Category vs Single Title continued

There is apparently a misconception out there about the quality of category writing and the quality fo category writers. When you discuss the idea of what type of story they write, many are very quick to note that "they write single title stories," or "they write full novel length stories." In other words, their writing is more sophisticated.

I have to say, this is far from the truth.

Now, don't go and think that I am now saying category writing is somehow more superior because I am not going there. What I am saying is that you really can not compare the two in terms of one style being easier or harder to write.

We have to remember that category is simply another "style" of writing under this huge genre of fiction, and more specifically, romance (or at least what I am talking about right now). In fact, in every genre of writing you will have different styles and approaches writers take.

So, where does this myth come from? Most likely from that same phrase that circulates around writing circles that "beginning writers train in category romances until they are ready to advance to single title." They say "because the stories are smaller, you don't have to panic." I have even heard writers say, "I want to see if I can write a 50K word before I move to something double the size."

Now stop right there. I have to say that writing smaller stories, and maintaining the same intensity is really difficult. I am reminded of the guidelines for the new Harlequin Tender line:

A big story in a 50,000-word format
The trouble is, that's not easy in a shorter-length story. It takes a talented author to be able to focus a story that tightly, making the most of every single word. These books are not short on plot, just highly focused on the relationship.

Sure, there are less words, and depending on the pace you write, it will be a shorter period of time writing (and certainly less characters on the page), but the task still requires an amazing amount of skill and talent.

So please, do not look to these writers as being anything less. There are a ton of successful writers living and doing really well in category. I would also go on to say that I would challenge some of the "single title" people to really go head to head against some of these category writers in terms of story quality. I know there are competitions out there but I am saying to do this with unmarked manuscripts. No covers, no titles, no names. Just story vs. story.

Let's see what happens then.

Hmmmm? Is that a potential contest????