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Jessica, this is an interesting topic.

I'd like to say you can't judge a book by its cover (or its hook), but the truth is, I do, and so do the patrons who come in to our public library. My area of collection development is non-print (DVDs, CDs, VHS tapes, etc.), and I have discovered that the best way to ensure no one will check out an item is to destroy or lose the original cover. The checkout rate comes to a screeching halt. If I go through the trouble of reprinting the cover, it's more likely to check out. If I go through more trouble and reprint the three sentences of description that belong on the back, it will go back into full-fledged circulation. Our library limits patrons to five of each type of non-print item at a time, which means that patrons are narrowing down their selections based on the title, cover, and three-sentence description. Since they can only have five things (and have a limited amount of time to watch movies or listen to music anyway), they aren't likely to go with something that doesn't immediately attract them.

Our regular library patrons tend to hit the new books display first. If they aren't looking for something in particular (and people really do read reviews, because they often clip them and bring them in to see if we have the book), they, too, tend to first skim the displays of faced out books and pick up the ones that catch their eye. When they read the inside flaps, you can tell they've made up their minds within the first six to eight lines, which is why I think it's sad that so many book flaps fill that space with "Jane Doe is the greatest writer on the history of the planet, and here she is, with another tour de force" instead of launching into the story.

I, myself, got into a real reading rut this summer and swore I would try some new authors. I have picked up several I've never read before, but the ones I chose on my own (not through recommendations from friends) I chose because they had cool covers, great titles, or the five or six words on the cover caught my eye. I also chose a few because of ads in the Romance Writer's Report or Romantic Times, which means that the cover and tag line caught my eye and I had the wherewithal to scribble down the title before putting the magazine away.

This is why I'm so irritated about my inability to write a good pitch! *sigh*

When I pick books (not recommended to me) it's all in the cover - and then the hook. If I like what I see I open it up and skim the first lines to see if I like the voice. If those things doesn't click, it goes back on the shelf.

Very few people will pick up a book that looks boring, sounds boring, starts boring and read the whole thing through in order to be able to judge whether it's good or not. Why think that agents and publishers would do it differently?

Heh. The notion of a book being "well-written" makes it sound like an evaluation of an athlete being "fundamentally sound." It means something, but it doesn't necessarily mean everything you're looking for.

Makes me imagine Mel Kiper, NFL draft expert, reviewing books.

"This new novel by Reid Kerr is really well-written, every comma is in place and no participle left to dangle. Of course, it's as boring as dry toast, but it's a veritable masterpiece of proper penmanship."

As for trying out new authors, I'm a sucker for a good title. I scan the shelves at the bookstore often, and a good title will make me check out the back cover, and if there's a hook there, I might give it a chance.

Love the blog!

The first pickup can be anything - title, author's name, cover design, back cover blurb, 'I haven't seen this one before' (the SF selection at my local store really REALLY sucks).

Putting down moments are genre (yet another story about an abused child surviving childhood? Yawn), blurb (there are subtypes of stories I don't enjoy, including explicit sex), or first page. Last book I put down was all edgy and modern and full of disjointed bits - it might have been interesting, but I don't want to work that hard.

If I have a number of books to select from, I usually go for the one with the most interesting combination of storyline/description and writing. Blandness is a turnoff - I need something to keep my interest. That doesn't have to be action, or high concept, but a book has to engage my interest _somehow_.

As for queries, I woulnd't want to judge a book on the query alone any more than I judge it on the back blurb - because there's a good chance that someone else helped to write it and took the most interesting bits and polished it, but no guarantee that the story itself will live up to it. Five pages, on the other hand, would be enough for me to form an accurate opinion in most cases, because I don't believe that anyone will deliver five pages that sing to the soul and whack 350 dull ones at their end - if you can write five good pages, you probably can write, and if your first five pages are blah, it's unlikely you've learnt to write brilliantly by page fifteen.

I don't think anyone can narrow down specifically how they pick a book. I think, as with most of us, it depends on our mood. One day romance, one day a serious piece of nonfiction or a thriller, mystery, it goes on and on. Maybe we don't even know what we want to read. In any case, our attraction to a book might be as simple as the type of text the title is in.

To not judge a book by it's cover is nearly impossible. Especially since that is the first thing we see and we as humans are a visual bunch.

I'll put it this way, picking a book is more like picking a girl or boyfriend. As soon as you see them, you know if you're interested or not.

But to blame the agent or the publisher is silly. They know more about books, what will sell or has potential to sell than any of us, that is why they do what they do.

They pick books based on years of experience and a ton of other things I couldn't begin to comprehend. As a writer, I have to trust their opinions and hope my book is the one they've been looking for.

I've tried out many new-to-me authors as part of a book discussion group I am in. Some I love. Some I don't. I rarely find recommendations on blogs (or even the NY Times) to give me books/authors I like. A book's cover or jacket blurb is irrelevant to me. I don't know what kind of "hook" I would look for other than subject matter.

Overall, I'd say half the time books delight me and the other half they disappoint me.

Just want to chime in with an agreement (unfortunately). Good writing is important (whatever that is and that's undoubtedly up for debate) but all you have to do is look at a bestseller list or the bookshelves at your local bookstore to understand that after a certain level of writing proficiency, there are a lot of other factors going on that make for a successful book (successful being defined as "published" versus, say, "bestseller.").

Some of those are:
Hook
Engaging characters
Good cover art.
A plot that "hooks" you in and keeps you hooked in.
Luck.

Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code took a lot of hits for being "poorly written" but I never really thought so. I thought his writing served the kind of story he was writing. But his hook and his plotting were fantastic.

I've never liked Robert Ludlum (dead or alive). I think he was a pretty clunky writer. But he sure as hell knew how to hook the reader.

And as one published author (at least sometimes) to a bunch of aspiring novelists, I can tell you this as a fact:

good writing isn't enough.

I read new authors all the time. Partly because I'm always on the lookout for something new (and partly because I find most best-sellers leave me disappointed somehow), but no, it's NOT the hook that gets me. The hook is nothing more than a marketing ploy.

What gets me is the subject matter. A book can have the best hook in the world, but I am NOT going to read yet another tale of four friends who are very different yet find their way through the dating pool. Yawn. Been there. Tired of the plot.

When I pick something up, it's because the plot as a whole grabs me. It goes beyond the marketing and into the potential in the whole picture.

Hmmm, interesting question. I answered this on my blog recently when I reviewed the book The Kindness of Strangers. Why did I pick it up?

The cover - cover art always draws me in and plays a role. Too cheesy - gonna pass.

The blurb on the back - it told me that it was contemporary and about a mom and her sons. I have my own sons so I connected and it also told me that two families get brought to their knees.

There was nothing in the stores that floated my boat and I was desperate to find anything to read during the holiday break. I had never heard of this author or read any reviews on this book.

It ended up being a great surprise and I'm glad I picked it up. I think I found a new author to follow into the future as I felt her writing was much like Jodi Picoult.

But it was those two things - the cover and the blurb - that's it.

Is it fair that agents and editors have to make a big decision on such little information? It's tough and no doesn't seem fair because it is the whole experience that makes a book great or not.

Would reading partials or fulls of every submission be the right thing to do? I don't think they'd have time to do anything else that is in their job description if they did!

Great points Jessica.
The truth is when faced with an overwhelming number of choices and options you have to start whittling away at the masses in some way. I equate it to clothes shopping. I can walk right through the middle of several racks and know whether anything is "going to work". The hook is the same thing as that visual for our books. The agent has to see or hear something that clicks with them.

As writer's we need to consider learning how to sell our story in a short blurb and/or start it in the right place .. it's part of the art.

As for shopping new authors -- I'm all about the cover first, then the blurb. I will shamefully admit that if there is no blurb on a book --- it's a pass for me until someone recommends it.

Happy New Year --- thanks for the thoughtful topic to get our butts in gear in tweaking those blurbs and hooks!
Nancy

I have a horrible pattern for picking up new books. If a book is in the bargain bin, I'll take a look at it if it falls in my interest range. I'm more likely to give it a try if it's cheap, even if I'm not entirely sold on it.

If I'm paying full price, I look at the cover. Deeds of Paksennarion had a really blah cover, but it was recommended. I read the jacket, about the author, and the first few pages. Then I skip around and read random pages. If there is a beginning chapter to a sequel, I start reading it.

I have to be sold on the story and the writing to spend my money on it. If someone has a style of writing that drives me nuts the story better be danged good for me to spend my time reading it and it would take something remarkable to do that.

So, yes, to me the hook and the opening chapter are crucial.

I guess that's one reason I appreciate the agents who blog and offer their time to help improve these things. I am terrible at them and yet I know it has to be done.

And my posts today are probably filled with typos, but I had to check in and now I have to hie off to work.

I started reviewing books on my blog about a year ago and now I think it's something other aspiring authors really ought to consider. Among other things, you learn really fast what really matters.

Also, if you develop a reputation authors and publishers start sending you books for free! It's like being the first kid to open presents on Christmas morning.
:o)

The cover and title gets me to pick up a book. A good description on the back keeps me from putting it back down. Award indications are impressive but quotes of praise from other authors or critics are not an influence. Then I read a few sample pages. That's the buy or not decision. I've often not brought books, especially fiction, if the prose is a style I do not like. With non-fiction I'm much more open to different writing styles.

That's when I'm at the bookstore. But a lot of books I read are chosen online based on recommendations of others. A strong recommendation from a literary blogger or a blogger on a niche topic for non-fiction will usually get me interested enough in the book to give it a chance.

Naomi Novik's His Majesty's Dragon, one of my favorites now: I picked it up because there was a dragon on the cover and I was curious, and I thought the premise sounded so original and cool that I started reading it in the bookstore (my MO - I won't buy it if I don't make it through at least the first chapter in-store) and then I bought it.

If I'm in the bookstore, these three things influence my selections:

1) title...because sometimes all I see is the spine
2) cover...an intriguing cover will draw me in every time
3) back cover blurb...without a good one, the book goes back on the shelf. The worst thing a publisher could do is only put praise quotes on the back of a new author's book from reviewers or other authors. If I have no clue what the book is about, it goes back on the shelf (and I have seen this done MANY times...even well-known writers I will put back if I can't figure out what the book's about)

If I am shopping online, recommendations from friends/blogs. I also do get curious about those book lists on Amazon or recommendations based on books I've purchased in the past. I've selected lots of books that way.

I always try out new authors because I like to know what editors are buying. I'm a historical junkie. Unfortunately, the bunch of authors I've tried out recently, while the hooks were great, the follow through wasn't so great. I won't be picking up anymore of their books in the future unless someone I know and completely trusts (and who shares the tastes I do in books) says I MUST buy it. I figure the longer we write, the better we get.

Hi Jessica,

When I look at the cover of a book, I realize that the author rarely has any input in that area so I don't fault her if it's ugly. But if it's really terrible, I'll pass.

I don't care what the author looks like, though it's interesting to get a general idea of age. It's the opposite of ageism: I trust a mature writer. Perhaps that's because I am post-youth myself.

I'll flip the book over and read the back copy. What's the story about? I have to care about the premise. If it doesn't interest me, there's no chance I'll buy it, even if it's a bestseller written by a hotshot author. I like books that are fresh and free of cliché—the literary equivalent of the independent film. Certain genres will never interest me.

It doesn't matter much which critic has written what about the book. Chances are I'll buy a book that's highly recommended by a friend whose taste I trust.

The acid test is the first page. Rather, I should say, the first paragraph. Hook me with a unique voice and good writing and I'm yours.

I'm the same as Inherwrite 9:06 above.

Voice more than anything hooks me. The problem with "hook" is that most of the time they have so little to do with the reality of the book. You know, the sort of cliched "list" plots for YA books or "journal" plots where the whole thing is written in journal format or written as a series of "emails" to friends.

Ick.

The more I read the more I think those gimmicks are for people that don't have great "voice" to begin with.

I hate feeling like I'm being marketed to, but of course I understand how the book industry needs that hook, baby, or they don't know how to sell your work.

Jessica,

Great post. It reminded me of something, too. When I was entering and finaling in a lot of first chapter contests, I was constantly being asked by other writers if I wrote my entries especially for contest. I had heard other writers claim they did this, but my answer was no. I wrote the best first chapter I could.

I couldn't lie that I had changed my ending and upped my hook in an attempt to polish my chapter for the contest, but the rewrite made it a better story,a better read, and I never changed it back.

I totally agree that a story is more than a hook. A hook alone, won't generally get you published. The execution of a story is what will get you a contract, but I believe a good hook is part of the execution.

Diana, I think the question is: what is a good hook right now? Hooks change from year to year--perhaps month to month.(Readers, and this includes me, are fickle and are ADD-ed. They bore quickly and need a new or refreshed idea constantly, lol.)
Hence, knowing how to write a good hook may be seconadry to having an interesting hook to begin with. Which is to say, there's no way to make a stale hook interesting no matter how well-written!)
So...Should we look to current affairs (tabloids included) or current bestsellers in order to predict what hooks will be hot next year?
After reading Jessica's post, my resolution this year is to extrapolate that hook-trend graph (yeah, I'll draw one up, lol. The stock market has one, why not one for bestselling hooks??),then I'll try to predict what fickle readers want for their next fix before I write my next book. Only half-kidding here.
With Jessica's help, I think I've solved the mystery (again!)of getting a foot in the door. Hey! I'm an optimist, Failures provide the opportunity to laugh at myself and re-adjust my strategy.
DQ

Every book displayed in the front of the store will get looked at by me if it's a book or author I'm not familiar with.

A pretty cover always draws my eye to a book and I'll pick it up and read a few sentences.

Even if it's a great opener, a lot of books start great, then fizzle, so I'd never buy book on impulse that way (anymore!), especially from a new author.

Getting a great review from the NY Times gets my attention, especially with a new author, but the Publishers Weekly review posted on amazon has to be good as well in order for me to hit the "buy with one click" feature - which I rarely do now because I'm finding even the NYT and PW reviews can no longer be trusted.

I get the majority of books from the library now since most (these days: ALL) of the books I read ultimately disappoint me, even the established authors, not just the new ones.

Blurbs I trust even less than reviews now, so I'd never consider reading a book based on a blurb.

Kimber An, getting free books is cool, yet I felt obligated to read, and therefore review those ARC's that were sent to me. Frankly a lot of them were not worth reading or finishing, so as a fellow reviwer, I no longer accept free books from publishers or authors - I don't want to feel obligated to finish any book, or review a book that I'd hoped to like but ultimately did not.

Josie's reading room? It's a tough one!

Anon 8:55: could not agree with you more!

To the folks who talked about getting recommendations from trusted book friends - I've been recommended great books and bad books by the same person - it's all really a matter of taste for the individual.

Great discussion, Jessica!

I had an agent I really respected turn down my book, but she said she read the full because of the "beautiful writing" -- which was awesome to hear. But she wasn't drawn into the story enough.

That's the kind of rejection I can do something with, and so I'm revising.

As for trying out new authors...

Anna Godbersen, The Luxe, because an agent compared my book to that one

The Thirteenth Tale / Diane Setterfield, because of the promotional blitz at Barnes & Noble

The Twilight series, because it's repped by the agency I'm working with and, you know, it's mad huge

But authors I'd never heard of? It was nonfiction: Organizing Magic by Sandra Felton -- and I'm reading it because of subject matter (New Year, lots of organizing to be done!). Loving it, too, by the way.

As for novels? That's really, really hard. Probably The King of Mulberry Street by Donna Jo Napoli -- bought it because A) subject matter (New York history) B) it was an ARC, and geeks like ARCs, and C) location - I was in Brooklyn, and buying books in Brooklyn just feels right, since some of my favorite authors live there.

OK then, I have a question. What do you do when you get a multitude of personalized rejections stating that the premise is intriguing and the writing is good (one even said "first rate")?

I tried out Leven Thumps by Obert Skye just because the spine was well designed and easy to read. I read the first few pages and was hooked instantly by his style and wit.

So a cover does have a lot to do with trying new authors. Since it stood out from all the other spines on the shelf, I picked that one and now Obert has a new fan.

Funny enough I think my number of repeat buys has really dropped the last few years--that means LOTS of new authors. I Just ordered six new books, five were new-to-me authors and all from other reader's recommendations (Mostly one reader but I find her and I have similar reading tastes).

Yes, walking in a book store, it's the cover that makes me pick a book up, it's the blurb that gets me to flip the page open and read a little, but it seems most of the time, when I hit a brick and mortar store, I already know what I want.

I pick up new authors all the time, and it's mostly due to the jacket copy. I'll give it a try. Most first books I read are interesting, if not terrific.

There was a time when I had several "automatic buys" from authors I loved. No more. Just last night I dumped a book after reading thirty pages, and that was being generous. By an established writer. I won't be buying her again, or more important, wasting my time reading her again.

Before Christmas, I did something I'd never done before. I returned a book to a bookstore. One of my favorite authors had a new hardcover book, which I auto-bought and read. It was dreadful. Same genre, same hype. Just a dreadful book. After I finished it, I went on Amazon to read reader reviews, and the consensus of readers agreed with me.

Why was this book released? Because the author is a big name, bestseller? Is he too big for editing? It's like the Emperor's New Clothes. The book was not good. In fact, it sucked. And the publisher should have known it.

I thought long and hard before I did this, but since this book was released and felt like a "product," I decided to do what I would with any other defective product. Returned it. I asked them to make certain when they returned the book to the publisher to let them know that it was returned and why. Hopefully that will happen. At nearly thirty dollars, I am going to be more selective and not rely so much on past performance.

A NY's resolution: go back to the library.

--Greetings. Long time reader, first time poster.--

I'm always seeking new books to read, and it's always an ordeal because I'm so tired of mediocrity. When I find a writer I like, I devour all his/her works until I am either disappointed or run out.

When I seek a new author, there's a process. I met some authors at conventions/symposium. I met Brandon Sanderson that way, and picked up his book for it. Otherwise I'm collecting recommendations from friends or kindly strangers in the bookstore, then I sit in the store and read for half-an-hour before I commit to purchase.

I have asked many, many people why they read the books they do. The answer is that they have many reasons for picking up a book, but always in the top three is that a friend reccomended it.

That's my #1. If someone says, "This is a good book," I will at least give it a try.

I realize that in the old daze books were sold to people browsing in bookstores, but I do not think this is a significant part of the market anymore. Furthermore, ads in newspapers (or anywhere) are not an important part of the equation.

I think that it's all about buzz, and the internet is one place where people often find "book buddies" that like the same things they do. The buzz is going to be what sells books, not the hook. The hook is something from an era based on styles of communication and purchase that is ending rapidly.

I criticize you guys not because I think you are villians. I believe that your world is changing rapidly, and you aren't. That doesn't make you evil or lazy, it makes you just like most American industries that faced rapid change, many of them in the 1970s. You may note with the hindsight of 30 years or so that many such industries are mere shadows of what they were. Caveat machina.

The key has to be how to generate good buzz, which is to say to find where the word-of-keyboard chains really come together. The hook? Save it for a pirate book.

1. First I go to the mystery section of a good indie bookstore.

2. Knowing that marketing usually chooses the title and cover design, I try to ignore them, and just choose a random book.

3. Skipping the prologue, I read the first page.

4. Then I read a random page in the middle.

5. If I'm intrigued, I read another random page in the middle.

I never read the back. I never read the blurbs. For me, it really is all about the writing.

"Buzz" is nothing new. When I was in high school in NYC in the '70's I took the subway or a bus daily. EVERYONE read. Either a newspaper or a paperback book. You could see the buzz in action. Books like The Godfather, Jaws, Coma, All the President's Men were driven by buzz, but it was true buzz, not the manipulation of the internet by someone seeking product placement.
And the more reliance on the type of buzz now hyped over the internet, the less effective it is.

What I'm curious about is how the market seems to chase its own tail. There will be one huge book, like a Harry Potter, or Da Vinci Code or Bridget Jones, and then that will be all editors want until the market is flooded with bad imitations.

Then the cycle starts again. The problem is that these books are all sold on hooks. But why must the hooks all be the same after success of one?

Dena

Anon, I agree that buzz is not anything new.

I do think that as the other marketing channels collapse, however, it becomes prominent as the only thing left. Furthermore, the internet hype that you (I think rightly) say has diminishing returns is a relatively new art that is not practiced all that well.

Let's say for the sake of argument that "buzz" on the internet is a very different animal. I can agree with that. How should it be done? There may be some space for a "hook" in that, but it's a very different kind of "hook" than you use on the back of the book or in a regular advert. For one thing, I don't think that you can count on your carefully crafted tag lines being faithfully repeated by people.

In short, I'm not disagreeing with you at all. I think that "Buzz" has emerged as nearly the only real way that books are reccomended to a large portion of the reading audience, outside of Oprah. That means that it will take time to build sales. It also means that "fake buzz" has to be done more artfully and effectively so that it meshes with the "real buzz".

I simply don't believe that a lot of people browse bookstores any longer for their recommendations. If they did, indies wouldn't be closing and Borders wouldn't be in serious trouble (as they are).

I never pick up a new author because of advertising copy on the back. I pick up books because of buzz--I see reviews, I read about books on the web, I know what other writers are talking about. If I'm at an airport and looking for a detective story, I read the blurbs to see if anyone I respect has liked it. 90% of hooks all sound they same--they don't hook me, and they give no indication of whether the book is, as you said, well executed, which is very, very important to me.

When was the last time you tried out a new author you’d never heard of and what was the reason for picking up the book?

Nathalie Mallet, The Princes of the Golden Cage. I came upon the book researching the publisher, but the back copy (and the gorgeous cover) caught my eye, and so I picked the book up. Loved it, and I can't wait for the next one.

There is one particular long-time NYT bestselling writer whose writing is simply horrible but whose stories are considered fascinating (and no, I'm not talking about Dan Brown here).

That's because in the end, it's the story that really matters, so long as the execution is mostly passable. Doesn't mean we shouldn't try to be the best writers we can be, but it does mean all the nitpicking we do about too many adverbs, adjectives, overuse of "up," etc. is less important than character motivation, plot, and interesting dialog.

Erik,
I agree with you that if the buzz is organic, it will work.
What I mentioned before was literally seeing twenty or thirty people at a time reading the same book.

That's more than subliminal. That's in your face buzz, saying this book is good enough that this many people bought it and are reading it now.

Internet buzz has far to go to match that tangible strength. Today, everyone's a reviewer, and blurbs are merely quid pro quo.
I "browse" Amazon and B&N online much the way I used to browse bookstores.

If there were any independent bookstores around me, I would definitely go. Unfortunately, there are not. And while B&N and Borders are nice to visit, I hate feeling that all those books up front are only there because some publisher was blackmailed into paying for the position. And most of these books are by bestselling authors who don't need the push.
Kind of like the opposite of growing your readership if you ask me. If you wanted to grow your readership, you would put those new and exciting authors up front in readers' faces, not the ones they already read.

If I want to find the interesting new books, I have to go upstairs and browse the shelves.

It will shake itself out in the end.

Anon11:19

Here's the three things that work on me, as far as trying out a new book/new author:

1. a great cover
2. an intriguing blurb/description (hook)
3. a gushing friend recommendation

I don't read fantasy, I don't read YA. Yet I picked up a fantasy/YA book by an author I'd never heard of because of the design, and the story description/copy. Oh, and it was prominently placed on display at Target.
The author is working on her next one, and I'm buying it.

I just discovered Jeanine Frost, and really I picked it up because I couldn't believe a debut author had one of those cardboard stands filled with fifty books in it! (And over the next two days, all but five were gone!) I was curious to see what had caused the excitement and such support from the publisher.

I'm not sure the book itself had a hook, at least not one I can remember, but I just couldn't put it down. She did the first four-fifths perfectly. I was a little disappointed in the ending, but we'll see how it works out in the sequel.

Anonymous, you're right about the voice. There have been times when I found the inside flap description really promising, but when I started to read the book, I decided that I didn't want to "listen to that voice" telling me a story for 300 pages.

I've been asked to "blurb" books for new authors and have found some amazing reads that way--Devyn Quinn's dark erotic romances for one. I got a free copy of the first of Jenna Black's Guardians series at a conference and have bought her second and third--both authors write much darker than I usually read, but their stories are totally mesmerizing. I have to say, I might not have picked them up on my own w/o that first free read! If I'm in a bookstore and want something new, it's usually a name I've heard of--I think word of mouth is important. After that I would say the combination of an attractive cover and an interesting back blurb. I will sometimes open the pages and take a look, but not always. Once I find an author I like, I will continue to buy everything they write, regardless of the cover or blurb, which is why my bookshelves have complete sets of Angela Knight, Lori Handeland, Christine Feehan, Alyssa Day, Jenna Black, Lori Foster, Sunny, etc. etc. :-) And also why I'm falling behind on my WIP!

As a writer who has written book manuscripts for many years, but never gotten a book published, I write a story that I think is interesting. I write on a conflict or a process that I find fascinating and that needs expression. And I can't tell you how many times I've heard from editors and agents that a manuscript I've sent is interesting but not marketable, or the like. If I were told to write a book that is not necessarily interesting but has a great hook, I would find that defeats the whole purpose of being a writer.

I'm heavily influenced by timing. Well, that's a given, I suppose, without going into physics. I mean that a book that might really excite me (usually because of the author, the title, the hook) one month will nearly repulse me the next. Right now I can't stand anything with a dark hero on a dark urban street. I won't even give it a chance if I know the guy will be immortal or a vampire, etc.

I would imagine publishers and agents might feel the same, for different reasons. If you've just seen twenty bad pitches for yet another formulaic urban fantasy...bleck.

I am totally turned off by cheesy titles as well--I mean suggestive ones.

I was just considering this when selecting a book at the library yesterday. Normally I go with book reviews or recommendations, but when I have to manually select a book - how daring! - I look at cover/title/blurb/first page in that order.

I noticed that covers with a fresh, uncluttered look were the ones that most drew me in. But I definitely needed a good hook to keep going. I found myself thinking about Jessica's critiques as I browsed and don't think that many of them would've passed muster. ;->

It's all nothing, but the first page. I've picked up gorgeous covers to be so disappointed. I've picked up HORRID covers only to fall in love. Blurbs? Meh. I read the first few pages, and if I need to keep reading it comes home with me.

For fiction, my answer would be the first three books of the Ladies' #1 Detective Agency series. I started reading it because it was a gift from a friend. Even though it's nothing like what I usually read, I decided to give it a shot. What hooked me and kept me reading through all three books were the writer's use of language, the sense of place, and an interesting main character.

I don't remember the last time I picked up a novel without it having been recommended to me. Maybe the first Artemis Fowl book, several years ago, because the cover blurb sounded interesting and the writing looked decent when I browsed through the book.

For nonfiction, it's completely different. Usually, I'll go hunting for a book on a particular topic, and I'll do a little research online or in the book store to find the one that looks the best.

Sometimes I'll have a vague topic in mind. Like, maybe I want to buy a new book about writing, but I don't have a particular aspect in mind. In that case, I'll look at titles and pick out a few books that look like they'd be useful at that moment, then I browse through them to decide which one I like best.

This one is easy for me. I read fiction by debut authors because I run a blog called Fantasy Debut, and that's all I cover. The reason I started the blog is because I read so much debut fantasy. The reason I read so much debut fantasy is because I'm trying to divine the secrets of how all the debut authors get published. I learn something from every debut novel that I read.

I'm close to burning up my quota of posts for the week, so I promise I'll clam up after this.

But here's a thought to consider:

In any other industry, the sales people have a clear picture of what they can and can't sell. Their job is, more than anything, to know the customers.

In the book industry, fads are rampant. Every Harry Potter has a thousand, "Just like Harry Potter!" books following it.

If the people who are in charge of knowing what readers want really had their job nailed, they wouldn't chase every single fad. They would work on product differentiation, which is what a real sales strategy looks like, not copycatting.

So when someone tells me that "This book won't sell," I have to wonder how the Hell they think they know that. There's considerable evidence that the book industry does not have its most basic market research down at all.

If someone wants to prove me wrong, they should address the "It's just like Harry Potter!" routine that you will not see in any other industry.

Last thought - I know it rankles book industry people to the point that I am routinely ignored when I compare it to other industries. Yet when it comes to entertainment dollar, that's what the consumer is cnosidering. Why do people read? I've elicited a lot of very useful comments off of my blog recently. The same arguments that tell us that the book industry is about what sells, not literature, can be used to say that this is just another industry that has to understand its customers, trim its distribution system, and control costs.

But the hooks on the back cover aren't written by the authors--that's not their job any more than designing a cover is. An agent should be able to tell in less than 10 minutes (first 5 pages and a 2-page synopsis) whether the book is worth finding the hook for and selling. Asking the author to hook the agent in a few sentences is like asking a computer programmer to sell a new version of windows to Microsoft by saying "Easy to use! Cool new graphics!" Presumably, the industry itself has a deeper view of these things than the casual reader.

The last time I picked up a book by an author I'd never heard of, it was because of the title: Let The Northern Lights Erase Your Name (Vendela Vida). Awesome title, I couldn't grab it fast enough. The writing & story were just okay, but that title, wow.

thanks, jessica. i always feel like a jerk when i'm on a panel and someone ELSE says "just a really well-written book!" because i feel it's irresponsible of me NOT to jump in and say no, not quite...

You're absolutely right, Jessica! I hate writing hooks, and I think I'm probably quite bad at it. But when I buy a book, it's usually by an author I don't know, and I always read the back first. If the back doesn't sound interesting enough, I leave that one and pick up another- there are way too many other books to choose from, and I don't have enough money to buy the ones I'm questioning. I also have to admit though, that the cover plays a huge role too- I pick up the pretty ones first:)

Great discussion!

I usually pick up new authors upon the recommendation of friends who know the genres I like, and I also read the book review section of the weekend paper. If I'm at a book store, I tend to go to the genre shelves I like, but also browse the general fiction area and look at the cover, usually drawn by a good title. If the title hooks me, then I go to the next level and read the back.

I tend to visit the library for new authors--and in many cases, even ones I've read before. With books being so expensive, I won't even buy hardbacks any more because it's just too expensive to get a book and then find out the book is a flop.

In the library, it's the title and the jacket blurb. I'm nearly always turned off if the book just has blubs and doesn't say what it's about.

In the bookstore, the cover will draw my attention, then the title, and then the back of the book.

My last purchase that didn't involve any of these methods was at Thrillerfest when I picked up a book because the author was a first timer. Unfortunately, I also regretted spending the money; the book was awful. I could see the hook's selling point, but the execution wasn't there.

I really think its funny that any writer would think agents or editors had enough time to read every complete manuscript submitted. I've heard the slush pile gets pretty high in some offices. So, what else is there but the hook? If the back of the book blurb doesn't suck you in you move on. Right? Same difference. I think experienced agents and editors can see potential in a hook. And after seeing the marathon of pitches here I'm finally beginning to believe writing a good hook is possible. Thanks Jessica! We've learned so much about hooks in past few months you'll soon be deluged with great books you can't bear to turn down!!!
:)

To anon 10:22 - I've had the same response as you. Finally an agent took the time to exchange emails with me and we talked about the market for the book. Yes, he loved the story, the premise and the writing. No, he didn't feel there was a big enough market for him to pursue representation.

I shared a new idea with him that I had been working on and he was very enthusiastic. Advised me to keep writing and requested that I contact him when it was done. Hopefully, in a couple of months, I'll be ready to do just that.

By the way, the book I'm working on now is far more commercial than the first. I didn't choose to write it because of that -- it was already well under way when I recieved the aforementioned comments -- but it was on a subject with which I was intrigued, felt compassionate enough about to write an entire novel on.

Start something new, maybe something a little different, but don't compromise your writing style. Incorporate it into your new venture.

Good Luck.

Over the past three years or so; I have tried a lot of books of authors I had never heard of before.

Before that I used to look for the word NYT....so many weeks.

after trying the bunch of books from the unknown names, I was blown away. My paradigm of buying books has changed.
I read the back cover, see that the subject matter [call it hook] interests me. read the first few pages, then at randowm in between. If I like the voice and writing, I buy it.
There have been more successes than failures.
I think the bestselling authors [ not all of them] sometimes take their success for granted, and the writing suffers.
PS: I still read the really well received books out there; either through word of mouth or gut feeling.

"When was the last time you tried out a new author you’d never heard of and what was the reason for picking up the book?"

Good question, and here's an honest answer.

"Scratch Golfer" by Wille Thompson.

Why: Wille comments on the Comic Curmudgeon blog and promoted his (self-published) book there. Visited his Web site, read the excerpt, and placed an order.

What caught me. The cover, which made me laugh. Plus, he -- being a good Carolina boy -- set the story in Charlotte, N.C., where I grew up. Third, the book's design is beautiful (I love fonts). Fourth, the excerpt made me laugh.

Here's his site, so you can see for yourself. Note, however, that he came up with a great tag line: "A devilishly funny book about Life, Business, and the Golf Match from Hell"

I'll bet you could plot out the novel right now, based on that description.

http://www.scratchgolferbook.com/

Well. When i got the idea for my premise I had real passion about it because it combined two things I had personal experience with- Disability studies and the Lottery. I think the writing - premise - passion go hand in hand.

I think the cover and title are the first things that catch my attention. I give a quick look to the blurb, but rarely read the whole thing. Then, I scan the first chapter or so of the book. I'm not really reading it, only bits and pieces to give me an idea of whether or not I'm going to l ike it. The dialogue and the way the characters interact is a major factor for me. I usually can tell if I'm not going to like the book immediately.

The actual blurb doesn't play that big of a role for me other than letting me know if it is a genre I'm interested in reading.

When I managed a bookstore in Phil. Airport I read new books all the time because I read so much, that my fav. authors couldn't write fast enough. Now I read the blurbs and then open the cover and read what the book is about. A blurb isn't enough to make me read a book. And I usually go online and check out the author and what else they've written. I do tend to keep to well published authors, except my sister who has written a few books already! I'll read new authors if someone refers me to them.

Anon 8:05pm--Anon 10:22 here. Thank you. It's good to know others have had the same experience--and that there's definitely hope for the next one!

I read reviews, and ask people whose opinions I trust for recommendations.

If I am in a bookstore, I start with the cover design, unless it is a new title by an author I trust. Then the cover can be trashy as hell, and I wouldn't mind. After liking a cover, I will have a read of first page.

And what keeps me with an author? The journey of the characters. I find it interesting that many agents seem to say that it is the clever and unusual storyline pitched creatively that would cause them to read a full book. Very weird then that so many books become best sellers which are telling a story that has been told umpteen times before, but which have been simply told well.

I'm a horrible book-buyer. About half of what I buy was recommended to me either by a friend or a blog. For the other half, I have 3 criteria: The cover (if it doesn't appeal to me, I probably won't pick it up), the tagline on the front, and a random page in the middle. I rarely check the back of the book unless I'm undecided after the first 3 criteria are met.

Christine. That is good. Read a sample from the middle. Everyone knows that the first para, first page have lots devoted to them. I am going to crack it open in the middle from now on. Thanks

I have two different ways to judge books.

1-I see what Amazon.com recommends. I have found Eileen Weeks and C.E. Murphy among others.
I have to admit that only three out of ten recommendations are authors that I really like with good characterization and plots.

2-When I go to the book store, I read the back, I read the hook, and then I randomly read in the middle of the book. With this shopping method I buy less books, but I find more authors that I like. However, I find newer authors on Amazon.com and not at my bookstore, which is a pity.

I have always loved fantasy and science fiction. After the death of some of the best scifi writers (Heinlein, Isamov, etc) I have only found a few writers in that genre that I fit my criteria. (My criteria includes writing that doesn't offend my sensibilities i.e. good grammar, characterization, and plot). If I can second-guess the writer, then I have a BORING book.

So there you go.

I agree, it's just plain snobbery. For some reason, writing books that are entertaining and have happy endings is somehow viewed as less serious and important--hack work, something easy the Little Lady can do from home in between soaps and loads of laundry (not that there's anything wrong with watching soaps or doing laundry, either.)

Eh. There will always be people who'll put down certain genres of art simply because they don't see the worth in them, or are just stereotyping based on a few bad apples.

Just let 'em go. If they're not willing to look for quality, then they're not really looking for it at all.

And what's wrong with making money from being a writer? Isn't that the goal of every one of us? No one says "I want to write a brilliant, painstakingly crafted novel that will change the lives of its readers, but I only want to sell a few dozen copies out of the trunk of my car at county fairs while I'm on vacation from my job at the laundromat."

I mean, come on.

I agree with this 100%.

I'm also sorry to say that I:

(a) write romance and
(b) don't tell people at my day job about it.

There's a good reason for it. I want tenure. And for every person who will listen, there's at least one over fifty who will not. I'm in a male-dominated, highly analytical field. And so I'm not going to say anything until I have tenure.

Yes, I have talked to Eloisa James about it.

Now, once I have tenure, it'll be a different story. But for now, I keep my mouth shut.

Snobbery is annoying in all of its facets, but it will never go away. Like every other catty judgment, it's really geared to make the speaker feel superior - which says a lot more about the critic's character than their intended victim's talent.

The optimum goal of the fiction writer is to make their audience feel the story; whether that emotion is pulled from a work that is literary or mainstream, romance or mystery, the objective is very much the same. I've noticed the same sort of embarrassment from children's authors who often start their introductions with, "I never in a million years thought I would write children's books..."

I've actually said the same thing myself and I think a lot of us who have ventured into writing for children had a love of writing before we found that niche... but it's really not the point - why do we feel the need to justify it to others?

As for the validity of romance as a genre - I find the argument hypocritical. Have the critic name ten of their favorite all time novels and I would bet my eye teeth there is a romance running throughout the story, if not one of the main running themes.

You go, Jessica!

I've never really understood this prejudice against romance. I think a truly intelligent person doesn't dismiss something they haven't bothered to inform themselves about and judged with an open mind. I'd be surprised if any of the journalists and others who like to bash romance have ever read the novels we in the romance community consider to be the best the genre has to offer. And critics outside the romance community seem determined to judge romance against literary fiction, when all it's ever meant to do is entertain.

Of course, many romance writers explore serious themes, but at the end of the day, we're there to give our audience a satisfying read. I don't want to change the world, but if I brighten someone's afternoon, it makes me happy. What on earth is wrong with that?

When I was a lawyer, I made no secret of the fact I was writing romance in my spare time. I found a lot of my colleagues then came out of the woodwork to chat about their creative pursuits. I made friends with people I'd only said hello to in the hall before. Of course, if I thought my job was on the line, I'd probably be more circumspect. No point in being a martyr, after all. But I agree with what Jessica said--we need to respect ourselves before anyone else will. Thanks for a great post!

I for one don't write it, but I don't mind reading it either. Of course, being a cop, I can't go around talking about it with a bunch of guys who are lucky if they read their reports before court let alone any Romance novels, I would be crucified. To me, it's a guilty pleasure sitting on my bed. No different than a playboy or my first look at a breast from when I was a kid. It draws the steamy, lustful imaginated feelings. The only difference, my hormones aren't exactly raging at my age, they are more like a babbling brook. Just my thoughts.

Some people have minds so tightly shut they'd need a crowbar to open them. Pity them. They are too lazy to go out and explore this wonderful multi- faceted genre.

I have the same issue with writing fantasy. Half the time when I get asked what my book is about, I say, "Well, it's a fantasy novel about..." and their eyes just glaze over with that, 'Oh, that's nice...' look.

What's worse is that this prejudice doesn't just hurt the authors, but the readers, too. Most people wouldn't think twice about reading something like the Da Vinci Code in public, but hand them a bestselling romance or fantasy novel and all of a sudden they start hiding the cover art from everyone around them!

I tell everyone that I write romance. I don't know how you can write something that you are ashamed of. How is that possible. I would imagine that that would somehow affect your writing.

And yes, I totally agree. It's about something women love and do extremely well. Men dismiss it and women who know no better, follow suit to emulate men's attitude. I find it harder to stomach coming from women who, I believe, should not be tearing each other down but building each other up. But we see centuries of pitting women against each other and it continues.

Well, I'll cop to it (anonymously, of course). I've never read a romance book, until this moment never planned to read one, and pretty much assume it's formulaic soft porn.

So educate me. Is there a Raymond Chandler of romance writing? A William Gibson? Someone whose prose leaves you breathless, and not just because it's about sweaty sex on a pirate ship?

Honest question from an admittedly prejudiced person.

Jessica said:

"Romance is not going to get the respect it so aptly deserves until the writers of romance all stand tall and proudly proclaim that they write romance"

Bingo! The trouble with this is that 'romance' as a sweeping label has become difficult to define. Reading the RWR for the last year, I've seen the authors of 'traditional' romance argue against including a book that is not strictly one man + one woman. Monogamy, happily ever after yuda blah...

They want to claim their sub genre and disassociate from others, and in doing so harm the entire genre, although probably unintentionally.
"I write romance, but not that porn crap."
"I write romance but no silly vampires."
"I write romance, but not those goofy bodice-rippers."

Know what I mean?

Lainey, who proudly writes romance. But only the 'good' kind, of course. ;-)

Great post, Jessica!

I'm proud to write romance. I'm amazed how quick people put romance down, how they call it trivial, but we all spend a big part of lives trying to get it right. Love, and the relationships between men and women is part of being human. How can that be trivial?

CC

I think it's worse than snobbery, I think it's sexism. Romance is a genre that is invariably assigned to women, which I think is why it gets dumped on so much. It's been a while, but I have read some novels firmly wedged into the "Romance" category that were very well written.

Hint to men - if you get a Romance book as a reccomendation from a date, read it and tell her what you think and why. You don't have to like it, but making good comments will show you aren't a total Neanderthal.

(that might help the genre out of its funk, but mostly men have to stop being jerks, which is a lot to ask sometimes)

I can imagine how you feel!!! I fully agree.

But I wouldn't think it's as complicated as snobbery or sexism. IMHO, it's just plain amateurism. It's a bit like people watching ballet saying "Sure I could prance like this if I had time to spare!"

When I was a _very_ beginning writer I too used to think "Sure I can write like this! No sweat!" :-)))) Only now I fully realise how much professionalism and hard work goes into ANY genre writing -- romance, fantasy, etc -- and I truly admire the authors' work! They do a much better job putting words together than many high-brow one-book wonders.

The writer in question just wasn't professional enough to recognise true professionalism where she saw it.

anon 8:49,

How about Nathaniel Hawthorne?

Margaret Mitchell?

The Bronte Sisters?

Jane Austen?

Will those do or are they not highly regarded enough?

Okay, I'm going to admit to being a romance snob (though I agree I would have been insulted however inadvertently by the letter as well). How about someone pointing me to a romance novel I might test the waters with? The writing has to be great, voice and structure-wise. I read almost exclusively fiction and my favorite authors are Kingsolver, McEwan, Sue Miller, Lamott(novels), Conroy, Murakami.

I honestly wouldn't expect there to be something in the romance genre that I'd really like. But I'm willing to try!

But Merry Jelinek: I've read Hawthorne, Mitchell, Austen, and the Brontes and if they're truly romance genre, I've either misunderstood the genre definition or every lit class I ever took. (Not trying to be a smartass-- just very curious about labels)

Anon 8:49, it's interesting to me that you bring up William Gibson. In an attempt of my own to diversify I've been reading his stuff lately. After finishing one book I found myself thinking, what makes this book more valuable than some 'trashy' romance? The writing is excellent of course, but the plot is pure fantasy and hardly teaches me the meaning of life. The characters are interesting but I don't think I come away with a deeper understanding of humanity.

How do we "measure" the worthiness of a book? I've read plenty of books where the writing was excellent but the plot put me to sleep, or I could predict every next move. Is that a 'better' book than one with OK writing but a plot that keeps the reader engaged?

I guess I find reading too personal an experience to attempt to quantify in any general way.

Labels. That's what this comes down to, isn't it? And if a book is labeled "Romance" or "Fantasy" or "Mystery", it can't be as good as a book labeled "Literary", can it? Unless, of course, it's still in print after 50 or 100 years, at which time it magically becomes "Literature" no matter what genre label it originally bore. Authors ought to know better than to judge books by their covers, or labels. Readers, well, I hope they just keep on reading, whatever the label.

"The Far Pavilions" and "The Woman in White" are classic stand outs for me.

As a teenager with raging hormones (much like whimper1823 ;-)) I read romance, especially Rosemary Rogers. But I have to say, as I've aged, my tastes have evolved. I realized now I was just as interested in the exotic/historical settings of those books as I was in the romance.

Once I got to be more, ahem, experienced, I'd rather read about tragic romances - I found the love stories that did not work out to be less preictable than books with the requisite HEA ending, and therefore a more enjoyable read.

Regardless of genre, I don't want to be able to see the ending coming, or predict it (I can say the same about thrillers).

In my experience, it's been an issue of perception. Many people who have never read romance have this negative image in their heads. So then some of the people that do write romance tend to want to avoid having to deal with that. I have a lot of friends who are shocked I write romance, and then they’re even more shocked when I point out to them that they read romance – especially the guys. It’s really a lot of fun.

If you get the chance, you have to try it, just to see the looks on their faces when they realize, oh heck, those Philippa Gregory books – those are romance? But the one I read is about King Henry VIII’s court. Oh? Historical romance? And JD Robb? And JR Ward? But I pick those up at Target. And there’s no Fabio on the cover, and, and…
Priceless.

There’s no wonder romance is so universally appealing – who doesn’t like a well-told story, with plenty of sexual tension, new places to explore, a satisfying love story and an ending that makes you feel good?

It comes from years of being misunderstood. Science Fiction writers had the same problems years ago about being considered less than. I think that's changed a bit. I'm not sure if it will ever change for romance on the sheer fact that it is fiction written for women by women.

I have never been ashamed to say I write romance. I even write erotic romance. When I sold to Harlequin, I told everyone. Because hey it's Harlequin, and hey I'm making pretty good money doing what I love.

Want some recommendations:

DRIVEN - Eve Kenin - a fantastic post-apocolyptic romance set in an ice-age with a truck driving heroine

It's my favorite romance of 2007.

Hi, anonymous 10:45. If you like McEwan and Sue Miller, you might want to try Sarah Dunant's "The Birth of Venus," a wonderful historical romance set in medieval Florence.

anonymous -

My recommendation for a relatively 'modern' romance? Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale. Absolutely brilliant...and not a pirate anywhere to be found.

And if Margaret Mitchell's "Gone With the Wind" was never talked about as romance, I don't know who was teaching your class. That is classic historical romance.

The same character depth, range of emotion, and life struggles can be found in most well-written romance.

I, too, was once a literary snob. I read SF but not *sniff* that fantasy stuff. Romance? Puh-lease. Then somebody shoved "Lord of the Rings" into one hand and my aunt's bestselling romance novel into the other. Now I write both romance and fantasy.

Is my writing commercial? I certainly hope so! Is it quality? I work hard on sentence rhythm and word choice, on characterization and atmosphere. I don't write crap any more than Jessica represents it.

But the broadening definition of romance now makes it much easier to find something to your liking that's labeled "romance." Series romance is showing us you don't have to have the happily ever after in every book. Male/male and menage a trois romance are gaining in popularity. You have alpha males and beta males and even were-males. Kick-ass heroines and ditzy, comedic leading ladies. And nearly every genre is represented under romance. To dismiss all of romance with a sweep of your hand is no more accurate than making any other broad generalization.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go put another load of laundry in before my favorite soap comes on. Then I just want to whip out three or four chapters this afternoon...

I think what holds romance back are the damned covers. There is the on-going argument that there must be 'bodice-ripper' type covers in order for people to know what the books are about. And that those without pectorals and half-dressed women don't sell as well.

But I say, if you want your genre to be taken seriously, do you really want the covers looking like Playboy magazine? Or Playgirl.

That is my number one pet peeve about romance. I won't buy them in bookstores, read them in front of my children or in any public space, or feel comfortable telling people how much I love certain books...just because of the damned covers?

Why do they have to do that? That is a big reason for the prejudice against romance, in my opinion. It looks like all they are trying to sell is cheap sex, not a good story.

For those of you looking to read romance for the first time, here's the Library Journal's list of best romances in 2007:

Secrets of a Proper Lady by Victoria Alexander
Not Quite a Lady by Loretta Chase
Driven by Eve Kenin
Celluloid Memories by Sandra Kitt
White Lies by Jayne Ann Krentz

viva anna, there's Eve's book! I'm especially thrlled as Eve is a pal of mine. A new writer, too, I think her first book, a gothic written as Eve Silver, just came out in 2005.

If you want to browse through some bestsellers, here's the link to the RWA honor roll.
http://www.rwanational.org/cs/authors_and_books/rwa_honor_roll

Poking around the RWA site might open your eyes to the wide variety of the romance genre.

Try telling people you write erotic romance and watch the reaction. People invariably respond, "Oh, you write porn."

No, I don't. I write about male/female relationships, using frank and graphic language.

I'm not ashamed of what I write.

Interestingly enough, when I do booksignings, I sell to as many men as I do to women. And guys have written reviews on my "Bad Girl" on Amazon.

Women have come a long way in claiming their place in the world. This is one of the few remaining areas of prejudice. There are well-written romances and poorly written ones--just as there are in every genre.

I'm a professional and expect to be treated as one. When I respond matter-of-factly to those persons who say I write porn, I find most react very positively. When someone sneers at my work, I challenge them to try it. I do not let their attitude color my perception of myself or my genre.

I'm glad you posted this. I'd actually backed off the goal of submitting to an agent lately. I've been watching a friend of mine submit proposals to her agent, a very well known person who represents awesome writers, and be told "No, it won't sell."
Not "It's not good." or "It needs work." She wants my friend to write the same book that GOT her the agent over and over again.
In other words, urban paranormal fantasies are "in" so write that.
I was VERY nervous about that.
My friend doesn't seem surprised or upset by it. She just writes what her agent tells her to.
I couldn't do that.
It makes me wonder if "what sells" is more important than "what I write".
This post reaffirms something for me. I REALLY want Jessica Faust as my agent.

Labels. Well, as a Taoist, I have no use for labels in the first place, and I don't understand why we have all these "categories". It seems to me that they are designed for people with no imagination.

Ming ke ming, fei chang ming. (The name that is known is not the real name, roughly translated from the Tao Te Ching.)

As far as writing to fit whatever "category" your agent says, this implies that the person is or intends to be a professional author. If they have thier heart set on it, well, I wish them all the best. But I really don't see the point when nearly any other form of writing pays far, far better and offers more steady work.

If someone writes a novel they think needs to be written, for whatever reason, then Mazeltov for them! But writing to sell it? Books don't pay squat, and the run the whole think like a giant scratch-off lottery. If they have a mortgage to pay, I'd advise them to find other sources of revenue.

Good point, Jessica.

I'd also say that people tend to hide their romance reading from the public because of the awful covers! No other genre habitually displays such cheese that borders on pornagraphic. I read romance but alot of times I have to hide them from my kids because the artwork usually depicts a semi-nude couple rolling around on a bed, the ground, against the wall, etc...

I have a deep fear that when a book of mine is published, it'll be ruined at the outset because of the cover, and my inability to control it. If we want legitimacy, we need to have decent presentation. Many a book has been amazing and should have deserved a cover to reflect that.

Erik, um... isn't "taoist" a label? And perhaps a category? Just a thought. :)

Thanks for the recommendations, all! I will definitely try a couple. And I agree about the covers-- most of what I see just look likes a waste of time waiting to happen. May not be so on the inside but there are a lot of choices out there and I'd tend towards something that tugged at my brain AND heart.

I suspect it is an old prejudice against the formulaic fluff romance novels of the past.

When I first started writing romance stories, I hid it as well, except from a friend. When we talked, I told her that I was afraid of people's reactions to the fact that I wrote Romance, and wouldn't tell people that was what I wrote.

Then she told me a story about her life-- she'd been in a bad relationship and knew she needed to get out of it, but had a hard time finding the strength because her optimism had been sucked out of her.

Then she started reading romance novels.

As she read them, she found women who were in bad situations, and found a way to make it better, with men who really treated the women like they should be treated.

It helped restore her faith.

Now when I work on a romance novel, I don't think about smallish minds turning up their noses to my books.

I think about her, and the women out there like her, who might get some strength and motivation from my stories, and who might learn that there is a better world out there for them.

That keeps me writing.

Oh, good grief. Jessica, I'm with you. I'm the proud romance author of 20 novels in 8 years. And no, I don't churn them out.

The bottom line is this, not all movies can be Schindler's List and not all books can be Night. The question comes down to why are you reading the book in the first place?

Romance is a genre that is light, upbeat and funny. You don't pick one up because you want angst or a depression, but because you want a happy ending that's guaranteed. I chose not to read or watch some horror books and movies, not because the works are not good, but because I'm not a blood and guts person.

I would actually say that romance is the hardest genre to write because everyone knows how it will end before it gets started. You give the reader an escape, and make the reader care. It's not automatic.

And have we not heard that James Patterson and both Nicholas Sparks write romance? Or of the queen, Nora Roberts? You can even try to diss them, except they've proved they can write in other genres as well: Roberts as J.D. Robb and Patterson with all his suspense books. I'm sure many other romance authors would--if they chose to do so.

As for the covers, please don't continue the stereotype. I've never had any half naked people rolling around on any of my covers. (I'm still waiting but have given up holding my breath.) And as for sweaty pirate sex, give me Orlando Bloom anytime. Heck, I'll take him as the legolas the elf too.

So, I'll toss one of my own book out there: Hart's Victory, my Harlequin NASCAR release. Tt's very non stereotypical. There's no sex in the book (sorry). All the people who have read it tell me it makes them cry (even though the ending is happy). It's a category romance, and those are different from single titles. It's not romantic suspense, paranormal, or anything but straight romance. Oh yeah, and she was married before and has a kid. No simpering person here.

The romance genre is wide open with books that meet the needs of many readers--there's a type to please everyone. The publishers understand their readers want great, well written reads, but those readers also want to be entertained.

They do not want to be persuaded. Not to be made to feel like crap. Not to judged or forced to think about deep political subjects that are blatantly obvious throughout the piece of literature. If you are expecting that, you may find yourself disappointed. Romance novels uplift. They can be as real or fantasical as the author decides.

With a mystery, you expect it to be solved. With a fantasy you expect to be transported into another world. With a romance, you expect certain things as well. If you haven't read one lately, you have no idea what to expect. It's like saying you hate chocolate without tasting any.

So remember your purpose in reading--as good as Mel Gibson might have made Hamlet look in the movie, I'm not taking Will Shakespeare or Hamlet to bed with me at night. i want to be entertained. I get enough of the classics at work.

(and pardon any typos)

anon 10:45, you are correct. I am normally more careful to say, "If you insist on calling me something, I prefer it be Taoist." It's only a label, and doesn't really peg me in any way that's all that important. Well, I have that obnoxious elusiveness combined with an elusive obnoxiousness that you might expect ... :-)

As for what I expect in a Romance, I think that there are many, many ways that the genre is going. I don't see why there isn't something in there for nearly everyone.

Funny how today over at Nathan Bransford's blog he tells us that over the break there was a big surge in the "male ennui" genre. That's where a guy drifts ala Clint Eastwood's "The Man with No Name" and finally gives up on the world. I think this ties Romance, or anti-Romance (which isn't sneered at) to my ramblings about the Tao Te Ching.

I feel as though a cycle is completed. I can get back to work now. :-)

Lisa Kleypas gave a wonderful speech at the RWA National conference regarding the value of romance. You can listen to the podcast at: http://rwanational.org/cs/rwa_podcasts?id=1

I have been a romance fan since high school. I was babysitting some kids who were already in bed, and I noticed a copy of Jude Deveraux's The Conquest sitting on a coffee table. I couldn't put it down. The writing was beautiful, the characters complex. And ever since that Jude Deveraux book, I have been a romance reader because, more than any other genre, romance novels are built on characters you really like. By the end of the book, they're like old friends you adore, and you're cheering for them.

I would like to point out that when I was in high school, one of my English classes had a vocabulary-building segment. We had to find vocabulary words (the kind that show up on the SAT and ACT) in print. I could always find them in romance novels. My teacher commented that it said a lot about the quality of romance novel writing that I, a romance reader, turned in far more vocabulary words than anyone else in my class.

I wrote that little piece that Jessica has quoted, and I am really blown away by the fact that it has been so upsetting to her. I would just like to pick up on a few comments. But firstly I would just like to say a couple of things about myself. I am a budding romance writer. At present I write crappy stuff, but I have aspirations to become much better. I am well aware that the genre is not intending to be high art, but I feel that there are a lot of books that I have started and could not go far into, because they were of very poor quality. And I would defy all those who agree with Jessica to tell me that they have not experienced more than a little of this themselves.

Back to what Jessica has written.

Firstly. I am struck at the intensity of emotion in this post. And sitting on it so long. I genuinely made this enquiry of Jessica as I truly believe that in any genre, there is the good and the bad. And I was advised to seek out writers whose work I loved, and finding that difficult, I decided to short cut by asking Jessica for some direction. Little did I know....

Secondly, respect. I want to write successfully in this genre. I am no fool. Why would I want to write in an area that I would regard as universally crappy. I don't feel this way. In some ways, I think that the genre may be suffering a little from its own success. The genre needs an amazing supply to fulfill the need. I know that when I read crime voraciously, I would read almost any. Just to get my hands on it! For quite a while I lost my discrimination. I just wanted the supply. Happily,or sadly, I am over that phase. I am getting older. Time runs out. I want better quality stuff for myself if I can get it. If that means supply is reduced, well so be it. I am finding that I feel this way about most aspects of my life now. I am 55.

Jessica. I am thinking of that thing about the lady protesting too much. I am so bewildered that it has had such an effect.

Thirdly the thing about belittling women. Jessica, I am an ardent feminist. I applaud and enjoy all the advances that women have made. And I also support their right to read any damn thing they want. I live partly in my head in a wonderful fantasy world, and it certainly doesn't reduce the quality of work that I produce in my current profession. I have two degrees. I paid for them both myself. I have put every meal into my own mouth since I was sixteen. And I am proud of that. And fantasy and fiction still figure in my life. I really meant it that I want to read wonderful stories, beautifully written, with great sex and happy endings.

Lastly, I am afraid that I do fall into the category of women that keep their romance writing secret. I know this is unfortunate, but I am hoping for a few points on the board first, so that I can temper the news when I broadcast it!!!!

I hope you will all excuse any typos etc. I have written this quickly, and don't want to go back and censor myself.

Vive le (la?) romance.

Yours anonymously, as always.

Is it just snobbery?

I think romance and fantasy both suffer from that kind of disparagement, and I think formula is at the root of the problem.

When outsiders think of fantasy they think of countless purile Tolkien knock-offs, and disregard the Mievilles, the Wolfes, and the Gaimans.

Perhaps it is the same for romance? Just like Tolkien and fantasy, many romance novels are nothing more than "Gone With the Wind" knockoffs, aren't they? While people who are steeped in the genre can point to dozens of examples of writers who are forging new paths, the general public just sees that formula.

Anon 10:45,

I wasn't trying to be obnoxious, I was trying to make a point. If you've read Mitchell, Hawthorne, Austen, and Bronte, you've read classic literature that also happens to be romance.

Your Lit classes most probably touted Hawthorne as an author whose fiction, 'showed the human condition', 'brought to the page the human heart', or some such high praise... Hawthorne, himself, considered his work Romance, and said so proudly. The fact that critics and scholars found merit in it doesn't take it out of the realm of romance.

The thing is, we need to know what genre our work falls into because that's the way it needs to be sold; by which shelf it will sit on. Books that are continuously stocked over decades are considered classic literature, but in order to be widely read in the first place, a majority of them were considered commercial fiction of their time... they keep being widely read because they are enjoyable....

I'm not saying anyone has to go out and buy this or that kind of romance, or any genre, I'm only saying that drawing a line of merit by the shelf a book is stocked on is a bit silly...

People today quote Shakespeare to feel intelligent - in his day it was crass and appealed to the lowest of the masses. Maybe after today's leading romance authors have been gone for 100 years, people will quote them to appear smarter.

Wow what a loaded question to start off the year.

I think sometimes the disrespect for romance comes from the demands of always having a happy ending or the over the top dramatic covers.

I'll admit, those covers often keep me away regardless of how excellent the writing - okay that makes me a snob -sorry. I do respect the genre though - its been around forever - you just have to respect that!

This person just seemed frustrated - as a writer you then knock the genre that isn't letting you in and as a reader you throw everyone in the same boat and make grand statements that nothings worth reading. Whatever.

People have been looking at romance for years and are puzzeled at its endurance and puzzeled at its critics who say it is not to be respected.

And I agree with reid and others who want to know what's wrong with wanting to make money - money is not a dirty word.

Please do listen to the Lisa Kleypas speech, anonymous. She talks about how good romance is about a woman finding a man who respects her, loves her, and gives her the sexual fulfillment to which she is entitled.

PS

It's me again. The monster of the piece. I would just like to thank those who posted a comment and made good suggestions of material I should read.

And Merry Jelinek. Do you have any good suggestions of high quality contemporary romance. That is what I am most interested in.

And Jessica? Do you have any reading suggestions?

My question is this??? Who are you trying to get respect from? The general public?

I think the fact that romance outsells all other genres shows some respect.

If you respect yourself for writing what you love, then that is all that matters, in my opinion. I write to sell books. I sell books. I get good reviews. I get great fan mail. I have amazing friends in the industry. I'm having fun doing what I do well.

Am I going to win a nobel prize in literature? Nope. Am I going to be on Oprah? Nope. Do I care? Nope. If you do, anon, then romance is not the genre for you to be writing in.

I think the recommendations given here are all great. Unfortunately though, few of them represent the current market. If you want to write in any genre you need to know what the readers of that genre are currently reading, buying and liking (not what was popular 10, 15 or 100 years ago). And most importantly you need to love them too. It doesn't make sense for anyone to write a book that they don't understand and that means writing romance, fantasy, business books, or memoirs. You need to know the market and like to read the market to truly connect with readers and write it yourself.

As for my recommendations of course the first thing I would suggest is to peruse the BookEnds web site and pick from the quality books we represent. If you honestly can't find anything there that you like then I would guess that we aren't the right agency for you.

Outside of that I'm not sure I can give you any recommendations without first knowing more about the types of books you like to read, the authors you enjoy and the writing style you prefer.

I also find for me it often depends on a mood. This summer I read a lot of historical romance, and thrillers, right now I'm in a women's fiction and contemporary romance phase. Some books I am enjoying more than others and a few I quit midway through. I think that's the nature of being a reader.

--jhf

Interesting stuff. It doesn't often happen that I read a comment trail.

I must confess, tacky covers and several Danielle Steele novels turned me off romance too. I guess every other time I've cracked the covers of a romance, I must have hit a bad one. But I persisted in believing there must be some good ones out there, so I'm grateful for the list.

She talks about how good romance is about a woman finding a man who respects her, loves her, and gives her the sexual fulfillment to which she is entitled.


And I should read this why?

While I agree with you Jessica on most aspects of your second entry, I think you under emphasized the part where we as writers have to like what we are writing. I think if you begin to write what you think people will buy, you miss the train completely. In order for you to sell it to an agent, you have to be completely devoted to your work. Essentially, you have to sell it to the agent who in turn must sell it to a publisher. Missing any of these factors, spells doom.

On the other hand, I don't think you should limit yourself as a writer to any one Genre. You might have this great concept, excellent, well developed characters that just don't seem to fit in your Genre of choice. Instead of trying another Genre, a writer might try to force them into a Genre where they are more constricted, where if they put them somewhere else, the character begins to breath.

As far as writing something different and unique that may or may not sell, I think every one should try it at least once. Correct me if I am wrong, which I very well may be, since I am pretty new to all this, but isn't that what Harry Potter was? Something new, something never before read or written? Isn't that why they are so popular in both print and movies?

True confessions. I used to be one of those snobs who look down their nose at romance novels--but, no more! I now write historical mysteries with a generous dollop of romance, and have had some eye-opening experiences. A few millennia ago, I submitted a partial of my first novel to a small press, which was subsequently rejected. When I asked for comments, one that came back said the ms. "read like a romance." Why, I wondered, would that be a basis for rejection? The novel's tone was light and bouncy, a little like Elizabeth Peter's (not nearly as good, I hasten to add), and the comment made me realize that many of the mystery writers I most liked, such as Peters, straddle the line between mystery and romance.

I also entered the RWA-sponsered Daphne DuMaurier contest twice (the first and second novels) and received incredibly helpful and supportive feedback. The judges obviously took a lot of time and care with my submission and their comments became the basis for extensive rewrites (thank God the small press rejected that earlier draft!). The judges were anonymous, so I was unable to thank them, but their feedback has made all the difference. If I succeed in getting published, it will be due in large part to their constructive criticism and suggestions. Daphne judges, whoever you were, thanks!

Today I went into the bank to deposit my first royalty cheque instead of using the ATM because it was in American funds and of course I'm in Canada.

I told the teller where the cheque came from. She was curious to know what I wrote and without hesitation I said "It's a romance". I didn't hesitate and I didn't say the words with an apologetic tone.

She was genuinely pleased for me and I left the bank feeling very proud.

All these comments are soooo true. When I first told me brother (an editor for a major newspaper) that I was writting romance the first words out of his mouth were, "you mean a bodice ripper???" I was shocked! Otherwise, he's very open minded. I replied, "you really don't know today's romance novels."

Jessica,

Monster here. Thanks for that comment. I agree that you need to love the genre to want to write in that particular genre. But I still maintain that within every genre there is the good, middling and downright bad. My problem has been in finding the good.

One that kind of suited me was 'No place like home' by Barbara Samuel. I know you might classify this as women's fiction, but as we know early who the hero is, and we have a satisfying resolution of all the issues, and the classic happy ending, I believe it also fits the criteria of romance, even if it is not fit, scrictly speaking, within the categories of such publishers as Harlequin.

As I recall, I wrote more within that email that I sent you, including the fact that I had enjoyed Jennifer Crusie's 'Anyone but you'. But hey, I do love basset hounds!@#$!!! Was ages ago, so can't say for sure what else I did write.

And the business of representation. I don't recall asking for, or suggesting that you represent me. Hey. I have nothing to show but a strong inclination to see what I can do, and with a bit of luck put some actual quality work where only my words are so far.

I have enjoyed your blog for the wonderful insight you give to the business of an agent, publishing directions, why you choose some, and why you reject others. Please keep up that good work.

Relax everybody. I hope you all continue to love what you do and to have great success at it.

Hi Jessica,

I'm so sorry if my comments brought your post a bit off track - it wasn't my intention.

I agree wholeheartedly that you should not only be familiar with your genre, but enjoy it as a reader.

anon,

I don't write romance, though I've read more than a few titles that I've enjoyed over the years, I read far more middle grade, women's, and other genres in the recent past... I like Jessica's advice, that you look to current examples in her list or by recommendation of romance authors who are inticately involved in the market - I think they'd probably have a wider array of recommendations for you in the more recent romance offerings.

If you really want recommendations from me for some reason, I'd be happy to put together a list of some of the ones I've liked, though they may be a bit older in some cases. Just pop by my blog.

I read science fiction exclusively from the time I was a child until I graduated from high school. Well, science fiction and whatever I was made to read for class, lol...

Then I got to college and for my own reading I wanted something lighter. I read romances. Sorry, but that's what it felt like to me. A great escape. I read thousands of romances in those four years. Contemporary, historical, you name it. I subscribed to several lines and got boxes and boxes of them every month. I loved it.

After college, I cancelled all my subscriptions, went to the bookstore and bought Thomas Wolfe's _Look Homeward Angel_, and began what has been twenty years of reading literary fiction. I have not read a romance since.

My first book will be published in the fall. It's science fiction.

If it's any consolation, it's everywhere. Witness the The Geek Hierarchy. There's a version I've seen for clowns as well. And don't get me started on the way people, especially theatre people, treat professionals who do children's theatre. That doesn't make the original question any less insulting,
but as the saying goes, don't ascribe malice when ignorance suffices as an explanation.

Romance novels aren't for everyone. But for those of who read, write and love them, there is nothing quite like picking up a book that promises a great roller coaster ride to the happily ever after.

I write romance with the same pride I had when I carried Kathleen Woodiwiss books into my high school (way back when) and read them during lunch. (Well, I did hide them from the teachers.)

Part of what I love about romances - both writing AND reading them - IS the happily ever after. I trust it. Sometimes I NEED it. It never lets me down.

"Just like Tolkien and fantasy, many romance novels are nothing more than "Gone With the Wind" knockoffs, aren't they?"

Uh, no. Not in the least. And have you read gone with the wind, with Scarlett's multiple children, more than the 2 hubbies that are shown in the movie? Scarlett was a woman trapped in a man's world of strictly defined societal conventions who comes across as selfish and bitter in her attempt to survive and flourish. Not today's romances at all.

"But I still maintain that within every genre there is the good, middling and downright bad. My problem has been in finding the good."

That's true in any genre, and only tells me you haven't been reading enough. I can recommend to you books and so can anyone here, but it all depends on your and my definition of good. They could be different and polar opposites. Thus, it's already doomed to fail. Just get out there and try some books until you find that one that does it for you. It might take a while, but like all good things, it will happen.

Monster, it sounds like you want a shortcut, and there is no shortcut. "Recommend a book I'll love" is the equivalent of "guess what I want to eat for dinner." If you don't know your own taste, you can't expect anyone else to.

You must read widely. Through that process, you will discover which books are to your taste ("good") and which aren't to your taste ("bad"). You should be learning from both.

Head to the library. Ask the the librarian to direct you toward straight contemporary romance, if that's where you want to focus, and take home as many as you can get away with. If you read fifty books and can't find anything you like, you're probably looking in the wrong direction.

Try telling people you write EROTIC romance! I love what I do and I'm good at it. I think my love for the genre comes through in my work as well as my conversations with people outside the business. When someone tries to put me on the defensive, I've learned to turn their comments around. Face it, who can argue with a GRANDMOTHER who writes really sexy books with a good plot and a satisfying and romantic happy ending? LOL! Believe me, I always win, and I will always walk away from any discussion with my head held high. There aren't a lot of authors out there who can say they get thank you notes from husbands...

I don't believe the lady was trying to insult you. Years ago, when Rosemary Rogers made it big, I started reading romance to find out how the trick was done. And I ploughed through a lot of stuff I am sure you would have tossed into the crap can. I just could not stomach the craven heroines, always stutteting and cringing and being rescued by males who went way beyond alpha - maybe all the way to omega. I know from reading their remarks that some of your writers feel the same way, and I suspect that you do as well.

Maybe the trick is not to take someone else's taste in reading personally. I never have been much of a fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald, but anyone who took that statement personally would completely misunderstand it.

I loved "The Woman in White" too. One of my all time favorites.

I just don't get all the negative vibes about romance, or romance writers.

Life is a romance. Just because some books have romance as the central element doesn't make them less readable, or less intelligent.

But I do have several romance writer friends who are hesitant to say they write romance. Maybe this can be the focus of the next RWA ;)

Part of the problem is predictability. When you read literary fiction, anything could happen. You could get a happy ending, you could get a tragic ending, you could get a blah ending. Your main character could die, do something morally reprehensible, or save the world. No guarantees. You might find the writing style to be impenetrably dense or weird or brilliant.

Romance? Not so much. Yes, there are "down" endings available now, but they have to warn you about it going in. Yes, there is as much variation on a theme as you can imagine in romance, but the theme remains the same. The story will feature a central romantic relationship.

The romance novel serves its reader, which is fine. The reader buying a romance novel knows what he or she wants to experience. The literary novel serves its author. Buying a literary novel means you're willing to experience whatever the author wants to dish out.

To make the original rant that much darker, it's not just the romance novel that lacks respect in the literary world; it's the romance reader.

I never tell anyone I write romance anymore - and I'll tell you why. I'm an engineer - it's what pays bills and keeps my kids in college since I'm a single mom. Four or five years ago, attending a business meeting of consultants on a government contract, I saw a good promotional and marketing opportunity - to introduce my other side, as a writer. During social hour, I saw my opportunity and 'confessed' that I write romance then handed out my other business card. A female colleague took it, studied it for a while then turned her attention to me. She scanned me better than an MRI machine and then said, "But how can you write trash like romance when you don't even dress sexy?"

Yeah, it was a business meeting but we were at the socializing stage...obviously, my fault for assuming too much. I didn't have an answer and gave myself a mental whack for poor judgment and opening myself to ridicule in a crowd of business associates.

Romance - a genre everyone loves to bash. Sigh. Edita.

I have a confession to make.

I don't like Thomas Kinkade paintings. Every time I look at them, I cringe inside. I see the stores in the malls that do nothing but sell his work, and I shake my head and think, what is everyone thinking?

I'm a modern art kind of person, though I deeply love the expressionists of the 1880's through the turn of the century. I decorate my home with paintings with bold colors and dynamic lines.

It's what I like. I look at a Kinkade painting and I see nothing but "pretty" colors in a "pretty" picture.

But I'm sure that those pretty pictures make someone happy because it makes them feel soothed and taken away into a world that is calm and pastel.

I imagine a lot of people feel the same way about romance, and I've come to the conclusion that I have to let them feel that way.

Because I can't stand Thomas Kinkade.

I fight really hard with my own internal thoughts, because I see someone whose house is plastered in his paintings and I bite my tongue before I can say, "How can you like that (insert appropriate word here.)

But then I think of the people that say, "How can you read that fluffy garbage." And I feel guilty.

I can be just as judgmental, I'm just a nasty you-know-what about art, not reading materials.

No matter what anyone says to me, no matter how much they point out the "light", I do not like it, and I will never like it.

Some people will never like romances. That is fine. I have to let them.

However, I have looked at Many Kinkade paintings. (often against my will, but that is beside the point) More importantly I've thought about exactly why I don't like them. I looked and I gave them a chance, and I bought the art that made me happy instead.

It is people who have never read any romance, or who haven't read one in at least a decade, then spout off about how it is garbage that really get my goat. That is belittling.

As much as I don't like Kinkade, and I might have nasty thoughts about those paintings fueled by my annoyance with them, I won't belittle them out of respect for romance of all things. And I'm certainly not going to prop up my own intelligence by saying that my art is "worth more intellectually" than Kinkade. I don't need to prop up my intelligence at the expense of others. I got plenty of smarts, thanks. ;)

Unfortunately, there are those that do need to feel superior by touting their literary achievements in their reading life. That is fine, they are all made out of the same words.

Just like it is all the same paint.

The only difference is the opinions, and how people choose to express them.

"Well, it's a fantasy novel about..." and their eyes just glaze over with that, 'Oh, that's nice...' look.

OMG, that's so true! I was once talking to my brother-in-law's wife just about reading a fantasy novel, and her eyes glazed over. She also said something like, "I don't read fantasy. I prefer real stuff."

Oy vey. I mean, she's a sweet, funny lady, but, jeez...

As to romance...I hate to admit it, but I used to have a closed mind about that genre and about writers who wrote in an already-created world (think along the lines of the Star Trek novels).

It's been a long time since I've thought like that. I now have respect for all writers, no matter what genre (and I think those who have to write in an alread-created world have it doubly hard, as they have to cleave to alread-created characters, etc.; at least I get to create my own characters).

And, like Jessica said, there's crappy writing in ALL genres; romance doesn't have dibs on it.

I say do what I did: Spend your time doing research on some good writers boards. Go ahead, try your hand at romance or some genre you laugh at or think is easy to write; then have that critted by someone who's read a lot in that genre.

Hopefully, it'll open your eyes, and you'll realize that this writing thing is hard no matter what genre you want to pursue.

Janet said:
"I must confess, tacky covers and several Danielle Steele novels turned me off romance too. I guess every other time I've cracked the covers of a romance, I must have hit a bad one."

To begin with, Danielle Steele does not write romance! I don't know how many ancient books you might have picked up in your church used book sales, but most of those covers people used to find so embarrasing have gone the way of the whooping crane. I've had 46 romance novels published and only one had a cover I felt was bad--and that, not because of any heaving bosoms or the like, but because the male protagonist, the only one pictured on the cover, looked terribly ill.

Judy Griffith Gill
www.judygriffithgill.blogspot.com

One more comment on respecting romance: We recently had a discussion of this on Novelists, Inc. which morphed into an even better discussion about being recognized in public, receiving kudos and thanks from fans. It was an uplifting experience to share those moments with others.

Judy Griffith Gill