Photo taken by moi last Friday night at Pine Mountain through my 8″ dobsonian telescope. 25mm eyepiece. Polarizing filter on the eyepiece. Creative Commons — meaning you may use my photo as long as you credit M. Pax. Click on it to blow it up. It came out awesome. Honest.
Happy IWSG. Every month writers gather around the blogosphere to offer encouragement and garner support. Hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh, it’s not too late to join in. Go on! You know you want to.
I was tagged some time ago by the lovely Tara Tyler with the magic eight ball meme. Maybe I’m getting this wrong, but I’m supposed to ask all of you to be my magic eight ball. My current dilemma isn’t with writing [although I could use two more of me to finish up the manuscript by August 13th, gah!], it’s with the marketing. So my first question is about categories and genres …
I don’t know how many of you read, Plantgirl [free read LINKS]. The Renaissance of Hetty Locklear centers around some similar elements — a rather sad gal with a rather sad life, searching for a way to make herself better. There’s some ghosts, invisible people, cloaks, DNA experiments, Renaissance Faires, and more. Although I do use some contemporary science fiction with the cloaks and experiments, I don’t want to market this series as science fiction.
I wrote this one more for women and it’s women I want to target. So, I don’t want to sell under sci-fi this time. The most accurate description is speculative fiction — a combination of contemporary fantasy, contemporary sci-fi, and plain strange. The focus is more on Hetty and her issues. While she’s trying to figure herself out, she encounters a lot of strange, including her parents. However, no site lets you choose speculative fiction as the genre.
Some sites will let me select general fiction, which I’ve noted Margaret Atwood sells under, but others won’t let me be so vague.
Basically, my main character gets pulled farther and farther into a hidden world on our world which is cloaked. There’s an Area 52. There will be superhero-ish elements. Can I market it as fantasy? Or what would you do with it?
OK, that was a bit long for one question.
Second question, much shorter: This is the first in a new series. It’ll end up around 70,000 words. My local crit group insists it’s too good not to sell. They say it’s my best work yet. But it’s targeted to a different audience than Backworlds. And I still need to be seen and discovered. At what price would you sell it?
Any thoughts on my marketing quandries welcome.
Announcements:
Fight Club Begins! Hosted by the talented, DL Hammons. I signed up so I can vote. Best of luck to the contestants.
Tyrean of Tyrean’s Writing Spot has a poem published. Congrats Tyrean!
Stephen Tremp is having a blurb bloghop on August 15th, where we work on blurbs and tweet each other. Fabulous idea, Stephen.
L. Diane Wolfe is sponsoring the Supportive Blogger Extraordinaire Contest. Nominations are open until August 5th for whoever you’d like to nominate. It was tough coming up with just one for me. You’ve all been so incredibly supportive. I’d rain riches and praises on all of you. Anyway, it’s a great way to pay forward acts of kindness and support that make you all warm and fuzzy inside.
And keep September 17th open! A first for me, into which I’m dragging a few other blogging writers. I hope to say what next week. :D
OK, thanks for listening to me ramble. Time to get back to work. The clock’s ticking and Hetty and the invisible people are waiting …
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Would your WIP not come under Urban Fantasy?
I’m intrigued about 17th September!
Wow! I love your new look over here!
Those are a lot of questions. I think I’d market it as just “General Fiction.” Marge knows, right? :D And I can’t wait to read HL!!!
I guess for price… what’s your worry? Being too expensive? If so, maybe go w/the $3.99? That never seems like too much to pay for a book to me. Or if you want to be daring, try $5.99. You can change it later! :o)
Either way, GOOD LUCK! You’re a fantastic writer~ <3
I’d call it Urban Fantasy – which would also draw in the younger female crowd.
Price? hahahaha! Good luck guessing that one. Personally, I’d say 2.99. You could drop it to .99 once in awhile for a sale. Then you could be just as neurotic as I am about if I have the right price or not. :)
I’m also thinking Urban Fantasy. I’m intrigued and would love to read it. I want to know about September 17th. :)
I did love Plant Girl. If you can choose more than one genre, maybe tag it as Women’s Fiction if that’s your intended audience. I have no idea which genre would sell better or how to price it. My assumption is a lower price would sell more copies. If you’re looking for exposure before you’re super amazingly famous, that’s the way I’d go. :)
I’m not sure, Annalisa. I do have someone locally who writes fantasy and read a lot of Hetty. I can ask her.
Thanks, Leigh. Yeah, Marge knows. You’re bolder than I am, but I like that.
That seems to be the consensus so far, Laura. Thanks for your input. If I load to B&N and the others thru Smashwords, that gives me more flexibility with pricing. And if I want to set to free for awhile, I’ll be able to.
Thank you for your advice, Ciara.
I was considering that category, too, Tonja. Thanks for your thoughts. I appreciate them. :)
I loved Plantgirl! I think that your novel sounds like Urban Fantasy, or just plain Fantasy (with some scifi elements?). It sounds intriguing.
Thanks for the awesome shout out! I totally didn’t expect it when I stopped by to visit!
Very cool new digs, M! Really. I’m looking forward to reading your books. They’re already on my TBR list; I just have to step up the reading pace.
Urban Fantasy does sound appropriate or maybe Contemporary Fantasy? I’m not quite sure how to handle pricing, but I do like Laura Eno’s idea of being able to discount it for special occasions. Just don’t price it too low because if it’s too high, you can always lower it later. :)
I would market it as science-fiction and charge $3.99 for it. But maybe that would alienate some readers. Urban fantasy might be better.
I loved Plant Girl and know I will love this upcoming story as well. I’m sorry I don’t have any advice about the genre, I have a terrible time with that issue with my story as well.
Absolutely LOVE the moon shot, I think that may be your best one yet. And I’m excited to see what you have planned for Sept. 17! :)
Great recommends, Tyrean. I’m happy to help you celebrate your great accomplishment.
Thanks, Lee. I know what you read. If I didn’t write it, I’m not reading it any time soon.
There are two people who’ve read most or all of Hetty, Amanda, who would know whether I can use Urban fantasy. I looked up the definition, and aren’t completely sure. If not, contemporary fantasy definitely works.
Thanks for the input, Michael. Perhaps I will be bold enough to go for 3.99. Recovering some of my investments at some point would be nice.
That shot did come out very nice, Julie. I have more. Will get more this coming Saturday.
All of the great advice here has me leaning toward contemporary fantasy, and if a few people think it fits Urban fantasy, and 3.99. You guys are the best. :D
Genres definitely can be difficult to classify. Perhaps women’s fiction and contemporary fantasy. It’s a strange mix, but I do agree that a science fiction category might not be the best.
As for price of a 70,000-word novel: $2.99-$3.99. You can run discounts here and there to promote it, since it is the first in a series, but don’t sell yourself short. Your other works that are various prices should bring in sales of the new one without you giving it away. :)
Well- I am joining this conversation a bit late. I would go with general fiction or urban fantasy- but general fiction if possible because I think it would leave it open for people. Ad for pricing- I am not sure- but probably $2.99-$3.99 is about right. Of course- it can be more. :)
Best of luck and I am curious about the date in September. Oh- I LOVE the picture that you took. WOW! I think it is awesome that you are able to take pictures like that.
I hear you on the categories/genres thing. It’s hard when so many publishers and advertising people want you to be pigeonholed in a niche. I say market it as maybe chicklit paranormal? Contemporary Fantasy? Gosh there are just so many choices out there, it is hard. This is definitely something I have to think about for some stories I have.
Just wanted you to know that I unsubscribed over at the old place and added this one to my reader. :)
Awesome, Cherie. You’re bold, too. I need to borrow some of that.
You won’t have to be curious much longer, Jess. The photos turned out quite well that night. I was pleased.
Fantasy is probably the best fit for it, Melissa. Thanks for your sage thoughts. I’m leaning toward contemporary.
Thanks, Brinda. Glad you made it here.
I agree with those that say women’s fiction as opposed to urban fantasy.
Which is more important – the issues she is dealing with or her world? You will likely get two separate audiences for both.
As Atwood said, her stories take place on Earth, not out in space, which is why she doesn’t see her writing as Scifi. (I’m counting on a scifi revival, all things seem to come in cycles).
Perhaps either urban fantasy or magical realsim??
I want to read it now :D It sounds wonderful! I thought of $3.99…then saw Leigh said that.~ I see a lot of e books at that price, lately…
I think Fantasy would work…then again Woman’s Fiction…
Your moon pic is gorgeous…I so love this image! The moon is beautiful tonight at my house. Daughter n’ I got her telescope out and took a peek…I love how the soft light is reflecting through the windows…
Blue moon at the end of this month ;D
Can’t wait to hear about 9/17
I love the moon pic!
I’m going to have to echo what a number of other posters have said: it sounds like urban fantasy. Good luck moving forward!
It’s tough when it straddles genres, DG, but I think it’d be more along the lines of what a fantasy reader might expect. Shrug. I hope for a revival, too. Not as many women read sci-fi though, so I need to branch out for this one.
Thanks Catherine.
Seems a lot of you are leaning toward 3.99, Ella. You’ve all made me realize I’m more insecure than I think because of my low prices so far. It’s a good way to let folks know me though. Blue Moon means light skies though.
Thanks, Kim. I think fantasy might be the right ticket.
Wow, I LOVE that moon shot! I’ve got to think of a reason to blog about the Moon so I can use it, LOL!
From just a readers viewpoint… I skip over “women’s fiction”.
Love the sci-fi/fantasy genre, SOME plain fantasy, or urban fantasy, or contemporary fantasy.
But then, I’d have to pretend I didn’t know you to really tell, because I’ve enjoyed everything you’ve written!
Most of the shots that night came out really nice, Loretta.
I don’t think Hetty is what people would expect from women’s fiction, which is why I’m leaning more toward fantasy. Thanks for your input, Loretta. It all makes me think.
Wow what an amazing information packed post today.
I love women’s fiction, realistic fiction and I really enjoy sci-fi too. I also enjoy a little fantasy. Does it have suspense?
It all sounds very exciting. Good luck.
Thanks for the shout out! I think you could get $3.99 for this new novel. I don;t mind paying up to $5.99 for an eBook. Not much more than that though.
That moon pic is amazing. The detail is exceptional, but the lighting is very moody. Great job M Pax.
It looks like you had a lot of folks advising you to go with Urban Fantasy. I didn’t read every comment so I may have missed this but, is that what you decided to do?