Lately I have, for no particular reason that I can think of, written several ghost stories. There’s one where finding the ghost-girl’s missing doll leads to uncovering a murder, and a creepy little piece about something munching the people who fail to pass a test, and one where a crime in a cemetery leads to spectacular results, and the novel where a ne’er-do-well is being haunted by the ghost of an investigative reporter, who turns out to be his uncle.
I thought for a while they were unsellable, because I couldn’t find anybody listing “ghost stories” as something they published. But a little more research revealed that I was just thinking too broadly for today’s market.
The creepy little story is horror. The ghost-girl with the missing doll is apparently YA paranormal. The novel’s gay paranormal romance. The rather straightforward ghost in the cemetery is actually going to be the hardest to place. It’s not horrid enough for horror. Its romance subplot, which plays no role in the central conflict, is too strong for conventional paranormal but not enough for paranormal romance. It looks like I’ll have to beef up one aspect or another to make it one thing or another.
What it seems to boil down to is that in fiction right now, everything is a niche market. Online presses especially are able to narrow their focus and cater to very specific audiences. On the one hand, this is annoying — it feels like being forced into smaller and smaller boxes. On the other hand, it’s exciting, because in practice it means that no matter what odd combination of genres a particular story falls into, it’s likely that somebody’s going to be looking for a well-written story with those characteristics.
And in the end, “well-written” is what will carry the day.
Sal’s his uncle? I’ll just pretend I don’t know that yet . . . š
And “well-written” is something you do.
Well, he could be his great-uncle. But you already knew that — remember you helped me work out the genetics with twins and such?
Oh, right! I’d forgotten about all that genetics stuff. /jogs brain
I think that means it’s been way too long since I posted any snippets…
it can be frustrating, can’t it? I certainly hope you place yours. Now, to find *my* needle… lol
The other concern I have is that my writing isn’t tightly focused. Are readers going to be able to find me if I’m all over the place as far as these niches are concerned?
In the latest issue of Asimov’s, I discovered writer Kit Reed, who refers to herself as “transgenred.”
Cool! Was Reed’s story about transgender issues?
Annoying to find a home for them and very exciting to write, I have to agree.