Hatrack River Writers Workshop: What genre?

This is topic What genre? in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/writers/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=006908

Posted by A Yeatts (Member # 9500) on :

I'm finally getting brave enough to even consider shopping a story around but my struggle is figuring out which genre it is. How do I tell the difference between dark fantasy, supernatural horror, and every other subgenre that pops out of the Duotrope drop down search menu? I don't want to be that goober that sends my story to the wrong publisher.

Posted by telflonmail (Member # 9501) on :

Genres are somewhat subjective.

The best way to tell is to read the magazine from that publisher from issues of the preceeding year to tell the type of story they want.

Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :

A Yeatts, the goobers are the ones who don't read the guidelines and send things the editor has clearly indicated no interest in (or actually even forbidden).

As long as you send a story that could be categorized as something an editor wants (some editors may call it "dark fantasy" while others may call it "supernatural horror"), you can send it to those editors. "Close" counts in horseshoes and in submissions, most of the time.

Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :

If you have heavy supernatural elements, go with supernatural. Especially if there's horror.

Dark Fantasy may include elements of the supernatural, but I would say it's primary focus is fantasy. (Clear as mud, right?)

See this pic for 1000 words of Dark Fantasy.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7mdcmbs3CVQ/SmcLpaeSL-I/AAAAAAAAADQ/Hd9QlNZLAws/s1600-h/The-Dark-Is-Rising.jpg

See this pic for 1000 words of Supernatural Horror.
http://www.matthewhunt.com/blog/images/dragmetohell.jpg

Axe

Posted by LDWriter2 (Member # 9148) on :

Some stories are hard to classify and there are a couple of markets that say they want those too. Or that cross genres.

Other than that, from what I have heard from a couple of pro editors go with what Kathleen said.

As long as you don't send SF to a Fantasy market or Horror to romance etc.. all they will do is say no. If it's close they may just like it.

Posted by A Yeatts (Member # 9500) on :

Thanks so much! I can stop having nightmares about angry editors now. Makes more sense. And I have a lot of homework reading to do before sending anything!

Anna

Posted by LDWriter2 (Member # 9148) on :

You could try doing that reading at ralan.com or Duotrope's Digest duotrope.com.

I like the way things are listed better at ralan...its easier to find and to understand but evidently many here like the other one because you can check on how well they do at sending rejections and list your submissions somehow. Come to think of it I think ralan does the rejection thing too but I usually don't use it.