a certain category. That’s assuming, of course, that readers will be open to accepting something a bit different.
I suppose there are those shops dedicated to singular genres. Those these tend to be the more indie shops that people are lamenting the demise of nowadays. I went to one signing for John Connolly at a place called The Black Orchid. Smallish place, but entirely dedicated to mystery, thrillers, and psychological types, with a few edging into horror and the supernatural thrillers. But you pretty much knew what kind of books they offered the moment you stepped through the door.
I’ve also seen some discourse on how ebooks and electronic publishing will make genre divisions break down even further, as people will be able to search and find books based on their extremely individual tastes without having to browse through all the others they don’t want, much like individualized music stations and such online these days.
Wow. That article is really interesting. Am I getting this right, though? They don’t want the SF label because people think of space battles, aliens, etc?
Okaaay. That’s almost like saying all there is to fantasy is the swords-and-horses-fight-the-evil-villain type of thing, and we all know that definition doesn’t always hold true. (Well, at least the swords and horses part.)
I guess . . . I don’t know. They’re just avoiding a stereotype.
Oh – for the record, I’m pretty okay with genre labels for reading. Genre conventions can also help in story structure, so I guess it’s important for writing, too.
Are booksellers clueless? I don’t know. If I wrote a fantasy with romantic elements, but it’d sell better as a romance with fantastical elements, then I’d be okay with seeing it in the romance section. Well, actually, no I wouldn’t, but that’s just because I don’t like the romance secion (too many manboobs).
My two cents. (Which are subject to change at any time.)
I am firmly in the pro-labels camp. I know which genres I enjoy most, and I want books stocked so I find my genres fast–be it SF, mystery, romance, or religious. 🙂 Then I’ll mosey over to Art, Writing References, and cookbooks.
I used to have a bookstore a few minutes’ drive west called Murder on the Beach (that’s Miami Beach). They moved to Delray Beach (not convenient), so I haven’t visited since. But it was nice to know that the store would have a vast variety of mysteries/thrillers, and the owner/clerks were knowledgable. So, if you said, I like X authors, they could steer you to new ones you might like based on your X preferences.
I always wished we’d had a bookstore round here like A Change of Hobbit in southern Cali, the famous one. Does it stll exist? Ah, a store all SF, with knowledgable clerks and owner, and writers coming by to do their writerly thang.
Mir