Monday, October 5, 2009

Genre Talk

And boy has there been a lot of talk about Genre lately! Go Popular Fiction!

Paranormal
Why we love those rotting, hungry, putrid zombies
Little Women and Werewolves? via RA for All by Becky on 10/2/09

Memoir
Novelists take a break from fiction and are writing memoirs!

Historical Fiction
Cover Art Can Give Us Clues for the Reader And historical art seems to appeal mostly to the female reader! But does this writer include historical sea adventures and so forth in her observations? Or is that a separate genre?


Romance
Die, Gothic, Die via Romancing the Blog Romance Authors and Readers Who Blog by Special Guest on 9/6/09 Despite the title, this author is really asking if the Gothic really is dead or ready for a comeback.

What is a gothic? Gothic romances involve a heroine, usually in reduced circumstances, who is called to live in an isolated location - most generally a mansion or something. The atmosphere is moody. The hero is difficult to identify until near the end. Two possible heros are introduced. But who is the hero and who is dangerous? A crime or even murder is often part of the story. The resolution of this bad-news incident reveals the solution and who is the actual hero.



Women's Fiction
The Appeal "Women's Fiction is that catch-all term that covers fiction focused on the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of contemporary women. It's difficult to call it a genre, because the story can blend with so many other genres — there can be mystery or suspense elements, it can take place in a different era, it can be funny, or sad, or often both.


...when a reader picks up a Women's Fiction novel, what she is really looking for is a sense of recognition.

Non-Fiction
A New Nonfiction Genre? They Could Have Just Asked Us via The Reader's Advisor Online Blog by Sarah Statz Cords on 9/16/09. This genre is called "Annualism" It's where an author chooses to do something for a year. For example, work through Julia Child's cookbook.




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