Blogger: Wendy Lawton
It must seem beyond frustrating to writers who long to be published. We tell you things like, “The plot seems like it’s been done,” or “If you want to write about God’s grace you need to do it in a fresh way.” And yet, when you try to do something different you hear things like, “It feels like you are pushing the envelope and going into unfamiliar territory,” or “It just doesn’t feel familiar enough for a [enter genre or category here] book.”
What’s a writer supposed to do?
Here are a few random observations:
- In a novel we want a plot and characters that feel new but we generally don’t want to see experimental writing from a debut author. In other words, we get queasy with second person narration or wonky chronology unless we’ve really come to know and trust the author. (And even then we’ll worry about how their readers will react to a crazy new wrinkle.)
- In nonfiction we seek that new way of looking at a subject but we don’t want to explore something outside of orthodoxy with a new writer or see a format that is unexpected.
- Too short or too long are often marketing issues. How do we make a book come in at an expected price point?
- Sometimes the norm is that way because we’ve watched sales. For instance, we know romantic fiction sales will be strongest if the protagonist is a woman. So if you choose to be different by going with a male lead, you’ve already got a hurdle to cross with the sales people on the acquisitions committee.
- “Pushing the envelope” in an effort to be different often looks exactly like that– an author trying to be different instead of a story that demands coloring outside the lines.
- Writing in a new genre is dangerous for a new writer. While we think there should be more innovation, the truth is that it’s easiest to write where readers are already avidly reading.
So how does a writer feel fresh or different?
- Your voice, if you are developed as a writer, will set you apart. No one is going to say things and look at things the way you do.
- If you are novelist, look for fresh characters– characters we like. (Don’t try to break in with a seriously flawed protagonist. Too tough for a debut.)
- Write a story that is fresh. In order to do this you need to read widely and study books in your genre.
- If you are writing nonfiction, give us a book we’ve not yet seen but give it to us in a familiar format.
Okay? Is that confusing enough? Let’s talk today about what is different enough and what’s too different. Don’t forget, YMMV. This is subjective at best, and we’re always learning.
Hi Wendy,
Thank you for this post. It’s so helpful for an aspiring author like me to ‘get into the heads’ of agents like you. I have a question tying in with this– how do you or other agents feel about sensitive topics in Christian writing? (Such as human trafficking.) I want to include a difficult topic in my wip with sensitivity and make it a part of the female lead’s past, and I’m wondering how an agent would feel about it.
Thank you!
Mollie Rushmeyer
Mollie, That’s a bold topic. I’d be interested in talking/emailing with you offline about that. I friend of mine runs a rescue for sexually trafficked women. If you’re up to it, send me a “contact” via my website.
Thanks for clearing up an issue in writing that is muddled at its very best! You have given us some concrete things to do and not do, and a helpful definition of what makes something “fresh.” Of course, it is very subjective! What some readers think is a fresh twist is something that another reader might think has been done to death, and everything in between! But as you said, a writer’s voice is his or her own. No one can duplicate that. Thanks for a great post!
Thanks for this informative post, Wendy. Your “random observations,” are actually very helpful in distinguishing how we as writers should be unique and fresh without going too far into the “hard-to-sell” direction. Thanks for the great advice!
That’s a scary image, Wendy. Chickens are known to attack one of their own that’s off-normal. Those outer chicks are eyeing the poor little oddball at the center way to much for comfort!
Hope that’s not a good analogy for publishing!
LOL!!! I did not notice that, but you’re right. That little chick in the middle is about to get pounced on.
Great post. Thanks. As a writer working on my first novel, it’s nice to hear that I don’t have to break the mold to get noticed. I just have to tell a solid story in my own voice. That, all alone, feels like a plenty good challenge. Cheers!
Wendy, while I understand the challenges inherent to an “unknown quantity” author, it is difficult to balance that discomfort against the “be bold and bodacious” advice from Tosca Lee at WCCW this week. She followed that up with “Write like no one will ever read this!” But then perhaps that is a valid approach is no publisher will touch bold and bodacious from a new author. Indeed, no one will ever read this. 😉 It is a delicate balancing act required to gain the credibility necessary to push the envelope to, and beyond the edge.
Helpful advice as always, Wendy. Thank you.
Ha ha! Yep, different but the same is very hard for me. I went with different (story set in 763BC Assyria) and it was too different. But have had some folks enjoying my quirky romance. I’m revising a YA ms with a seriously flawed protaginist (ha ha, that was on the list wasn’t it)Then again, I really enjoyed writing about prehistoric creatures rampaging though a summer camp … kindof too different again. Perhaps another RomCom? It is hard to say, but I’m gonna keep writing, whatever happens and editing those old mss. whatever happens.
Thank you for this! You’ve given us great insight into that elusive balance of fresh and too bold.
Erin, I’ve seen you accessorize–you strike the perfect balance!
I subscribe to the late Pete Conrad’s philosophy – If you can’t be good, be colourful!
* I can be very, very colourful.