tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35623128.post1063344894690907657..comments2023-07-03T07:26:04.780-04:00Comments on The Rejecter: Women's Fiction and Writing BlogsThe Rejecterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09087643296072075641noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35623128.post-44977284425524031402009-07-10T04:15:52.028-04:002009-07-10T04:15:52.028-04:00I don't have anything against 'women's...I don't have anything against 'women's fiction' or 'men's fiction' if there is such a genre, but I think that any fiction that is good fiction should be able to supersede these distinctions. Universal lit, that is.Shruti Chandra Guptahttp://www.literaryzone.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35623128.post-34049621563611525112008-08-31T14:17:00.000-04:002008-08-31T14:17:00.000-04:00I just started a blog while I am working on my fir...I just started a blog while I am working on my first novel. Yes, it is Chick Lit or Women's Fiction, or Romance, whatever it turns out to be when I'm finished with it. Anyway, I started the blog so that I can get writing out of my head that doesn't go with my novel, if that makes sense. I write in a variety of styles and voices and sometimes I just feel like writing something besides my novel, depending on what is going on in my life at the time. It seems to work well for me, but it's only been a few days with the blog. Thank you for the inspiration.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35623128.post-67868598120850735392008-07-09T16:36:00.000-04:002008-07-09T16:36:00.000-04:00IMO, it's "chick lit" if I know what's going to ha...IMO, it's "chick lit" if I know what's going to happen by page 10 (and sometimes the cover). Women's literature is Anne Tyler.Marinkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16489592695993949578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35623128.post-20548227382924207652008-06-13T20:39:00.000-04:002008-06-13T20:39:00.000-04:00I have found that my blog writing (I have three of...I have found that my blog writing (I have three of the damned things!) can serve as warm up for the fiction writing I will do later. I may have only a certain number of words in me in a day, but the blog words don't count to that total.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35623128.post-59816361913741754942008-06-07T15:17:00.000-04:002008-06-07T15:17:00.000-04:00I responded to your other post on blogs, but I wan...I responded to your other post on blogs, but I wanted to see if you see a distinction between a blog, and an informational website about the unpublished novel.<BR/><BR/>I am designing a site solely for, and about, my novel. No personal quips or updates on Jazz Fest...just: About the Author, Synopsis, Excepts, Contact, etc. My query letter (written to the best of my ability) will stand alone, so the site will serve only as an addendum of sorts. A vessel to expedite the rejection or request for a partial. I figure it will only be useful if my query piques interest. If not, that would have ended in a rejection anyway and I wouldn't expect them to look at the site.<BR/><BR/>Basically, I am wondering if a website, <I>only</I> about the book, would be of some value to an agent. Or will it be deemed as frivolous and achieve the opposite? <BR/><BR/>Any feedback will be of value. Spanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35623128.post-85252920053415666642008-06-06T16:30:00.000-04:002008-06-06T16:30:00.000-04:00Good for you, giving yourself and your words to yo...Good for you, giving yourself and your words to your writing first, and your blog last. You're so right that if you use up much writing time/energy/ideas/words on your blog that it takes away from your own writing. It's a balancing act most times!Kristi Hollhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01480214912307187314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35623128.post-83409830285727922022008-06-06T14:02:00.000-04:002008-06-06T14:02:00.000-04:00Women's fiction is NOT chick lit. Chick lit is gen...Women's fiction is NOT chick lit. Chick lit is generally snarky, has a 20-something heroine who lives in a large city, and tends to focus on her relationships with men and her group of friends (something like Devil Wears Prada or Sex and the City). Women's fiction tends to have a more serious tone, and is meant for a wider audience (Phillipa Gregory's books, Julia's Chocolates, etc). And yes, the corporate book buyers cringe when you describe a book as chick lit. It was big several years ago, but now it's not selling like it did. There are, of course, exceptions to every rule, but usually they are books by already established authors.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35623128.post-38840011285196478282008-06-06T12:50:00.001-04:002008-06-06T12:50:00.001-04:00I like the title "Women's Fiction" because so much...I like the title "Women's Fiction" because so much falls under it and so many books aren't simply serious or simply irreverent or simply anything. The best books combine many elements - make us laugh and cry and think - and have times when they are just fun to read. <BR/><BR/>Saying Women's Fiction allows an author or agent to determine where her book falls within the realm of that huge genre without being told.<BR/><BR/>Because as with the whole publishing lot in life, it's all subjective, isn't it??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35623128.post-57948361691508382962008-06-06T12:50:00.000-04:002008-06-06T12:50:00.000-04:00My impressions:Chick lit - a specific genre, with ...My impressions:<BR/><BR/>Chick lit - a specific genre, with a tone that's light and fluffy and funny. Often stars an urban career woman looking for love, and may include lots of shopping and/or alcohol and/or chocolate. Usually a quick read. Think BRIDGET JONES or THE NANNY DIARIES.<BR/><BR/>Women's fiction - What the Rejecter said. It's a general term for books about women that don't fall into specific genres, such as romance, and that take themselves more seriously than chick lit. Think THE STONE DIARIES or THE RED TENT.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35623128.post-68754736622158690302008-06-06T12:16:00.000-04:002008-06-06T12:16:00.000-04:00The whole genre thing is at once confusing, amusin...The whole genre thing is at once confusing, amusing and superfluous. I recently finished the final draft of a novel where the majority of characters are lesbians in recovery from alcoholism. <BR/><BR/>It could be classified as literary fiction, because it is very character-driven, with serious, non-romantic drama. It could also be classified as women's fiction and lesbian fiction based on the nature of the characters and potential readers.<BR/><BR/>When I'm writing, I care less about the genre classification and more about the quality of the writing.Dharma Kelleherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16986810812662846524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35623128.post-47063787604605131872008-06-06T12:09:00.000-04:002008-06-06T12:09:00.000-04:00Yes of course blogging should not get in the way o...Yes of course blogging should not get in the way of, uh, actual writing! Unless you <I>want</I> it too : )<BR/><BR/>I also think writers should not let arbitrary publishing trends, or what they perceive to be trends, dictate what and how they write. Ask any writer and some genre is always "dead" or conversly "on the rise." It's such a moot point when it comes to the work you're trying to do.Jana Lubinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03472531289866998508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35623128.post-12440999858955612462008-06-06T11:33:00.000-04:002008-06-06T11:33:00.000-04:00Though it feels insulting to have a separate "wome...Though it feels insulting to have a separate "women's fiction" category, I think the reason it exists is because studies show most males won't read a book they think is written for females. Not all males, of course, but marketing aims for the least common denominator. Men, in general, don't like to spend a lot of time shopping, so they don't want to have to paw through "women's" books looking for something "manly".<BR/><BR/>Stereotypes exist because there's often a grain of truth to them. Marketing doesn't care about the exceptions, only about making the most sales for the least cost.Elissa Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10727748060605823895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35623128.post-88731192276560946442008-06-06T10:37:00.000-04:002008-06-06T10:37:00.000-04:00Chick-lit is sort of a sub-division that I can't p...Chick-lit is sort of a sub-division that I can't properly describe off the top of my head. The word "chick" should tell you its level of sophistication, and there's usually some underlying them of empowerment. Clearly I don't read a lot of it except at work.<BR/><BR/>There is "Dick-lit" but we don't call it that. If you see something that ends with "for guys" or "for boys" then it's generally that, though it has a rougher tone to it. And I assume less drinks served in martini glasses appear on the covers. Like toy stores, clothing stores, and general societal expectations, most books at least subconsciously adhere to our general stereotypes about gender. <BR/><BR/>This all does not include gay literature, erotica or otherwise, though there is a lot of stereotyping in that.The Rejecterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09087643296072075641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35623128.post-8040562466947179292008-06-06T10:26:00.000-04:002008-06-06T10:26:00.000-04:00but isn't "women's fiction" a synonym (if not a eu...but isn't "women's fiction" a synonym (if not a euphemism) for <I>chick lit</I>?<BR/><BR/>and if what you say is true, about the majority of readers being female, why does such a subdivision of commercial fiction exist? perhaps a "dick lit" category would be more appropriate?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com