By Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Last year, I received a contract extension for my Southern Quilting mysteries—Penguin wanted two more books. So I knew that the series would last through 2015 and then would be up for consideration again. I started writing the book that’s coming out this August, Shear Trouble.
I was about to work on subplots for the story when I got an email from a reader in South America. She’s what many writers call a “True Fan.” True Fans have been defined by former Wired editor Kevin Kelly as:
“A True Fan is defined as someone who will purchase anything and everything you produce. They will drive 200 miles to see you sing. They will buy the super deluxe re-issued hi-res box set of your stuff even though they have the low-res version. They have a Google Alert set for your name. They bookmark the eBay page where your out-of-print editions show up. They come to your openings. They have you sign their copies. They buy the t-shirt, and the mug, and the hat. They can’t wait till you issue your next work. They are true fans.”
It’s said that you only need 1000 True Fans to be a long-term success. So when True Fans write me (and frequently, they’re the only ones who write me), I pay attention. She said some nice things about my books, being extremely specific about the elements she liked. And then she stated that “it feels that it’s time for Beatrice to start dating Wyatt.”
Beatrice is my sleuth, my protagonist in the Southern Quilting mysteries and her friend is Wyatt. I have been moving their relationship along very slowly. I don’t consider myself particularly adept at writing romance and I’d originally thought of their story as a subplot that was somewhat incidental to the mysteries. But my editor keeps reminding me that, as writer Jeff Cohen put it, the “The crime is the bait; it’s what Alfred Hitchcock called “the MacGuffin,” something the people in your book are desperate about but the reader should find secondary. Your characters are first.”
This was the first of a couple of messages I received from readers regarding Beatrice and Wyatt.
So…I needed a subplot. My readers wanted a romance. I set about figuring out how to make it work and making sure that it would work so that it would be the best thing for the story. I’d uncovered some interesting posts in the past on genre-blending.
Writer Nicola Morgan had three questions to ask when considering genre-blending:
1. Are the lovers of one genre likely to want to read the other genre at the same time?
2. Is it possible that many lovers of one really don’t like the other? Enough to be put off?
3. And, if so, are the dissenters likely to scupper the chances of your cross-genre book by simply not buying it?
Mystery and romance are commonly mixed together—in everything from police procedurals to cozy mysteries, so no problem there. And readers were clearly asking…actually asking, yes…for this subplot to proceed.
Writer’s Digest also had a helpful article by writer Michelle Richmond: “How to Write and Sell a Cross-Genre Novel.” Her three points:
“Recognize your primary genre—and use it as your compass.
Draw on your strengths as a writer, regardless of genre.
Create characters that defy genre conventions.”
So I knew my strengths as a writer and I knew what I was experienced at writing. I was interested in branching out a little and didn’t mind trying something new as long as it didn’t mean I was going to fall on my face while doing it or ruin a mystery.
That’s when I decided to, yes, have the characters start functioning as a couple—but also use that relationship as a way to build tension and conflict and even humor into my story. That’s what I’m better at writing. That’s what I was more confident I could pull off.
I wrote in the subplot and turned the manuscript over to my editor. I’m curious to see if she thinks what I wrote worked—I did end up feeling good about it and how the storyline meshed with the mystery. Ultimately, it will be up to the readers to decide if I hit all the right notes.
I honestly think that most books do genre-blend…at least to a small degree. What elements of other genres have you added to your books? How did you integrate them seamlessly into your story?
As a reader I find that some of the most enjoyable books are actually the ones that could be listed under several genres. The blending of genres makes the characters and their actions seem more realistic. Looking forward to seeing how Beatrice and Wyatt change things up.
Mason–Oh, good! I didn’t think of it that way. Yes, it would be more realistic, wouldn’t it? Thanks for coming by.
Wow, what strange harmonics in the universe. I just cut a long section on Hitchcock, the mystery plot as MacGuffin and the character story from the post I posted tonight. (It was too long. I figured I could do a post on that alone later.)
As for genre blending — it sounds like your plans really work and are natural for mystery. It may feel like blending to you, but it is a part of the genre. Especially since you don’t have to turn the next book into an outright romance. You can just let a friendship grow in the direction your readers are looking forward to.
That is one of the pleasures of all series fiction — from TV sitcoms to paranormal stories — you get to see characters grow and change and it can be a long slow relaxing thing that makes you look forward to everything.
Camille–Great minds think alike! Of course, in this instance it would be you and Jeff Cohen with the great minds. :)
It does feel like blending to me–somehow I’ve become this mystery purist and I don’t know how it happened. I’ve got to fight that instinct every day…because editor and readers want more.
Elizabeth – I think there’s a lot of potential for keeping one’s stories fresh and getting new readers if there’s a little genre-blending. And sub-plots like the one with Beatrice and Wyatt are an effective way to do that without distracting from the main plot. Real life doesn’t just fit neatly into one category, so why should fiction?
Margot–Now that’s definitely an attractive prospect…hooking in new readers by genre-blending. And another vote for realism, as Mason mentioned. I can definitely see it.
I remember when fans said they wanted a female character in my next book, and more specifically, a female character for Byron. I’m sure there were fans of the first book that didn’t like that element in the second one, but I think the bulk of them did.
I’d be happy with ten true fans!
Alex–I think you’ve got them. :)
Elizabeth–
Pointing a way to cross-pollinate genres provides seasoned professionals like yourself with more resources to work with. But I would think new writers–especially those seeking an agent–would first want to establish their mastery of a main genre. I especially like the quote from Hitchcock about characters coming first. I bet the “true fan” you describe is one who has been captured by your characters, even more than by the mystery that needs solving.
Barry–That has long been the argument that agents have presented. It does still tend to be what they say…be careful when blending genres. I know one successful mystery writer who wrote a book that flopped a few years ago…too much romance in it. So the bookstores weren’t sure where to shelve it. Half the stores put the book in romance, half in mystery. That resulted in the poor sales. But I’m thinking that issue will become less of a problem as bookstores (sadly) continue going out of business.
Most people fall in love with characters first anyway. I think you’ll have fun building a romance between those two characters.
Diane–I think you’re right. And I’m hoping it will be fun. :)
Attractive prospect.
I see a web of intrigue here.
I would urge you to consider the “almost, but not quite” romantic involvement.
The romantic end does allow for complications to wrap and warp the character’s perception clouding their ability to “solve the crime.” You’ll recall that le Carre did this so fantastically in _Tinker, Tailor_ all these years ago. The love interest had a significant impact on the story without breaking our expected genre mold (I’ll grant it as a genre he was reshaping in his own whim …but still, there were conventions to be followed.)
Deft crafting is called for here. Right in your wheelhouse.
I think I need to refresh my memory on some of these mysteries with stronger romantic elements. I *do* really like the “almost, but not quite” types of stories and honestly would likely tackle that much better. And my Beatrice is a prickly character, which that might work well for.
Adding romance to mystery–what an appropriate topic for Valentine’s Day. I write historical cozy romantic mysteries, and that means that I cross several genres (historical fiction, mysteries, romance) that provide quite a balancing act, because the expectations are slightly different for each. For example, romance readers expect a happy ever after at the end of a book, but mystery readers are used to series where the romance develops slowly over the series–and continues on after the happy ever after moment. Readers of romance and mysteries expect fairly short books, but fans of historical fiction are used to longer works–since the setting and the time period are a kind of character in itself that takes time to develop.
But while the pitfalls are there–I think there are lots of benefits as well. As mentioned earlier–it makes for a more complex and satisfying story. And it does mean that your books have the potential reaching a wider market. I can’t tell you how often a review states “I don’t usually ready mysteries (from a historical fiction fan) or I don’t usually read historical fiction (from a mystery fan).
And once I learned to emphasize that my works were cozies (no explicit sex ) I had fewer readers who were disappointed because they weren’t getting what they expected from a romance. In some cases, they just didn’t buy the book, in others they got enough pleasure from the mystery plot or the historical setting to make up for the slower, sedate nature of the romance. I can’t imagine that your readers won’t be happy with the new romantic element–and isn’t it wonderful to live in a time when we can get that sort of feedback!
It was a good Valentine’s Day topic. :)
I can only imagine how tough it must be to work with three genres in a single book! But you’re obviously comfortable with the genres and I bet readers are or will be receptive to all of those elements in a book.
Yes, I don’t get those types of notes…stating they’ve never read mystery before. I’d say 98% of my reader base consider themselves frequent mystery readers. It would be nice to pull in some new readers, for sure.
I’ve seen cozy mysteries advertise “sweet romance” or I’ve seen the term “sweet romance” on romances with no sexual content. That might be a term you could use as a keyword/phrase for the book.
I can’t imagine writing a book without romance in it; I’m sappy that way.
Rex Stout wrote very humorous mysteries. Every Dick Francis book has elements of humor, science, and romance blended into the mystery. Even Philip Marlowe eventually got married.
The real question is, what do your True Fans want? And the real answer is, they want whatever you write next. True Fans won’t bail because you expand your horizons. The folks who stopped listening to Dylan in 1973 weren’t his True Fans. The folks who won’t buy your next book because it’s too mushy aren’t your True Fans, either.
Joel–I haven’t had a sappy side for a while. :( I should probably nurture that.
Humor is one element that always goes in my stories. That’s funny–I never thought of it as genre-blending. Hmm.
And good point about the True Fans. You’re right–they seem be okay with whatever I do. Although I’m sure they probably have a favorite series.
Problem solved: just write well enough and be prolific enough to create a huge base of True Fans. Then genre-blend to your heart’s content. And as you have suggested, Elizabeth, the problem may lend itself more easily to solution with current technology. The pigeonhole approach used by publishers to class books has made life easier for them–and for bookstores–but it has no doubt led to many great books not getting published.
Barry, many of my mystery fans were fans of my music first, and some of my biz book readers are now music fans. If they appreciate my philosophy and sense of humor, my worldview, they don’t limit themselves to one medium or genre. Why should I?
Hi Elizabeth
Loved this post, thanks. It can be scary trying a genre you feel unconfident in, particularly in a book, or series of books that you feel comfortable with.
Most of my stuff is genre-bending, in that I wilfully combine fantasy and sci-fi, and a bit of horror, normally with some zombies if I think I can get away with it :)
Funnily enough, though, in the trilogy I’m currently working on, a number of key plot points hang on the central romance, which has meant I’m having to write it in far more depth than usual. It’s great fun, but pretty challenging.
I think each genre probably has its own set of pitfalls, and with the romance, at least for me, it’s about keeping the cheese and the schmaltz to a minimum. The rest of the book is fairly dark fantasy, so I don’t want to chase away those readers! I’m a hopeless romantic at heart, so it’s not all that easy, but it is fun to try :)
cheers
Mike
Michael–Scary is right! I think I must have just stared at that email in shock for a few moments, mind whirring. :)
I would actually be a lot more comfortable writing zombies than romance. :) I may have to introduce zombies to one of my series for my own enjoyment (and, obviously, never for general release…my editors would flip…ha!)
It *is* really challenging to write romance, isn’t it? The first scene I wrote was just a scene in a restaurant and it was so stilted that I scrapped it and rewrote it from scratch. I guess we improve with time and practice, like with everything else. I think I need a lighter touch with it…it came through forced at first, then was much better after rewrites. And you’re right–it’s fun to try. Fun to grow.
Zombie quilters? Uh oh, I’m afraid the train has left the tracks.
Barry, that train is long gone! Might have been derailed at birth. :)
I really wish I could remember where I heard/read the quote, but it basically said all great stories have a bit of romance, a bit of danger, and a bit of consequence (or something very similar). Romance is a natural part of human life. Go for it. :) It can add tension if the romance works out and it can add tension when it doesn’t. (And works great for the middle chapters). Just my two cents. :)