Is Genre Surfing Acceptable?

Genre Surfing – Reading and/or writing in a variety of genres.

If you are like me you read in a variety of genres, perhaps even write in a variety of genres, but is it smart to publish in a wide range as well?

There is a difference of opinions on this topic. First, you have to assume you can even be published in all of those genres for the arguments to become a consideration. Some agents and publisher will tell you it is a strict “no-no” and to stick with one genre to build a fan base, otherwise you’ll lose them. Others will tell you the best way to build that fan base is with variety.

Recent questions I’ve been asked about genre surfing:

1) If the first manuscript you sell is a certain genre, can you then switch to another? Or, is that like being a debut author all over again?

2) How does your agent feel? Does he/she specialize in a particular genre? If so, is it acceptable to have more than one agent?

3) Would your agent/publisher prefer you stick to one genre or "what works?"

4) If you write in different genres, do you use different pen names/pseudonyms?


These questions are all vital so I open the floor for discussion.

Do you write in a variety of genres? If so, what have your experiences been? What are your thoughts on the subject?

Kurt Vonnegut on the Shape of Stories

Title Tricks

Some writers can’t seem to create a title until their story is complete. Others often start stories based on a title. Below is an exercise I recommend to help spark the imagination.

Supplies Needed:

1) A variety of magazines (preferably different magazines or journals as opposed to multiple issues of the same one.)

2) A notebook and pen or computer.

3) Some quiet time.

Start by opening one magazine to the table of contents and scan down the titles. Do NOT look at the stories, just the titles. You are looking for a title that can easily be divided in half or a title with two clauses. Take half of one title and write it in a column in your notebook. It can be either the first half or the second half of the title. (Remember, titles are not under copyright protection, so you are doing nothing wrong here.)

Once you have an entire column of phrases, find a different magazine and start a second column with more half titles.  When you have your second list done, scan both columns. Take half of a title from one list and combine it with half a title from the other list. Then write the story.

For example, in Ladies’ Home Journal, I found the title “Science of a Streamlined Marriage”. I wrote down “The Science of”. Then in an issue of Parents, I found the title “How to Raise A Happy Child” and I wrote down “Happy Child”.  When I finished my lists, I chose these two to combine to make “The Science of a Happy Child.”  Then I wrote the article.

This exercise works no matter what genre you are writing. After you choose a title, be sure to keep your lists for future practice.

A similar exercise is to randomly select words from the dictionary, a magazine or other book. Then rearrange them to make a unique title. Happy Writing!

Author Interview: Heather McCorkle

Heather McCorkle is a young adult fantasy author. Helping other writers and supporting fabulous authors is one of her passions. When she's not writing or surfing her social networking sites, she can be found on the slopes, hiking trails, or on horseback. As a native Oregonian, she enjoys the outdoors almost as much as the worlds she creates on the pages.

No need to travel to the Great Northwest though, you can find her on her blog four days a week: http://heathermccorkle.blogspot.com/, on her critique partners blog: http://critiquesisterscorner.blogspot.com/ on Wednesdays, and Monday night's on Twitter where she co-moderates the #WritersRoad chat with her good friend TS Tate.

Here is a blurb about her new release The Secret of Spruce Knoll:

Following the tragic death of her parents, Eren Donovan moves to Spruce Knoll to live with her aunt. Little does Eren know the entire town of Spruce Knoll is filled with “channelers”—a magical group of people who immigrated to the small Colorado town when they were driven out of their own lands.

Channelers are tied to the fate of the world. As the world slowly dies, so do they—and they alone have the power to stop the destruction of Earth. Now, Eren learns she not only lives among them, but she is one. When she meets local boy Aiden, his charm convinces her that being a Channeler may not be all bad.

1) How did you develop an interest in writing? When I was a kid I didn't like how a lot of stories ended and I thought there weren't enough stories with strong girl main characters in them. I figured the best way to solve that was to write my own. 

2) I see you are working on another MS? I'm working on another Channeler novel, the sequel to The Secret of Spruce Knoll which debuted last month. It doesn't have a title yet but it picks up where Spruce Knoll left off. The idea for the series hit me when I was reading an article about species extinction and the disappearing rain forests. 

3) What music, places, and people inspire you? I love to listen to music when I write. What kind depends on my characters and the story. While writing the Channeler series I listened to a lot of Avril Lavigne and Allison Iraheta. I love to travel so just about any place inspires me.

4) Are you part of a critique group or writer's guild? Absolutely! I think critique groups are integral to an author's success. My group can be found at http://critiquesisterscorner.blogspot.com/

5) Have you ever attended a writer's conference? Several actually. Conferences are a great way to keep up with what's going on in the industry and to meet new people and learn. 

6) When working on your current MS did you complete an outline first or did you just start writing? I used to be a pantster, just start writing, but after an instructor forced me to write an outline on a novel I had already written I realized how outlining exposes holes in the story. Now I always outline first, though it's a loose, organic outline that I allow myself to deviate from. It saves me a ton of time in the editing process. 

7) What is your writing process like? When I'm working on a novel I write five days a week, around 1,000 words a day. I'll write whenever and wherever I can, carrying a notebook and pencil with me to make it easier. 

8) Would you care to share your opening paragraph (hook) with us? The bus flew like a rollercoaster through the wooded landscape, flinging Eren toward a new, unwanted life. All too soon it pulled into the bus station of a tiny town on the outskirts of nowhere Colorado. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she and an aunt she’d never met were going to have to drive another hundred miles into nowhere to find the town of Spruce Knoll.

Guest Post, Interview and Book Review Guidelines

In order to avoid misunderstandings, I have created the following guidelines for guest posts, interviews and book reviews appearing on this blog. If you are interested in one or more of these, please review carefully before contacting me.

Guest Post Guidelines

1) The topics must be related to reading, writing, or publishing.

2) Your post must be original and must not have been published before on the web.

3) Create your own title.

4) You agree not to publish the post anywhere else for three months after it is published on this blog.

5) Please include a brief bio so readers can get to know you better (a picture of yourself is optional). You may include links to your blog/website/ Twitter/Facebook etc. 

6) Please send in an accompanying image that is relevant to the post.

7) Be available to interact with readers who comment on your post.

Book Review Guidelines

1) Please contact me to introduce yourself and your book or anthology before you send them.

2) I prefer print versions (autographed by the author is wonderful!) but will accept electronic formats as well.

3) I do not guarantee a read by or reviewed by date unless I’m contacted at least a month in advance of the requested date.

4) I do not guarantee a review will appear on this blog. However, I will at least offer a rating, comment or review on Amazon and Goodreads. If you want a review posted elsewhere such as Barnes and Nobles, please let me know when you contact me.

Interviews

1) Please contact me to introduce yourself.

2) Please include a brief bio, and a picture of yourself.

3) You may include a picture of your book and links to your blog/website/Twitter/Facebook etc.

4) I will send you a list of questions to answer. You may answer as many or as few of them as you desire. You may also suggest your own questions/answers as fits your needs.

5) Be available to interact with readers who comment on your interview.

Love Your Villain

Heroines With Hearts is hosting me today. They just published my post "Loving Your Villain".  A special thank you to Paula Martin for sponsoring me on this special blog. If you have a chance, please swing by and take a look.

And the Winners are...

A special thank you to Jody Hedlund and Dorothy Love for giving away a copy of their amazing books.

The winners are...

1. Sheri - The Doctor's Lady

2. Abby - Beyond All Measure

Congratulations to the winners! The authors are looking forward to sending you your book. Please visit their website to contact them about your free copy.

Until next time....Happy Writing!