Querying a novel that doesn't fit a genre

If you've written in a genre and your novel clearly fits it, then it's to your advantage to say so in your query letter. But what if it doesn't quite fit? So many agents say they want to know what genre you're in when you query. What do you do then?

A client is working on her query after a rewrite following the edit I did for her. In her letter she identified her novel as an historical romance.

But it's not. Oh, it is historical, and there is a romance in the story. But the romance is not the engine that powers the tale. It's the story of the heroine's growth as she survives a host of perils. The romance is just one of the things she has to deal with, and maybe not the most important.

But historical romances are big sellers. What could be wrong with labeling it as a desirable genre? It has the elements even if not the emphasis. What's wrong is this: expectations. A genre novel is one that meets a genre's very specific expectations.

An agent, or editor, will expect to see those expectations satisfied. You label it science fiction, it should at least feel like it plays by the rules. Because of expectations, failure to meet them could negate a story's true strengths.

So what do you do when your work doesn't confine itself to a clear genre? What do you tell the agent?

I say don't bring it up.

My novels don't seem to fit genres, although I tried to find the labels. "Speculative suspense" (not really a genre). "Coming-of-age-story-with-a-murder-subplot." "Magical realism meets thriller." Arghhhh!

So I came to not suggesting a genre or making comparisons in my queries. I just work hard to give a tantalizing taste of a riveting story and a meaningful theme and then let the agent/editor decide where he or she thinks it fits. It doesn't matter to me.

I'll wager that the really good agents are the ones that care, and they approach a query something like this:

1. Am I interested in this story?
2. If I am, do I think I can sell it (to a publisher)?
   

And that the acquiring editor you want does exactly the same thing.

1. Am I interested in this story?
2. If I am, do I think I can sell it (to the editorial board)?
   

First, you'll note, comes story. That's the key, I think, not the genre.

There's evidence that supports my approach. I've been in correspondence with Miss Snark. I like her blog and her style, and I've been trying to figure out who she is. In my correspondence with Her Snarkness, I wrote that the website of the agent I think she is says not to submit certain genres, including fantasy & science fiction. Well, many would say my most recent has a fantasy element, so I'm out of it from the start, right?

Her reply:

"Oh, I think you should query anyone who says they take fiction. What's the worst that could happen?"

Good point. Unsaid is that the good agents, the ones looking for a writer to work with rather than just a manuscript to shop, are looking for strong stories that grab them.

I believe the same goes for publishers. In Macadam/Cage's submission guidelines they say not to submit children's, fantasy, and thrillers. Here are their exact words:

"We will not read submissions for the following categories: romance, science fiction, fantasy, supernatural, self-help, poetry, thrillers, religion/spirituality, children's, young adult, cookbooks, parenting/family, military science, medical."

Yet here are three of their new releases:

• Glitter Girl and the Crazy Cheese, written for ages 3-8
• Godspeed, A genre-bending work of dark fantasy and chilling noir.
• The Housekeeper, which a reviewer describes as "a rare combination of a page-turning thriller and literary narrative…
  

Hmmm. D'ya think those authors just wrote the stories they had to tell, and that those stories just swept away all considerations of genre?

D'ya think maybe that's because agents and editors know that's what readers want -- a story that grabs you by the frontal lobes and won't let go?

I think there's a clue here.

Any agents or editors out there who'd care to chime in?

For what it's worth.

Ray

Free edit in exchange for posting permission. You send a sample that you have questions about and of which you'd like an edit. I won't post it without your permission.

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© 2006 Ray Rhamey

Comments

[Dejah]

The WORST thing that can happen is this (paraphrase) of a comment from a shit-hot NY agent about my coming-of-age/sports/romance, YA novel:

"I loved it. I stayed up all night reading it... but it's YA and I don't represent YA."

The worst thing that can happen is that you get rejected by someone who loved your book--and then go on to NOT find anyone else who loves it similiarly and DOES rep "your" genre.