There Are No Fixed Rules In Writing - But There Are Fixed Rules

Yes, I know this is one of those weird things in publishing, but let's face it, this is a strange business. One minute a genre is hot and then tomorrow, nobody likes the genre. The same goes with rules of writing.

I think that too often, writers seem to believe that each genre out there has a specific set of rules you have to follow. Maybe it is something that people just pass on through word of mouth. Maybe it is something that people who claim to be "specialists" teach in their workshops (along with this fabulous tonic that will cure all diseases), but more than likely, it is something that writers just "think" they are supposed to do because they "see it" when they "read it." 

But here is the reality. When it comes to telling a story, there really is not fixed rule. Write a great story. Keep the reader engaged. Create strong characters, a great setting, a great conflict and you are off and running. That's easy, right?

HOWEVER...

We can't go crazy here. This is not CALVIN BALL

If you remember the rules, "anything goes and you can change the rules at anytime." Nope! Not going to happen here. We have to have some stability. So, let's get back to our HOWEVER and consider a few rules...

CAN WE WRITE IN FIRST PERSON? You betcha... however, there are certainly some lines that are going to say we are not going to take that type of writing. They never have and they never will. If you have not read their lines, do not expect them to change. If you submit a first person story to them, expect a reject.

DUEL POV IS IN SO WE ALL WRITE IN THAT STYLE Ok, so we see people writing that way. They label each chapter with a character's name and use the whole chapter for that character. SO WHAT?!?! Does that mean you have to do it that way? Sorry to this, but the romance genre has been doing that for A LOOONNNNGGGG TIME but just have not been labeling chapters, or just did duel POV within a chapter (what a concept, huh?). Again, some publishers will say no to this.

NEW ADULT IS ALWAYS IN FIRST PERSON - Again, this is a myth. Writing in first person is based on the story. If the story is best written in first person, then write it in first person. If writing it in third person is better, then write it that way. Don't believe that myth. BTW... the same goes for Romantic Comedies.

EVERY SERIES ROMANCE HAS TO HAVE THE CHARACTERS INTERACTING IN THE FIRST CHAPTER - Here is the thing about a series romance. There is a word count restraint. Part of the reason you see the interaction happening so quickly is that the authors don't have 80-100 K. HOWEVER... It does not mean that your character has to interact with each other in the first chapter, HOWEVER, since you don't have much time, I would not be waiting past the end of chapter 2.

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE NEEDS A PROLOGUE WITH THE VILLAIN. Ummm, why? Sure, we want to start with action, but do we really have to see some weirdo with no context? Not necessarily? The question is always, "does the story need it?"

ROMANCE NEEDS HOT SEX Ok, this is one of those where the guys trying to break into the business screw it up. Remember, the romance genre is about following a relationship from essentially nothing to the HEA (Happily Ever After). That's it. If they decide to "do it" and the story needs it then feel free to put in the story. If the characters are fine with out it, then keep it out.

I hope you are seeing what I am talking about here.

Historical Romance Is Not Dead + A #MSWL

 Feel free to forward! 

What We Say We Represent, We Really Do Mean It

I have to post this today because I find it really funny. Now, when I say funny, I mean, it is something I laugh at because I can see how unprofessional, and yes I am going to say "stupid" here, people are in this business. People who think they somehow know better. 

I want you to learn from these people and to NOT do what they are doing. I especially want you to learn from this considering this is another one of those "AGENT" people that someone has gone out and hired to find an AGENT to represent their client. 

When an agent or an editor states clearly on their website (or for that matter anywhere in public) what they represent or acquire. That is it. This is a black and white issue. There are no tricks to this. There are not hidden secrets. We are not like the "secret menu" at Starbucks or any other restaurant. We put that information out there for a reason. To help you make the right decision. To help you decide if we are the right place to send your project to. Here is an analogy.

If you see this...

Are you going to yell at the store manager when they don't have...

I would doubt it. 

You wouldn't even go into the store. You would drive right by it and go find the store that is right for you. Why? Because you used that skill you learned in Pre-school and Kindergarten when you started with...

And yet...

Here we are today. With this nice little rant on a Thursday. When I say I only represent traditional romance and women's fiction. When I say I DO NOT represent movies. What do you think that means? 

So I got one...and I rejected it... Because it was a Mafia, Thriller, Screenplay with no romance at all. 

And the guy proceeded to reply back with how the state of the industry had gone down hill and how on Earth could someone turn down someone who had been represented by William Morrow (OK, so if he had been why isn't he now and why is he selling his soul to this guy?) and he had sold over 20+ books with WM and I can see his success on Google and Amazon (again, if he was that good, why isn't he still there?)... 

But I am getting sidetracked. How is it the industry that is failing. It is the simple fact that we have another case of someone not using their reading skills. What I say I represent, I really do mean it. 

End of story. 

Please share this.

Why I Don't Represent Specific Genres

I recently posted on TikTok about something (who knows what?) and people were asking two things: First if I represented a specific genre; and secondly, why I didn't represent a specific genre. So, with that in mind, I want to answer both of those questions today. 

Let's start with the first one and the easiest one. What do I represent? READ MY WEBSITE!!!! I know, weird huh? A) it says traditional romance and women's fiction; but B) it also lists the specific sub-genres that I represent and do not represent. 

OK, done with that one. Now to the bigger question.

Why don't I represent certain genres.

The answer is actually relatively easy and has two parts to it. The first is that I represent what I like to read. I have to enjoy a story to really want to read it over and over again to edit it and hype it up to editors. But the bigger reason is that these are genres "I get." Sure, I have studied a lot of different genres. I am, in fact a literature major. I have a BA in English Literature, a MA in Literacy and one in Creative Writing. I focus on literature. I study literature. But, like a literature majors, we had an area of focus.

Therefore, when people ask why I don't represent HIGH FANTASY, it isn't that I don't appreciate it, the simple fact is that I am not as well versed in it to truly be able to help an author out in the getting it to the right place and shepherding it through the writing process.

When it comes to real hard-core Christian Romance or Christian Fiction, this is just not a market I get. This is a truly different beast, much like the screenwriting and film market. They approach things differently. It is just not my cup of tea. 

I hope that makes sense. You as an author have to find the person who knows your genre and who can best guide your project in the right direction. Greyhaus Literary Agency is right for those people who want to write traditional romance and women's fiction. It might not be right for you.