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Monday, August 16, 2010
No "Just" About It
We’ve talked often about defending our genre. About hiding our covers and keeping our work under wraps from those in our “regular” lives. In all the years I’ve been reading, I’ve never felt the need to hide my books, and if someone disapproved, they didn’t tell me to my face. Sometime in the last year, I started telling anyone who asked that I’m a writer and easily elaborated on my genre of Romance…if asked.
Basically, to the world at large, I’m loud and proud about what I read and what I write. But for some reason, at the RWA National Conference, surrounded by other writers just like me, I found myself anything but loud and proud.
I lost track of how many times I was asked the ever popular “What do you write?” question at Nationals, but I know my answer over and over again was “Just Contemporary.” What the heck is up with that? I love Contemporaries and have for years. I like what I write, and have no desire to write anything else. To the world in general, I’m fine with being a Contemporary Romance author.
But not to the Romance writing world.
My best guess for why I do this is that high concept thing we hear about all the time. I have no time travel, no vampires, no fairies, no angels, no Dukes, no wallflowers, no SEALs, no FBI agents, no CEOs or Sheiks or Greek Tycoons. There’s no murder, no mayhem, no mythology mixed with modern times.
Just Contemporary.
What I do have is in depth stories about falling in love, dealing with family, overcoming hurt and healing broken hearts. So why isn’t that enough? Why does that end up with “just” in its description? It doesn’t deserve the “just” and I’m going to do my best to take it out.
When asked “What do you write?”, what is your usual answer? Does it differ depending on who’s asking? Do you prefer not to elaborate? Does your answer ever result in curiosity and a lengthy conversation about what it’s like to write sex? (I’ve now answered this twice in as many months – to total strangers.) Has your answer changed over the years and are you sometimes surprised by the reactions you get?
Basically, to the world at large, I’m loud and proud about what I read and what I write. But for some reason, at the RWA National Conference, surrounded by other writers just like me, I found myself anything but loud and proud.
I lost track of how many times I was asked the ever popular “What do you write?” question at Nationals, but I know my answer over and over again was “Just Contemporary.” What the heck is up with that? I love Contemporaries and have for years. I like what I write, and have no desire to write anything else. To the world in general, I’m fine with being a Contemporary Romance author.
But not to the Romance writing world.
My best guess for why I do this is that high concept thing we hear about all the time. I have no time travel, no vampires, no fairies, no angels, no Dukes, no wallflowers, no SEALs, no FBI agents, no CEOs or Sheiks or Greek Tycoons. There’s no murder, no mayhem, no mythology mixed with modern times.
Just Contemporary.
What I do have is in depth stories about falling in love, dealing with family, overcoming hurt and healing broken hearts. So why isn’t that enough? Why does that end up with “just” in its description? It doesn’t deserve the “just” and I’m going to do my best to take it out.
When asked “What do you write?”, what is your usual answer? Does it differ depending on who’s asking? Do you prefer not to elaborate? Does your answer ever result in curiosity and a lengthy conversation about what it’s like to write sex? (I’ve now answered this twice in as many months – to total strangers.) Has your answer changed over the years and are you sometimes surprised by the reactions you get?
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Bo'sun's Babblings (Terri)
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74 comments:
"Just Contemporary" indeed, Bo'Sun!
Kristen Higgins doesn't have time travel, vampires, sheiks, murder, mayhem or any of that other stuff in her novels either, and she's won TWO Ritas in the past 3 years, so I'd say "just contemporary" is working pretty good for her. ;-)
I usually answer, "Romantic suspense" and give them Aunty's squinty-eyed glare, daring them to say something. 99% are smart enough to keep quiet. For the occasional GUY (yes, it's always guys)who makes a remark, I ask, "Have you ever read a romance?" The answer is inevitably no and I give them a dismissive wave and say, "You are NOT my target audience."
Attitude is everything, and it's taken me years to develop mine.
AC
Yeah, I totally hate the word just. It's such a poisonous word. Like enough...
Been there, done that. As you so eloquently told me when I talked about my agent, there is no quantifier necessary. (I think quantifier is a word. Well, if it isn't, it should be.)
What do I write? How do I answer that? I told my doctor, who asked last week... Romance. Romantic fantasy really. He's a chatty guy and talked about some recent non-fiction book he'd read. While his assistant was sure she'd read something I'd written...despite my telling her I'm not published yet.
It was a curious visit...
Anyway! Auntie is right. Kristen keeps winning. There's no vampires in Victoria Dahls books, or Jennifer Crusie. Don't think I've seen any in Nora's...but I haven't read all of them! ;-)
I'd keep that in mind and next time we're at a con and you're asked, you just smile and say Contemporary Romance, like Kristen Higgins, Nora Roberts or whoever your favorite contemp writer is. One thing about being at a con, they'll know who you are talking about!
No-one has ever asked me 'What do you write?', other than the odd pirate!
It's always 'What did you make of Jo Blogs's latest theory', or similar.
If I was asked the question, I would want to reply with something catchy that might be remembered.
In your case bosun, how about 'contemp with a twist'. That would leave people wondering about the twist and you could then either elaborate or leave them to read your stuff to find out.
Its all about creating an image and you need Aunty Cindy's attitude to do that. You can do much better than 'Just Contemp.'
I have just finished Sophie Kinsella's 'Twenties Girl' which I believe you would love. It's a contemp with a twist. It has all the standard Kinsella humor and romantic angst but as a new twist she includes a lovable ghost. The heroine's Great Aunt has died at age 105 but her spirit refuses to be cremated until she retrieves her beloved necklace and learns what happened to her romantic lover from the twenties. She haunts her great niece to get answers.
I know that you like Jennifer Crusie, but I thought of you when reading this book, and felt that it just might be right up your street!
So following Chance's suggestion, how about 'Contemp romance with a twist,like Kinsella or Crusie'
It's taken me a lot of years to say out loud, "I'm a writer", and it takes just a skosh more courage to say "I write romance". I think it's because I rarely, if ever, get to say that last line to somebody who loves and reads romance.
Most people pair the word "trashy" with "romance", and while I don't care about their OPINION, I don't want to get into a discussion with them about it. (I don't say, "Oh, you read/write bloody horror" or "You read/write slasher mysteries". LOL)
So I typically say I write "romantic comedy" because people can sorta understand that, because they've at least seen movies in that subgenre. Other times I'll add "women's fiction" because it covers a lot of ground in a vague way.
Sometimes I'll laugh and say, "If you think it's hard HAVING a relationship, you ought to try WRITING about one" and then change the subject.
Now I'm wondering how I'll answer WHEN I got to the conference next year. :) I'll have to start practicing!
Aunty’s squinty-eyed glare LOL! I bet this stops most of your questions. As it should. :)
I just say I write romance. I've jumped subgenres a few times. Historical paranormal. Straight paranormal and now straight historical. So I'm always loathe to pigeon-hole myself. What if I decide to write Amish inspirationals next? :) Ok, that's not going to happen. I couldn't write an inspirational if my life depended on it. All my stuff has too much sex and sexual overtones for that market. But who knows what else I might want to try. So I say I write romance. Leave it at that.
And at the conferences I've been too, I say what I write whatever kind of book I'm pitching. Just in case the person asking wants to see it.
And the West coasters start us off. LOL! *waves madly to AC* I so love your attitude and I need to work on that glinty stare. Right before the conference we had a luncheon and my coworkers (men, of course) asked what I write. When I answered Romance, the one next to me snickered. So I smacked him. Felt damn good.
I'd love to say that's the first coworker I've ever hit, but alas...
It really wasn't premeditated or planned and I don't really feel that way. I don't want to put the "just" on there, it just showed up. LOL! It even surprised me, and I'm happy to report, nearly ever writer to whom I said it corrected me immediately.
It's like my brain was apologizing for something. Qualifying, as Chance puts it. My brain and I are going to have a stern talking to, I can tell you that.
Q - That does sound interesting. And ironic since Crusie put ghosts in her next release (which I've read already...it's awesome!) and that one sounds good. Though I'm not typically a fan of Kinsella, I know Hellie loves her. I'll definitely check it out!
And I'm positive your theories are exotic and highly interesting. Top of your field! They must be for a scientist with such an open mind. And a token for pirates. :)
Marn - I believe that's called dabbling. LOL! You dabble in a few different areas, alway with flare, of course. My lack of dabbling does make my answer easier. Though I've decided if I sell this Erotic Romance short story, I'm not letting my boss know as I did with the WW story. I have to stand in front of the entire company at the Christmas party and some image of professionalism needs to exist. I can't have them looking at me and wondering what I might be doing back in my room after the party. LOL!
Which, for the record, would be NOTHING back in my room. But still, I don't want them thinking anything I don't want them thinking. Ya know?
Donna! Sorry, darling, I skipped right over you. Romanctic Comedy is probably the most relatable genre for non-writers. They see those at the movies all the time. Do you ever have someone ask if it's Chick Lit? The RWA e-notes yesterday had a great link to a Michele Gorman blog in defense of Chick Lit, which is what partially inspired this blog.
Here's the link if anyone wants to check it out.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/aug/05/chick-lit-debate-michele-gorman
While the 'just' in front of anything has to go, I do get the dilemma. Like for my paranormals, if I ever get to a conference, I'd probably feel like answering the what do you write question with something like, "Right now, I've got a ghost story and a guardian angel story." This would be okay, I think, because Romance would be a given. For everyone else (friends, etc., except family - - I don't say anything there), I'd probably say the same, choosing to downplay the romance. If I didn't have anything to latch on to (ghost, guardian angel) I don't know what I'd say. So, that doesn't help. LOL
No worries, Melissa. I'm not asking for answers for me. LOL! I know I'm fine and I'll get the "just" out of the equation. Interesting that you leave the "romance" word out of your description. So you never answer with the simple "I write romance?"
I try not to have these discussions.
Example:
Guy: "So...you're a writer."
Me: "Yes."
G: "What do you write?"
Me: "Romance."
G: "You mean like the chick porn they sell in grocery stores?"
Me: *imagining G stabbed through the head with a pick axe* "Yes."
G: "How do you do research for it?"
Me: "Why do you care? You're never going to know first hand."
It's just best never to get into the conversation to begin with.
Stranger: "So you're a writer?"
Me: "Yes."
S: "What do you write?"
M: "Novels."
S: "What kind of novels?"
M: "Romance."
S: "Oh. I don't read those."
M: "Big surprise."
But those are strangers, and you were discussing people from your tribe, people at RWA who love romance--and I think I was a user of the word "just" too. "I just write funny ones. Sorta paranormal, but no vampires or demons. No regency."
Because I refuse to have these discussions I can avoid the "what's it like to write sex scenes" conversations.
I did have some guys--older guys, like in their 60s--who'd tease me a lot and ask me when I was going to write my book about boys, when I was going to have enough research acquired to write it. I always told them you couldn't have enough research on boys, which always made them hoot.
So you never answer with the simple “I write romance?â€
I guess not. Odd, since I declare "romance writer" on my blog, but I really can't think of when I've said it in conversation. LOL I don't think I'm ashamed, but more like I think it limits what kind of follow up questions will come on what the story is about, if that makes sense.
I also think the label Chick Lit was just asking for trouble -- or a defense. Really? This was the answer to classifying romance? I don't get what whoever came up with it expected it do for romance other than stir up more 'in defense of' talk.
I'm to the point where I hate this question. Which is interesting, because I'm not in the least ashamed of either writing, or what I write, but I feel like I get stuck in these situations where I have to defend my choices. And I *hate* that. Whether it's a stranger, colleague or relative, I shouldn't have to defend myself for writing what I want to write.
So recently I started giving some flippant answer, when asked what I write, that was "Thrillers, romantic suspense type novels. I try to balance out the sex scenes and the torture scenes. Make sure there's a good mix." People laugh, I don't have to go on the defensive...it works.
But recently, a colleague at work asked, and I gave my pat answer, and the Chair of our department, who overheard, starting fucking berating me for it -- in front of students!!!! He actually said, "What kind of person do you have to be to have that in your head?"
I work in the Conflict Resolution department -- I teach mostly international stuff, focusing on how wars start, how peace treaties are written, how post-conflict reconstruction works, etc. There's a huge overlap to what I write (I actually threw in a unit on the ETA terrorist group in Spain last year, because they're the villains in my current book, and I'd done all the research :) ). But some people are pacifists, and believe all violence is evil, and yada...yada...yada...somehow I'm Hitler.
So....to make a very long story short, I hate that question. lol.
Hellie - You know it is impossible for me to avoid any kind of conversation. On the plane home from Orlando, the young man next to me was full of questions and very interested in my answers. I still have no idea why since I'm pretty sure it does not read "wise sage" across my forehead. But we had an intelligent conversation about Romance novels. And you'd have liked him, he was sure Nicholas Sparks is gay. LOL!
Melissa - I'm guessing Chick Lit stemmed for Chick Flicks, maybe? I don't see anything wrong with the term, but the defense is due to the insistance that anything written for entertainment has no value. Which is ignorant and narrow minded.
Life is hard enough. Being able to lighten my load, make me laugh, and introduce me to characters I'd want to hang out with seems like a valuable talent to me.
Again it comes down to environment, doesn't it? The answer I give at work is different than the answer I gave at the conference. And the one I'd give to a stranger would be different still.
I've long been derided for the music I listen to, or the religion I was raised in. What the hell is wrong with people? And you can't win. Maybe you and Hellie are right, best to avoid the conversation at all costs.
What I find interesting is it wouldn't OCCUR to me to berate anyone for their choices, especially if I am the one who ASKED. LOL But other people feel perfectly comfortable with doing that.
It's a puzzlement.
Yeah, I don't think it would occur to me either to berate someone, especially something like religion. Though I will say I have been regularly mocked for my love of country music *g*
Hal - That's exactly what I meant. LOL! You tell people you listen to Country and they look at you as if you just dumped your IQ points in the toilet. WTH?
I've been lucky to find more people interested in what I write than not. My boss was uber-excited about my story making it into WW. Of course, she hasn't read it yet, but still. It's nice to have supporters outside the writing world.
GPS tells people I write porn just to see the look on random stranger's faces.
I normally just shrug off the question and change the subject. We all know I don't like to talk about writing in public. And everyone who needs to know know what I write so no need to elaborate. Besides, on a daily basis, I'm not even sure what I write.
Sin - Sex sells, baby. You're going to be a star! LOL! I'm surprised GPS doesn't tell people you *make* porn.
Donna - You would think if they didn't want to know, they wouldn't ask. But then some people are looking for things to judge. If judging me makes you feel better, then by all means, work up that self-esteem, precious.
LOL, Terri -- I'm stealing your last line there and putting it #1 in my "Take that!" arsenal.
And Sin is writing porn scripts. :) For all those celebrities who had NO IDEA those sex tapes would make it out into the world. LOL
OMG! What kind of person do you have to be to have that in your head?†I'd be so PISSED. Which is about the time I'd say something I'd get fired for like, "Someone who gets laid far more often than you do."
And it's just sex! Why isn't anyone asking this of Stephen King or one of those famous slasher writers?
Exactly, Hellie! "So, Mr. King, how many people have you disemboweled as research? *wink wink*"
WTF?
Hal you just don't SEEM like a country music fan.
Sin Sex sells, baby. You're going to be a star! LOL! I'm surprised GPS doesn't tell people you *make* porn.
And Sin is writing porn scripts. For all those celebrities who had NO IDEA those sex tapes would make it out into the world. LOL
Ter, there is that. GPS goes around encouraging me to strip at outdoor rock concerts and grope half naked men. Telling people I *make* porn just makes her day brighter.
Dear DRD,
I make everyone sign a full disclosure. And a privacy notice. Not for myself, mostly just for the hell of it.
Sincerely,
Evil Twin
And we're doubling up now. LOL!
Donna - It's yours!
Hal - Was it the sex or the violence that person had a problem with? I got from the rest of your comment it was the violence. Does that mean he/she was good with the sex? LOL!
Dear Evil Twin,
I am laughing at the irony of you requiring "full disclosure" at the same time as a "privacy notice". Naturally I am doing this laughing at a safe distance from your ice pick.
Very truly yours,
DRD
I keep snorting at Donna's "It's a puzzlement." I keep hearing Geoffrey Rush from Shakespeare in Love, "It's a mystery."
LOL, Hellie -- Shakespeare in Love is one of my fave movies of all time. So clever.
I think the "It's a puzzlement" is actually from The King and I, which I don't remember watching all the way through, so I have NO idea why that phrase got stuck in between a couple brain cells!
Oh yeah, he was fine with the sex. It was the violence. I think he has an image in his head of me gleefully sitting at the computer, cowing in triumph as I yank someone's thumbnail off.
I love Shakespeare in Love too. Awesome movie.
I would not want to live in Stephen King's head. In fact, I don't even want to visit.
It is annoying that you can write about murder without ever murdering someone, yet you can't write about sex without having done every twisted thing on the page.
To quote Donna, it's a puzzlement.
Hal - My thumbs hurt just reading that.
That would be awesome if that was how it worked.
But how can he think you're crowing about torturing characters as you write it? Does he think you orgasm as you finish writing a sex scene?
No one gets writers.
If that's how it worked, I'd write erotica. At a Nora Robert pace.
I loved the King & I. "You will sit where I sit, stand where I stand, etc, etc, etc!"
It always makes me so sad at the end. I just cry and cry.
If it did work that way, at least you'd know you were writing it correctly.
Interesting. Scott Eagan is talking about contemporary romance on his blog today.
http://scotteagan.blogspot.com/2010/08/were-talking-contemporary-romance-today.html
Thanks for posting that, Melissa -- it does seem like there's a disconnect. The Borders blog the other day was asking if people liked contemps and there was a huge outcry for them. She said she was going to pass the info on to her publishing contacts.
So hopefully contemps will rise again!
I love Eagan's list of what a contemporary romance does not need--hilarious! *LOL* And I sorta wanted to fling my hankie in the air and holler, "Amen!"
I did fling mine. LOL! With a typo, damn it.
There is definitely a disconnect, though that "strong" thing is getting me. As if you could write a book with the vampires and the BDSM and all that other stuff, but not have to worry about it being a strong book. Shouldn't all books be strong books?!
Yes, but then you get arguments from readers who don't want to read about "real issues" because they're reading to escape from the real issues. So they prefer to engage with vampires and demons and have banter--and no relationship issues other than "does he really love me?"
Or "will he bite me?" I admit finding your audience might be harder in some cases, but they're out there. I hope.
While his assistant was sure she’d read something I’d written…despite my telling her I’m not published yet.
See, Chance? You already have fans just chomping at the bit. Waiting for their chance to get their hands on A Real Chance.
Hey. IT Makes semse to me!
I read a fascinating study reg. vampires and paranormal elements like them. That they rise in literature and film when there is economic fear and uncertainty in society.
I don't know if society is looking for a scapegoat, an escape, or what, but I thought it was an interesting study!
I can see not saying romantic fantasy when at a romance convention because that is the given! If I were at a mystery convention, something I'll be doing in October and I get asked, the reply will be romantic fantasy. At RT? Probably just fantasy. Or fantasy with romantic elements.
I do like stealing that with romantic elements from the RITAS.
Yeah, Julie...it was funny. "Are you sure I couldn't have read something of yours?"
Uh...yeah!
So, a real chance as opposed to a fake chance? ;-)
A real Chance as opposed to a Ghost of a Chance.
I have only recently acquired the courage to say that I'm a romance writer, and I get different responses from different groups. Most of my academic friends look at me as if I have developed some fatal disease. I think most of my church friends assume that I'm writing inspirationals since I get almost no comments about writing sex scenes. They just want to know when they can read what I write. My family--immediate and extended--just wants to know when I'll be published and how much the advance will be. My brother, who is rather contemptuous of the time and effort academic writing takes given the poor pay and limited audience, says, "At least somebody will read this stuff." LOL!
You know it wasn't that long ago that "everyone" was saying the historical was dead. I don't place much credence in what "they" say. We can say it loud and say it proud, Terri. "I write contemporary."
I think he has an image in his head of me gleefully sitting at the computer, cowing in triumph as I yank someone’s thumbnail off.
Hal, you know that you do. Don't pretend.
:)
PS, though, your torture scenes are pretty serious. I'm still cringing about the scene in False Move where he has to beat her.
Does he think you orgasm as you finish writing a sex scene?
I'm with Sin.... I WISH that's how it worked.
And I just read Scott's post...good for him! And I agree. Not everyone needs that bit of demon for an outside conflict... A bad egg principal will work just fine!
If that was true about the writing sex scenes stuff, we'd be seeing that scene from When Harry Met Sally in Starbucks all across America. LOL!
Janga - We will shout it from the rooftops. While we laugh about our giant advances. LOL! Are you going to tell the church folks when the book is available? I believe they would be very proud.
I love that scene in When Harry Met Sally.
I just read Scott's post as well. Great stuff. :) I think the advice to write what we really want should apply to every subgenre. Don't try to conform! (That sounds like something Sin or Chance would say. Listen to me getting in touch with my inner anarchist.)
I was just thinking... Last year (or the year before? my years are blurring....) I sat in on an editor panel. And the editor from Avon said she was looking for someone like Debbie Macomber. She called it a "macaroni and cheese contemporary" or something to that effect. Basically a comfort food contemporary. She said she thinks there aren't enough out there.
Just thought I'd share.
Janga is totally comfort food, I'm more heavy hors d'oeuvres. But that might not be so bad. I need to revise faster!
Bo'sun writes too hot to be a Debbie Macomber. *LOL* But the other aspects would work.
That might be the nicest thing anyone's ever said about me. LOL! Thanks!
I was actually excited when I read Susan Sey's book (Money, Honey - run out and get it now!) that her "quantity" of sex scenes was very similar to mine. Which is not a lot of actual sex. I'm so relieved to see there are still editors interested in stories and not sex from page one.
I'm stealing that for a button Get in Touch with Your Inner Anarchist.
Though maybe Sin should use that for a hook on her website/blog...
One thing I liked about Sey's book was that the threat didn't materialize in the truly diabolical fashion she hinted at...and I shouldn't say anymore so I don't spoil it for others. Suffice to say, the worst I thought could happen, which would have taken the book in an entirely too thriller/suspense vein...didn't.
She kept the focus on the two of them and not on the villain or what the villain can or might do. Making it more a straight contemporary than a thriller/suspense.
I'd definitely call Susan's a Romance with Suspense elements. :)
Yeah, I can see that. I love that 'with fill in the blank elements' line!
Like Historical with Zombie elements. LOL!
It's such a handy little phrase! ;-)
I want one of those Inner Anarchist buttons! (I cracked up when I read that line, Marn.)
"Macaroni and cheese" contempoary. Mmm. Maybe mine is a "Who Stole My Cheese" contemporary, since there's a bit of a mystery in it. LOL
hahahaha!!
Always better than "Who cut the cheese?"
Who Stole My Cheese Contemporary. LOL!!
Wow, I get busy at work and then I come back to you guys talking about "Who cut the cheese" contemporary. LOL
Makes it a little hard to blame it on you when you show up. LOL
It's Donna's fault. *holds nose and points at Donna*
Hey! I said "Stole the Cheese". STOLE. S.T.O.L.E.
You and Marn are the ones that changed it. LOL
Nope, too late. You're officially the pirate who cut the cheese.
Well, cutlass do come in handy!
Crackers, anyone?
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