Comments on: Rule-Makers and Rule-Breakers: Who’s Ruling Who? http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/21/rule-makers-and-rule-breakers-whos-ruling-who/ What's hip, what's now, what's tomorrow in the romance genre world. Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:26:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Wendy http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/21/rule-makers-and-rule-breakers-whos-ruling-who/comment-page-1/#comment-22670 Wendy Tue, 25 Dec 2007 02:02:51 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/21/rule-makers-and-rule-breakers-whos-ruling-who/#comment-22670 I didn't know about those reprints! Thank you for the news :!: I didn’t know about those reprints! Thank you for the news :!:

]]> By: Chessie http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/21/rule-makers-and-rule-breakers-whos-ruling-who/comment-page-1/#comment-22662 Chessie Sun, 23 Dec 2007 18:52:46 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/21/rule-makers-and-rule-breakers-whos-ruling-who/#comment-22662 Body Electric by Susan Squires was a rule breaker when it came out. It was dark and gritty and had that urban fantasy feel before that became a hot trend. It is a thrilling book if anyone gets a chance to pick it up. Body Electric by Susan Squires was a rule breaker when it came out. It was dark and gritty and had that urban fantasy feel before that became a hot trend. It is a thrilling book if anyone gets a chance to pick it up.

]]> By: Alison Kent http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/21/rule-makers-and-rule-breakers-whos-ruling-who/comment-page-1/#comment-22661 Alison Kent Sun, 23 Dec 2007 06:10:36 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/21/rule-makers-and-rule-breakers-whos-ruling-who/#comment-22661 With Kinsale's reprint sales to Sourcebooks, I have to wonder if we'll see more original work from her there. With Kinsale’s reprint sales to Sourcebooks, I have to wonder if we’ll see more original work from her there.

]]> By: Robin http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/21/rule-makers-and-rule-breakers-whos-ruling-who/comment-page-1/#comment-22660 Robin Sun, 23 Dec 2007 05:26:07 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/21/rule-makers-and-rule-breakers-whos-ruling-who/#comment-22660 Hey Everyone, thanks so much for the comments and recommendations! Over time, reading blogs has made me appreciate the idea that editors are in some ways uber-readers; they're trying to make book for their publisher, but they are trying to please readers in the process. So it makes sense to me that they're behind the books they acquire. Especially when you figure that they're making a pittance relative to the work that goes into what they do! But I can imagine that any given editor may pass on a manuscript that another editor turns into a bestseller. We readers can be pretty hard to please, IMO, although I definitely agree that we are extremely vocal about what we love -- and don't. Wendy, it's sure a drag about Laura Kinsale, but IIRC she said that she had some offers to buy her manuscript -- just not what she wanted. Hopefully she's writing as we speak, lol, and will have two books to sell pretty soon. Anyway, I wanted to emphasize this quote from Allison Brennan, because as a reader I have the same thought sooooo often: <i>I don’t believe in breaking rules just for the sake of breaking them–it has to fit the story, which in turn has to fit the characters. But I also believe that anything can work, any rule can be broken, in the right hands.</i> Yes! We readers aren't stupid, and IMO we can tell when all the pieces of a book fit together. Sure, we will ignore all sorts of things to enjoy the genre we choose to read, but in the end, I think we appreciate a really thoughtful book that takes us somewhere powerful, whether it's a new or familiar place. Hey Everyone, thanks so much for the comments and recommendations!

Over time, reading blogs has made me appreciate the idea that editors are in some ways uber-readers; they’re trying to make book for their publisher, but they are trying to please readers in the process. So it makes sense to me that they’re behind the books they acquire. Especially when you figure that they’re making a pittance relative to the work that goes into what they do! But I can imagine that any given editor may pass on a manuscript that another editor turns into a bestseller. We readers can be pretty hard to please, IMO, although I definitely agree that we are extremely vocal about what we love — and don’t.

Wendy, it’s sure a drag about Laura Kinsale, but IIRC she said that she had some offers to buy her manuscript — just not what she wanted. Hopefully she’s writing as we speak, lol, and will have two books to sell pretty soon.

Anyway, I wanted to emphasize this quote from Allison Brennan, because as a reader I have the same thought sooooo often:
I don’t believe in breaking rules just for the sake of breaking them–it has to fit the story, which in turn has to fit the characters. But I also believe that anything can work, any rule can be broken, in the right hands.
Yes! We readers aren’t stupid, and IMO we can tell when all the pieces of a book fit together. Sure, we will ignore all sorts of things to enjoy the genre we choose to read, but in the end, I think we appreciate a really thoughtful book that takes us somewhere powerful, whether it’s a new or familiar place.

]]> By: Melanie http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/21/rule-makers-and-rule-breakers-whos-ruling-who/comment-page-1/#comment-22659 Melanie Sun, 23 Dec 2007 01:03:59 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/21/rule-makers-and-rule-breakers-whos-ruling-who/#comment-22659 You are absolutely right. You are absolutely right.

]]> By: Michelle Rowen http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/21/rule-makers-and-rule-breakers-whos-ruling-who/comment-page-1/#comment-22658 Michelle Rowen Sat, 22 Dec 2007 22:48:21 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/21/rule-makers-and-rule-breakers-whos-ruling-who/#comment-22658 Duuude... actually I said I was going to try to write that many. ;-) And a few of those were YAs. I do stand by the 3 books/year comment, though. Especially in romance. Happily I will be writing full time next year, and I do have the time and freedom to focus on the writing exclusively. Woot. Duuude… actually I said I was going to try to write that many. ;-) And a few of those were YAs. I do stand by the 3 books/year comment, though. Especially in romance. Happily I will be writing full time next year, and I do have the time and freedom to focus on the writing exclusively. Woot.

]]> By: Keeton http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/21/rule-makers-and-rule-breakers-whos-ruling-who/comment-page-1/#comment-22657 Keeton Sat, 22 Dec 2007 00:41:27 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/21/rule-makers-and-rule-breakers-whos-ruling-who/#comment-22657 Every marketer is looking for that elusive "next hot trend", publishers are no different. The tough part is being able to spot it. Even with experience that seems more trial and error then anything else. Every marketer is looking for that elusive “next hot trend”, publishers are no different. The tough part is being able to spot it. Even with experience that seems more trial and error then anything else.

]]> By: PatriciaW http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/21/rule-makers-and-rule-breakers-whos-ruling-who/comment-page-1/#comment-22655 PatriciaW Fri, 21 Dec 2007 20:04:51 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/21/rule-makers-and-rule-breakers-whos-ruling-who/#comment-22655 I disagree a bit. I do think there are great books that are not being published because as you remind us "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Yes, publishers are looking for the next great thing but will they recognize it or be courageous when and if they see it <em>100% of the time</em>? I'm sure the answer is yes most of the time but I'm sure there are also stories of the "one that got away". More likely, as you point out, there are a lot of really good writers producing really good product that in the eyes of the editors (and many readers) is indeed "interchangeable" commercial fiction from a sales and potential reader satisfaction standpoint. That might depress some authors but I think it should inspire writers to strive for better and then to seek that unique thing that will help us to break out of the pack. In a recent NovelJourney newsletter, literary agent Jessica Faust said, "Just to get noticed you need to <strong>be original</strong> both in your idea <em>and</em> execution." It's when an author does both that we start thinking "great book". I disagree a bit. I do think there are great books that are not being published because as you remind us “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. Yes, publishers are looking for the next great thing but will they recognize it or be courageous when and if they see it 100% of the time? I’m sure the answer is yes most of the time but I’m sure there are also stories of the “one that got away”.

More likely, as you point out, there are a lot of really good writers producing really good product that in the eyes of the editors (and many readers) is indeed “interchangeable” commercial fiction from a sales and potential reader satisfaction standpoint. That might depress some authors but I think it should inspire writers to strive for better and then to seek that unique thing that will help us to break out of the pack.

In a recent NovelJourney newsletter, literary agent Jessica Faust said, “Just to get noticed you need to be original both in your idea and execution.” It’s when an author does both that we start thinking “great book”.

]]> By: Wendy http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/21/rule-makers-and-rule-breakers-whos-ruling-who/comment-page-1/#comment-22654 Wendy Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:41:22 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/21/rule-makers-and-rule-breakers-whos-ruling-who/#comment-22654 My favorite rule-breaking author is Laura Kinsale... and she apparently is having trouble getting published, so what does that say about the industry? :sad: My favorite rule-breaking author is Laura Kinsale… and she apparently is having trouble getting published, so what does that say about the industry? :sad:

]]> By: allison brennan http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/21/rule-makers-and-rule-breakers-whos-ruling-who/comment-page-1/#comment-22653 allison brennan Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:16:30 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/12/21/rule-makers-and-rule-breakers-whos-ruling-who/#comment-22653 Some writers write fast, some write slower. Writing speed has nothing to do with quality. I've read some incredible books by authors who put out 4+ books a year (I've never read a JD Robb book I haven't thoroughly enjoyed, for example) and I've read books by one-book-a-year authors that left me scratching my head and go ho-hum. Kimber Chin said that 3 books a year is a full-time job, and I agree. I'm at 3+ books a year and that's about my comfort level until my kids are older. Seven books? That would be waaaayyyy beyond my comfort zone. But more power to Michelle! Regarding breaking rules (Great blog post, Robin)--I love breaking rules. I think that breaking rules needs to be in the author's individual comfort zone, as opposed to what's expected or what people tell them they should/should not do. I don't believe in breaking rules just for the sake of breaking them--it has to fit the story, which in turn has to fit the characters. But I also believe that anything can work, any rule can be broken, in the right hands. I have my own personal rules I don't break, which may be different than other writers. That's great! If we all broke the same rules, books would be boring :) Some writers write fast, some write slower. Writing speed has nothing to do with quality. I’ve read some incredible books by authors who put out 4+ books a year (I’ve never read a JD Robb book I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed, for example) and I’ve read books by one-book-a-year authors that left me scratching my head and go ho-hum.

Kimber Chin said that 3 books a year is a full-time job, and I agree. I’m at 3+ books a year and that’s about my comfort level until my kids are older. Seven books? That would be waaaayyyy beyond my comfort zone. But more power to Michelle!

Regarding breaking rules (Great blog post, Robin)–I love breaking rules. I think that breaking rules needs to be in the author’s individual comfort zone, as opposed to what’s expected or what people tell them they should/should not do. I don’t believe in breaking rules just for the sake of breaking them–it has to fit the story, which in turn has to fit the characters. But I also believe that anything can work, any rule can be broken, in the right hands. I have my own personal rules I don’t break, which may be different than other writers. That’s great! If we all broke the same rules, books would be boring :)

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