Thursday, February 24, 2011

Literary Sub-Genres - A Shedload of Fun!

Sure, it may not sound like a barrel of laughs, but if you could create a new literary sub-genre, what would it be?

In my recent interview with the lovely Glynis, I pointed out that I'd like to write wine-lit. Set in vineyards, wine cellars, vats... following the character development of a grape. Here's a sample blurb:

For Grimskill Grape, life is one sun-drenched day after another, hanging out on his vine of choice and ripening robustly. But everything changes when Grimskill is suddenly plucked from his familiar world; his spirits crushed when he's rudely stamped on then thrust into a dark cave to ferment. Will Grimskill adjust to his new life and accept his role as part of the greater good, or will he struggle against decomposition -- and fate?

(Please do not take the above paragraph as indicative of my blurb writing skills, ha!)

What literary sub-genre would you like to create?
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48 comments:

  1. Elizabeth Bramwell24 February 2011 at 12:59

    As per the ongoing twitter discussion, I would write zomromcom - romantic comedy, only with the undead ;-)

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  2. Paul Anthony Shortt24 February 2011 at 13:07

    I'd like to invent Kick-Lit - Books about ass-kicking in the most over the top ways imagineable.

    Imagine our hero, a devil-may-care airforce pilot forced to take the law into his own hands to solve his father's murder, taking on an evil oil corporation and defeating his nemesis in a dogfight with cloned pterodactyls!

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  3. Francine Howarth24 February 2011 at 13:13

    Hi,

    Hee hee, Grimskill bottled up - what he sees from his rack below stairs!

    Oh, if only there was a " Romantic Daring-Do" sub genre. Not erotica, not plain old romance, but one in which boundaries are pushed airing agent provocateur (female spies) not only in commercial business settings, journalism, law too. ;)

    best
    F

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  4. Jane Lovering24 February 2011 at 13:14

    I'd do a new spin on YA books, dwelling more on the overcoming of teen-angst issues. Zit-Lit. It has a certain something, you'll admit...

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  5. Gabriela Lessa24 February 2011 at 13:36

    Okay now I'm feeling so not creative... Love wine-lit! How about drunkromcom then? ;)

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  6. Talli Roland24 February 2011 at 13:46

    Love all these! I think there's definitely a market gap for such sub-genres, for sure!

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  7. L. Diane Wolfe24 February 2011 at 14:07

    What genre? Inspirational fiction that doesn't have to be pure clean Christian. Not sure how to sum that up! But if it existed, that's where my series would fit best.

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  8. Michael Di Gesu24 February 2011 at 14:17

    Very clever, Talli.

    How about Crit-lit.... The do's and don'ts of aspiring Critters.


    Michael

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  9. Joanne24 February 2011 at 14:20

    Hm, how about java-lit? A series of coffee-shop stories?

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  10. Old Kitty24 February 2011 at 14:41

    OH Talli. How am I going to look my glass of wine in the erm.. face after this??? Poor Grimskill.

    He was a good grape but an even better wine.

    :-) Take care
    x

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  11. Unknown24 February 2011 at 14:49

    I'd like to create a nerd fiction that is about science stuff but not science fiction. (Don't know if that makes sense.)

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  12. LTM24 February 2011 at 16:00

    LOL! That sounds like a picture book for adults! I think you're onto something. Do it!!! ;p

    Oh, and blogging pet peeves? ... The comment form that takes me away from the original post, thereby rendering me useless when I've forgotten that funny thing you said that I was going to comment on and now I can't go back w/o losing what I've already written... :D j/k Non-embedded word verify. Definitely.

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  13. Hilary Wagner24 February 2011 at 16:09

    I would create Greasy Bacon Lit! In college, everyone wanted greasy food after a night on the town! This would be the genre! ;)

    Fun post, Tali!!!!

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  14. Myne24 February 2011 at 16:30

    What would you call books from a babies point of view?

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  15. Kindros24 February 2011 at 16:56

    Amazing post. I love it. :)
    Great ideas here.

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  16. Olga24 February 2011 at 17:43

    I like the idea of the wine genre - with each new bottle, there is more inspiration :)
    I liked your story segment. It was hilarious.
    I think my sub-genre would revolve around the inner lives of squirrels, especially at the moments when they get angry at humans or dogs. You never know what they mean when they make those little noises.

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  17. Nicole Zoltack24 February 2011 at 17:59

    lol you all are too funny!

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  18. Heather24 February 2011 at 18:11

    Wine-lit, LOL! I love that! I would definitely read that. I'm reading through the comments and laughing so hard at some of the genre creations! I must say, Paul's Kick-lit is one of my fav's.

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  19. Roxy24 February 2011 at 18:31

    Wine Lit? Very funny, Talli! I could do Whine Lit. It deals with undiscovered writer angst . . . Or Haagen Daz Lit. This is a sub-sub genre for Whine Lit where writers eat unhealthy things to make themselves feel better. All you need is a bad attitude and a spoon!

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  20. Julie24 February 2011 at 18:36

    I would definitely read some wine-lit! Would it be horrible to drink wine as I read about it? Haha.
    I actually came up with a sub-genre idea the other day but it was so out there, I made myself uncomfortable and promptly forgot about it. Hmm..

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  21. Elana Johnson24 February 2011 at 20:18

    Oh, now that's funny. I'm not sure what I'd like to write. Comedic dystopian? Yeah, that sounds good. Who doesn't need a good laugh when the world is coming to an end? I mean, seriously.

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  22. Golden Eagle24 February 2011 at 20:26

    Hmmm! How about . . . Gryphon Fantasy. There aren't enough stories with gryphons in them. :P

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  23. Dan Holloway24 February 2011 at 20:33

    Talli, I love the sound of wine-lit. My last novel, Songs from the Other Side of the Wall, was set on a vineyard in Hungary and uses the development of the legendary Tokaji wines as its central metaphor.

    I like the idea of updating the old skinflicks - the everyday tales of ipod and netbook covers

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  24. Talli Roland24 February 2011 at 20:50

    I am *loving* reading all these sub-genres! Thank you, everyone, for the much needed giggles!

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  25. Unknown24 February 2011 at 21:21

    These are fabulous!!! I've had so much fun reading everyone's ideas, which then turned into shame when I realized I couldn't come up with an idea of my own. I quite liked your wine-lit idea... very clever (and somethign I do enjoy).

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  26. Conda Douglas24 February 2011 at 21:25

    Fun! I'd like to have a sub-genre of bright shiny things and dead stuff, two of my favorite...oh, wait, that is what I write!

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  27. Jhon Baker24 February 2011 at 21:47

    I would create a sub genre of quality poetry written by people who care about the art for its sake not theirs. However, your blurb was funny as hell, a story I would read!

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  28. Alex J. Cavanaugh24 February 2011 at 21:49

    Science fiction no-tech?

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  29. Fran Hill24 February 2011 at 22:02

    I'd like to write a lick-lit book, all about a girl who is addicted to lollipops. Eventually, her tongue goes a funny colour, and she starts a dating agency for people with funny-coloured tongues, meets another lolly addict (male) with a purple tongue and they lick happily ever after.

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  30. Alleged Author25 February 2011 at 00:16

    I don't have one, but I would love to read a "wine-lit" book!

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  31. Abby Minard25 February 2011 at 00:26

    Oh that's so cute! I'm watching the new Shrek- how about a ogre romcom? Sexy!

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  32. Anonymous25 February 2011 at 00:42

    YA troubled teens. They're nearly all grown up - making adult decisions in a hormonally overdosed body. YA trubbed teens... YATT
    fun post xx

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  33. notesfromnadir25 February 2011 at 01:12

    Wine lit is an interesting idea. You seem to have a lot of knowledge about it so why not?

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  34. Nicki Elson25 February 2011 at 02:08

    A grape, eh? Not quite as vulnerable as a peach (ala Miles Finch of Elf fame) but it'll do. ;)

    Hey---you know my sister! Small, small world. I love your London, btw. Can't wait to come back.

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  35. alexia25 February 2011 at 02:34

    Hahahaha!!! Love it!

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  36. Jemi Fraser25 February 2011 at 03:08

    I'm in!!! How about choco-lit! Always a hit here :)

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  37. ebm9325 February 2011 at 04:30

    I could read that, sounds fun.

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  38. Missed Periods25 February 2011 at 08:49

    I hope that Grimskill is a very mean grape. I don't want to have to feel guilty about drinking wine.

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  39. Hart Johnson25 February 2011 at 13:51

    Oh, it's PERFECT! You crack me up! I'm going to go with Naked-lit... but that should hardly be shocking.

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  40. Áine Tierney25 February 2011 at 13:55

    Very funny and clever Talli!

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  41. Unknown25 February 2011 at 14:30

    Psychology-Lit - where all the crazies like to dwell!

    Books in the genre:
    One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
    Misery

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  42. Michelle in a shell25 February 2011 at 22:31

    Ah, wine-lit sounds amazing. I'd definitely read that!

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  43. William Kendall25 February 2011 at 22:39

    Vampire Rabbit Epics.

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  44. Glynis Peters 26 February 2011 at 07:30

    Lovely Glynis? You are too kind.

    Talented Talli, that was a tantalising little number. ;0

    Chocolit...that would be mine!

    My characters would live in Cadbury Town. ;0

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  45. Len Lambert27 February 2011 at 01:01

    LOL. That's an original genre. Grimskill Grape...I'd like to read more about him! :) Hhehe.

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  46. Theresa Milstein28 February 2011 at 11:22

    WineLit- ha! I'm all for it. The film "French Kiss" is as close to wine lit (in movie form) that I've come across.

    I'm all for Story-PlunkLit. Like a book? Want to live in that world? Why do I need wait for my Hogwarts letter that will never arrive in real life? (Sob.) Put any ordinary book inside a magical cover, and I'm inside any book I want to be.

    But someone has to read the new version for me to get out of the book.

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  47. Anonymous28 February 2011 at 14:18

    This is genius!

    I'm thinking choco-lit. Or, run-lit. But not together.

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  48. Hilary Melton-Butcher1 March 2011 at 18:52

    Hi Talli - great imagination here .. mine's off for the moment .. cheers - but I'll join you for the wine .. H

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Coffee and wine for all!

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