There's a fantastic line from Jim Henson's, The Dark Crystal, that comes back to Drake and me each time we read a new book:
As Kira and Jen discover a meeting place built by the Ancients, Kira finds a wall full of symbols, and asks Jen about them. 
Jen: "Oh, that's writing."
Kira: "What's writing?"
Jen: "Words that stay.  My master taught me."

For centuries, the impressions of what we read stays with us.  That's why a book club is so wonderful. We share with each other about all the amazing and impactful things we've read, and what the experience of reading a particular book has meant to us.  But what if we kicked it up a notch?

Aside from having more fun than adults should be allowed to have as we collaborate with other authors helping to edit their books, we're making really nice progress on our personal writing projects, too. 

We've been spending time writing Flash Fiction, we're diving back into completing Splinters, our western novel, and we're working on the editorial process for our paranormal novel, Tears Remember.  We have two different artists working on two super-exciting projects... the second of our children's picture books, Henry Hippo's New Home,  and a new folk tale called Her Heartstone.  It's fascinating to watch how these talented artists are bringing our stories to life!  The plan is to also finish Anonymous this year, which is our 2nd Person POV crime novella.   

We're taking three vacation trips this year... one to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, one to Wisconsin, and we're spending extra time while in South Carolina for the Creative Slingers of Ink Book Festival in October.  Also, we're going on a Writing Hermitage for a week in July.  There's also a possibility that we may visit our friends in Toronto again over the summer... but that's still uncertain at this point.  So, with all that time tucked away in little cabins in new places, we should get plenty of writing accomplished (when we're not hiking or in the kayak).   If you'd like to keep "in the know" with all that Drake and I are doing, and find out when the new books are released, swim over to The Literary Street Team page of our website and get all the updates.

Visions, the ninth Community Service Anthology to fly in, is now available.  This spectacular collection includes 531 pages filled with fifty short stories and poems from twenty-four amazing writers.  This edition looks at peculiar perspectives through the lens of Fantasy Fiction, Science Fiction, and Speculative Fiction.   I'm thrilled that so many writers, again, heard the call to support our favorite charity, The Haley Sue Foundation.  They do wonderful work, and we are proud to support the kindness they bring to others.  If you'd like to buy a copy of Visions, it's available on Amazon in both paperback and e-book; or you can come out to see me at one of the fairs or festivals where I will be exhibiting my books. 

Segue... I've already booked twelve fairs and festivals to my signing calendar, and I may be adding several more before the year is out.  I'll have all of my titles on the table, plus several copies of the community service anthologies, and my new board game, The Writing Game, available for purchase.  I'll even sign them for you! 

There is a possibility that you may get to meet Drake, too.  After our Toronto trip to celebrate Caroline Topperman's new release of Your Roots Cast A Shadow, he's feeling a little more brave about being out in public.  We make no promises, but you never know when the little quacker may show up. 

​Paddle over to our event calendar on our website.  That's where you'll find all the details about where we'll be.  Keep an eye on that little patch of pond... I may be adding more events as the year goes on.  I'd love to see you.  Books for sale, the chance to meet The Duck Muse, and free hugs... what could be better?  My first event will be February 15, in Taylor, Michigan.  I hope you'll come out to visit!  

It feels a little strange for Drake and me without a virtual festival to host this year.  These last few days before February are usually filled with a lot more hectic-ness (if that's even a word) as we prepare for a month of shenanigans.  This year you've told us you'd like a break.  So, we're revisiting some of our favorite episodes from the past few Festivals, watching the replays on our YouTube channel.  It's not the same as playing with everyone in real time, but it's still fun.  Maybe we'll do another Festival next year... we'll see how the winds of change push the current.  If, as you watch the replays, and ruminate on the potential future Festivals, you have feedback on how we could make it more interesting to you, we'd love to hear from you.  The kindness of an honest review is always appreciated.

The lack of a Festival this year is giving us more time to write... and that's not a bad thing, at all.  For this year's community service anthology, Pages Promotions is hosting a Flash Fiction Challenge.  Everyone who feels so inclined to participate is welcome.  We're posting fifty-two prompts... one for each week of the year... and asking you to come up with your most creative stories using just 250 words or fewer.  Shorter fiction is more Drake's thing than mine, and he's loving extra time at the creative keyboard.  I meet with The Creative Slingers of Ink virtually on Monday nights to write in community, and I'm enjoying watching Drake do his thing.  The deadline for submissions falls on the last day of each month, and you may write to as few or as many of the prompts as you like. 

I'm really proud of Drake.  He's been working hard on this challenge.  It's only week four, and he's already written NINE pieces for the anthology!  I'm not so great at brevity, as anyone who knows me well will tell you (evidenced by this blog post) but it's Drakes favorite fictional pond.  In fact, he's so excited, that he's posted one of his stories on the Tech Rehearsal page of our website.  If you're interested in what he's been dipping his flippers into lately, I suggest you check in there.  He's coerced me to record some of his short stories there, too.  I make no promises about what's to come next... but you might want to bookmark that page, just in case he decides to get really creative!

If that's not enough to keep you swimming in circles... How about a writing contest?  This is a first for us, and we're not quite sure how it will end up... but you never know until you try, so here we go!

This year, we're hosting The Passionate Quill Writing Contest.  Yup, a real live, creative writing, you could win CASH PRIZES contest!  We've created a story prompt that has three main points to it.  Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story using those three points.  You can use them in any order, but you must use all three.  You get to choose everything else... genre, POV, characters, setting... the whole shootin' match.  The maximum word count limit is 15,000 words (so no fear of brevity rules here) and you may submit as many times as you like.  There is a $25 read fee... but with $500 cash on  the line, that kinda makes sense, don't you think?  You can find all the details and submission guidelines on the Pages Promotions website (there's a jury rubric and everything).  Of course, Drake and I are ineligible to enter... that would be silly... but we'd love to see what you can create.  The submission deadline is March 1, 2025... so if you haven't started writing yet, you might want start now. 

HAPPY WRITING AND BREAK A LEG!

If you've read this far, let me first say, thank you!  I appreciate you putting up with the fact that while Drake may handle brevity well, I really don't.  So thanks for sticking with me.

There are just two more things and then I'll leave you alone for a while... Writing Field Trips and Prose Procrastinators Anonymous.  These are two opportunities for you to join me at the writing table.  Once a month, I select a fun place to visit and write in that new environment, stimulated by all the nifty things around me.  I like writing in Zoos, Museums, Nature Trails, and a bunch other fun places.  So, if you live in SE Michigan, and you'd like to come out and write with me, I'd love to have you along for the trip.  The more, the merrier, as they say.

Also, beginning on February 5, and every Wednesday thereafter, unless it falls in a holiday week, I'll be writing in the evenings at the Troy Public Library.  I find that for me and Drake, regular, dedicated writing time is what's best for getting the words on the page.  It's often difficult to do that at home because things like laundry, dishes, and videos on Prime, Hulu, and Netflix get in the way... and then there are all those great books I have on my TBR shelf that I REALLY want to read.  So you see, sometimes we have to get out of the house to focus on the writing.  If you feel like joining us, that would be great! 

​You can find all the details for both of these writing sessions on our website.  We look forward to writing with you!

Dateline: January 14, 2025…

At last night’s virtual writing session with Creative Slingers of Ink, Drake and I wrote a total of 499 words. Now, that may not seem like a lot of words, but when you consider the project we were working on, I’d say it’s quite a nice  achievement.

This year, Pages Promotions is hosting a Flash Fiction Challenge as the 2025 Community Service Anthology project.  The goal is to write a complete story, while using the prompt provided, in just 250 words or fewer.  So you see, the degree of difficulty on this challenge is high.   Last night, I was able to write and complete two of these stories, and still have time to chat about books and writing craft (and some other fun stuff) with the other writers in the group... all while sticking to the 250 word limit (for the writing, not the chatting).

The Duck Muse and I haven't worked on Flash Fiction in about two years, and this is starting out to be a lot of fun.  Drake has been pushing at me to write another short story collection, but it's been a while, and we're both out of practice.  Working within the Flash Fiction criteria is interesting work.   We are discovering that devoting our Monday virtual writing time to Flash makes sitting at the keyboard less stressful on that first day of the week.

You see, the goal of working within a group that focuses on concentrated writing time (as opposed to a sharing & critique group) is that you are held gently accountable to actually get words written... but the temptation is still there to visit and chat because we only get to see this particular group once a week.  What Drake and I are discovering is that Monday nights with CSI gives us dedicated writing time where we are gently nudged to be productive, but still allows us the social connection we crave with other writers... especially in wintertime, when we spend most of our days hibernating.

Writing Flash Fiction offers a relaxed way to accomplish our writing and social goals simultaneously.

The expectation to produce "amazing" prose is eliminated immediately.  We understand clearly when walking in the door that we don't have to write more than 250 words... so we can take a little time, choose words carefully, and play with ideas that perhaps won't fit in the current novel project.  When the requirement for word production is so small, there's virtually no pressure to finish a chapter, start a new chapter, or produce a character's entire backstory in just two hours' time.  When the rules ask for limited production, the frustration surrounding "not writing enough" is gone.

Drake and I love the weekly encouragement the group offers to show up at the keyboard for a two-hour block of time, once a week.  This is the equivalent of meeting up with friends to go for a walk, workout at the gym, or practice music with a band.  With writing, as with any other thing you'd like to get good at, consistency is key, and gentle accountability to that practice is the secret to growth.  People are counting on me to show up every Monday night... it's hard to disappoint them; and a by-product of that is that if I show up, I don't disappoint myself, either.

It's amazing to be reminded each week that there is a whole group of people out there... sporting your particular brand of weird... with whom you can share time slipping into your happy place.  The reasons you joined clubs or scout troupes in childhood are the very same reasons to join a writing community in adulthood  There is a terrific sense of acceptance that comes with others validating what you do by doing it with you.  Hiding not-so-covertly behind that acceptance is also a gentle reminder that you didn't show up just to squander the time.  You are there to be productive in that thing you love.  In our experience, a group like Creative Slingers of Ink keeps us gently on track with our writing goals. 

Check-ins throughout the night ask you to report words written... but with kindness rather than judgement.  We remind each other that Google research rabbit holes are just as valid as typing sentences.  It's all part of the process, and there is no shame in getting to The End in your own way.  That kind of support is tremendously empowering.

At the end of the night, we can easily see that we've made progress in our writing practice.  There are always words on the page (unless it's holiday time, and then we give ourselves a pass).  It's a little like checking the scale and noticing that your "good eats and exercise program" is paying off as the number in the window gets smaller.  Each time we produce positive results, we get that little bit of an endorphin buzz... and sharing that buzz with others intensifies the feeling, and helps to build confidence and momentum in sticking to our writing the rest of the week.  There's a spectacular feeling of accomplishment when the following week, you share your weekly writing wins and the group celebrates right along with you. 

You can see how this builds on itself... almost to the point of addiction... but without all the nasty side effects and social stigma.  But beware, detox can be brutal.  If you decide to join a writing group, I recommend you not disconnect from the group for long periods of time.  Not only can it be hard to walk back in the door (whether physical or virtual) after having skipped a month of practice, coming back to a regular writing practice after being away from it for so long means you'll almost need to start from scratch again... and that can be a frustrating path.  We all know imposter syndrome often runs unchecked with creative souls.  Participating with a writing group helps you battle that self-doubt, and remain confident in the small wins you achieve, surrounded by a squad of cheerleaders.

It's a wonderful confluence of amazingness.  We write, we chat, we visit, we feel creatively connected and productive, and we instill in ourselves and our friends, that momentum to carry us through creating more words throughout the week, which  continues to build week after week.  If there is a snowball of happiness (and I'm doubtful) writing groups would be it.  Each week the writing snow rolls into itself, creating even more magic as it goes.

Writing with a community like Creative Slingers of Ink isn't just about fun - although we DO laugh together quite a bit each week.  It's about being reminded that focused practice is how we get better, even if it's just 250 words at a time.

So, I invite you to check it out.  Whether you join Creative Slingers of Ink, or another group, I know you'll be pleased with the progress, momentum, and confidence you find inside a regular writing practice.  The friends you make will strengthen your craft and make life a lot more fun.

Here is a (very small) list of writing groups for you to investigate.  Be sure to learn what you can about their modalities and fees before you join.  Make sure you can visit the group at least once before you commit, just to make sure the group meets your comfort level, aligns with your goals, doesn't exceed your budget, and fits in your calendar.  Also, consider joining a critique group, if you have the time, and are emotionally ready.  A writing group and a critique group have different expectations, and both can be valuable to your writing journey. 

Disclaimer: Some of these groups I have experience with, others I don't.  Some have membership fees, others are free.  Be sure to vet them on your own and make the choices of membership that are right for you.

Creative Slingers of Ink
First Draft Detroit
Insecure Writer's Support Group
Shut Up and Write
Imaginative Storm
Scribophile
Critique Circle
Writing.com
Reddit Writer's Group
She Writes
Science Fiction and Fantasy Chronicles

Also, you may want to check with your library, community center, community college, and the Meet Up page in your area for organizations that offer writing groups... do a Google search for a local writing group... or, you could start one yourself with a few friends.  It doesn't take much to create an environment of kindness, support, and dedicated writing time.  Just do it!  Happy Writing!

While thinking about and beginning to play events the 2025 Book Festival Season, I was talking with some other authors about the possibility of sharing sales space at fairs and festivals around the area.  Why?  Well, there are a few reasons.
​
First, sharing the space means sharing the day.  It’s always nice to have another author to keep things interesting.  If you share space, you have someone to chat with throughout the day, especially in those moments when there’s a lull in the traffic.  As authors, we expect that some shows will be busier than others.  Still, nothing screams imposter syndrome to the little voice in your head louder than having no one to talk to all day. 

Second, sharing space means you’ll have someone to spot you for bathroom breaks (and you them), you’ll have someone to eat lunch with, and you can help sell each other’s books.  Sometimes selling yourself is a challenge with that little voice screaming at you.  If you run out of cash, your booth mate might have some extra to help you give back change, rather than forego a sale, which is also extremely helpful. 

Finally, of course, there is the most obvious reason… two people splitting festival costs means you both reduce your expenses and increase your revenue.

I highly recommend you seek out authors whom you admire and who write in different genres (so no one’s toes get stepped on) and ask them to share booth space with you this year.  You’ll have a good time, I promise.

So, you’ve signed up to do an event with an author buddy, Yay!  Now it’s time to start thinking about how you’ll set up your exhibit pace.  For the purposes of this conversation, we’ll just talk about the big stuff… tents, tables, chairs.  The smaller stuff, like table displays, how much inventory, swag, and all the other little details, we’ll leave for a different discussion.

Almost every event I’ve ever participated in provides a 10’ x 10’ space… if that’s indoors, like at a school gym, or the multipurpose room at a church, usually spaces are marked out with tape, and they often allow for a few extra feet in between spaces.  This not only makes the fire marshal’s job easier, but it’s also nice for you to not be so close to your neighbors… Extra walking space between booths entices more customers.  At most outdoor events I’ve been to, the spaces are the same size and require that you supply your own tent and all the other necessities to sell books.  But, unlike the indoor events, these spaces are usually sandwiched right up next to each other, wall to wall, if you will.    

If you don’t have a tent, you may want to make getting one a top priority before asking authors to share space with you.  Although, schlepping a tent is a hassle... perhaps you can entice your author buddy to bring their tent if you offer to pay a little bit more than your share of the space.  Remember, make it easy for them to travel to a show you want to do, with their tent, and both your lives will be easier.

Or, if you prefer to buy your own tent, it’s probably not a wasted expense.  Depending on how many outdoor events you want to do on your own, it can’t hurt.  If after you buy it, you decide that outdoor events aren’t your thing… you can always use the tent in your back yard or at the beach with your family… and if you get the sides with window screens and a door, even better!  You can find tents online… Amazon has bunches… and I highly recommend you get the sides to go with them.  Just buy them all in one swell foop.  Even though I always pack my books out each night for a multi-day event to safeguard against weather damage, it’s nice to leave the tent up so you don’t have to break it down and set it up for each day of the weekend.  Sides make that process easier. 

Oh, and don’t forget the weights to hold it all down.  Most event organizers won’t let you leave a tent overnight unless it’s weighted down.  I tried using sandbags for a couple years… that was a disaster!  Sand all over the car!  I suggest you get real weight-weights, rather than sand.  Yes, they’re a bit more expensive, but well worth it in my book.  Don’t get weights that require stakes, as many outdoor events don’t take place on the grass or dirt.  Many are on blacktop, in parking lots, and some have gravel “floors.”    If you’d rather not pay for weights, check out YouTube.  There are a bunch of videos out there that teach you how to make your own.

When considering where to place the “furniture” inside your tent, there are a few different options for you, based on your particular needs.  Your choices will change based on the orientation of your space, whether you’re indoors or outdoors, how many books you and your author buddy need to display, and whether or not Mother Nature chooses to cooperate. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you walk through the options:

• If the event is outdoors, and Mother Nature decides to rain on your parade, be ready with a back-up plan that you can easily shift into and drop the sides of your tent.  In most situations, event organizers won’t cancel because of a few showers… so if you’d like to stick it out, be ready to be flexible with your layout so you can save your books and your customers from becoming water-logged.  One of the perks about sharing booth space is that there will be two of you to heave-ho the tables, if necessary.
• Even though I’ve designed these plans with a place for the author to sit, remember that sitting all day may not be a great choice.  Yes, you want to make sure you HAVE a place to sit… but remember to stay engaged with your readers, no matter where your chair or stool rests.
• Although these plans are designed with sharing booths in mind, remember that you can use them if it’s just you, too.  You may find that one layout lends itself better than another depending on the location, foot traffic, and how many books you have to display.  Sometimes, having more space is a nice choice so your booth doesn’t look overwhelming cluttered.
• Although chairs work, consider getting a high stool or director’s style chair.  They don’t take up any more space than a traditional chair, but they do elevate you to eye-level with your visitors without requiring that you constantly do the stand-sit-stand thing all day.  That can get tiring very quickly.  I have a “gig stool” which folds nearly flat, that has a cushioned back attached, from Guitar Center (Amazon has them, too), and I love it.  I've used chairs, standard stools, and my gig stool, and I'm here to tell you that having a back rest makes the day far more comfortable than an ordinary stool without a back rest.

​
​The space configurations I describe in this article take into consideration two authors sharing one 10’ x 10’ space, which is a customary size.  The standard table size is a 6’ rectangle (some indoor events will provide you with an 8’ table – though that’s rare).  Authors with fewer titles might only need a 4’ table.  Due to my fairly large catalogue of books, I set up on a 6' table, yet always bring along an extra 4’ table to use for overstock inventory, swag, my lunch box, cocoa mug… you know… the other stuff.  I do this because it’s not always a good idea to put that other stuff on the ground.  Mud, rainwater, dew, animals… all are possible when working outdoors.  Bringing along another, smaller table isn’t a requirement, but it certainly makes the day easier for me.  Keep in mind that an extra table isn't always possible with indoor spaces, but you might as well pack it in the car, just in case... it couldn't hurt.

I recommend you buy tables that fold as small as possible… and height adjustable legs are nice, too.  You never know what you need until you need it.  And, the smaller things are, the easier they’ll stack on the cart and pack in the car.  I always pack a 6’ table for all my events (sometimes two, depending).  Often, I also pack a 4’ table, whether I use it or not.  Sometimes things change (especially at indoor events) and you’ll  want to be as prepared as possible to pivot to a smaller space, rather than forfeit the day.  For several years, the 4’ table I used was not the foldable type.  It wasn’t heavy or gangly by any means… but finally getting a foldable 4’ table was, for me, a game changer.   They aren’t that expensive, so just do it.  You can find them all over the place… Target, Home Depot, Amazon, Walmart… they’re everywhere.

So, now we get to the floor plans.  This list is in no way exhaustive… I’m sure there are a lot of other creative interior designers out there who can come up with more attractive and more effective designs.  If you are one of those people, please send me your ideas.  If you have a better mousetrap, I’d like to try it.

All of these configurations assume (yeah, I know) the top of the image is the back of the booth, and the bottom is the front.  Front is usually the highest trafficked side of your space.  Whenever possible, I recommend leaving a little bit of a tent hang over in front of the tables to allow for shade and sunny days and a bit of protection from the rain on wet days.  It’ll make the day nicer for everyone.  

[PS. These drawings are not to exact scale... math isn't my thing... so consider these as "rough guides."]​

​Config. B
This second front-facing configuration is ideal for two authors, one of whom has just one or two titles, and the second who may have more.  It’s an excellent option for new authors who want to share space with a “mentor” author and learn how they set their display and sell.  As you’ll notice, because the space is 10’ x 10’, two 6’ tables won’t quite fit.  So, this is a great choice when one author or the other requires less space.

Config. C
This arrangement of tables works well in situations where there is extra space between booths at an event.  Customers can traffic from three sides, and still see everything on the tables.  If you choose this set up, remember to place at least one of your titles… probably your newest or a bestseller… facing the front of the booth (in grocery store "end-cap" fashion) to entice readers to become curious about your other titles, and stop to see what else you have to offer. ​

​Config. D & E
Setting up your tables with this plan is perfect for those shows when you have lots of space on either side where customers can traffic, and still have lots of room to gather under your tent without feeling claustrophobic, even if the sides are down, due to inclement weather.  This floor plan also allows for extra room for customers who may have strollers, guide dogs, or wheelchairs.  The only difference between these two plans is where to position your author chair.  You may want to change it up depending on the weather.  Remember, you want to engage readers to interact with you, but you don’t want to get in their way as they reach for a book.

​Config. F & G
These two booth plans are fantastic for those of you who choose to spend that higher registration fee and reserve the corner spaces.  Whether a left or right corner, setting your tables in this way allows you to make both authors’ books visually available to all directions of traffic.  Also, setting your chair at the end of your table gives you an opportunity to make eye contact and greet customers, no matter which direction they come from.  This is an open concept plan, with lots of space for people, strollers, wheelchairs, and guide dogs without shoppers feeling trapped.  ​The mirror option... putting your tables on the outside edges of the corner may also work well... however, if Mother Nature is having a bad day, you'll want the interior tent space open to allow visitors a respite from her shenanigans.

While on a trip to Toronto recently, I visited Indigo Books and discovered new-to-me author, Benjamin Stevenson.  As I read through the back cover synopsis, I was immediately curious. 

This is a story about a group of mystery writers who attend a writer’s conference on a train.  As you may or may not know, I am a writer (duh) and I took a train to Toronto, so it felt like a great book to add to my collection.  One of my favorite tropes  to read are books about books, libraries, or writers – stick one of those in any major genre, and you can pretty much ensure I’ll be hooked.  After reading the first page of this story while standing in the store, I was absolutely all-in.  I’m actually quite proud of myself for not pulling it out and reading it on the train home.  Although the darker side of me thought it would be entertaining for others to notice the cover as I sat there quietly reading, I decided to wait until I could truly savor the book back home.

I’m so glad I waited.  This book is exceptional because it’s smart, humorous, and tricky.   Stevenson’s narrator, Ernest Cunningham, breaks the fourth wall throughout his recollection of the train ride through Australia where the murders ensue, constantly reminding the reader that he is also a writer.  He’s very helpful, in that he walks us carefully through the protocol for writing a mystery, reminding us that there are certain writing rules the genre requires he must follow… which he does… sort of.

Although Ernest works hard to maintain his personal writer’s integrity, I’m not so sure the same can be said for Benjamin… and that’s exactly why this book is so much fun to read.  Mystery writers love sprinkling their stories with red herrings and plot devices that sneak in when no one’s looking.  Ernest, trying to be as reliable a narrator as possible, however, reminds you why these tricks aren’t fair to the reader.  He offers several personal bonafides throughout the story to bolster his commitment to sticking to the rules.

But does he… really?  Isn’t it the job of a mystery writer to lead you off course every now and again?  Sure.  But this writer (the narrator, not the author… or maybe the author, too…) keeps tallies of things like name mentions, phrase use, and a list of specific clues connected to particular suspects.  All these things he shares with completely transparency.  And that makes me, a less than completely trusting reader of mysteries, suspicious.

The result is a thought provoking, deceitfully sneaky (sometimes) and masterfully told story, worth every cent and moment spent turning pages.  I hung on every phrase, going back to count up name mentions, searching for clues I thought I may have missed, and re-reading a few chapters as insurance that I hadn’t read too quickly to be hoodwinked.  I laughed out loud in several places, and I heard myself saying “ah-ha!” out loud too.  Just those two points alone should be reason enough for anyone to read this book.  The idea that an imaginary character essentially worked as a ghost writer for Benjamin Stevenson is still a detail I’m trying to unpack.
If you’re a lover of mysteries, I highly recommend you read this book as a work of exceptional entertainment and escapism.

If you’re a writer or an author, I highly recommend you read this book as a phenomenal case study in exceptional writing… have fun reverse engineering Benjamin’s technique.  If you need me, I’ll be off looking for his first book, because now that I know it’s a series, I’m super intrigued about the possibilities that there was foreshadowing I may have missed out on.  After all, isn’t that how all authors think?

The writing world has changed a lot over the decades.  We began simply enough… Fiction or Non-fiction?  Real or Make Believe.

Then, as writers became more stylistic in their writing endeavors, we expanded our divisions into genres.  That’s a wacky word, genre… what is it, really?  Well, it’s a little like your astrology sign.  Each type has its own little quirks, requirements about character, scene, and setting, and ability or flexibility to interact with other genres.
Seriously, though, Genre, which is pronounced zhahn-ruh, is the word we use to describe a story’s specific category or over-arching plotline. 

The separations began with a measly twelve major genres, with very little crossover.  But, as we became more complex in our storytelling, those expanded to seventeen, then thirty-five, and now I’m told as many as ninety-five genres exist in the writing world.  My, how times have changed.  It's a crazy thing, how the writing craft mutates as new creative souls enter the writing world.  Simultaneously, the literary world is expanding and becoming more specific.  It’s an odd, push-me, pull-you sort of thing… microscope and telescope all at the same time.  What this means for bucket-list writers like me, is that I have a LOT more writing to do!

Several years ago, as I was leaving journalism and setting my sights on a full-time writing career, I devised a goal to write one book in each of the thirty-five major genres (the list of the day).  Now, I’m a teensy bit older, and although I know there are more… I’m sticking with those thirty-five, for now.  After all, one of the important components of having SMART goals is to make them ACHIEVABLE.  At sixty years old, I need to recognize my limitations.

To make your writing more accessible to readers, before (or sometimes after, depending on whether you’re a pantser or a plotter) you develop your plot, you will need to identify the proper genre where your story will fit.  Why is this important?  I’m so glad you asked!  There are three major reasons why knowing your genre will aid your writing career:

1. Declaring a genre helps libraries, bookshops, and online retailers understand where to shelve your books so readers can quickly find them and send you money.
2. Classifying your book in a particular genre gives readers a better understanding about what to expect from your story, and whether it’s within their literary tastes, so they don’t waste their time reading something that doesn’t suit them.
3. Knowing your genre helps you to target your “perfect reader” with advertising energy and dollars, again, limiting the wistfulness of those resources.

In addition, stating your genre clearly helps editors, beta readers, contest juries, and reviewers do their jobs more effectively.  Let me put it another way:

It’s sailing analogy time… knowing if the water is salt or fresh, and understanding the current, temperature, and depth helps sailors know what kind of boat will be best for the day’s sail.

Remember, your declared genre doesn’t prohibit you from adding more to the mix as you write… readers LOVE complex stories.  However, choosing one primary genre helps you describe simply and elegantly what they’ll get when they open your book.  No one will tell you what genre to write, or how many you can include in a single volume… Okay, to be fair, agents and publishers might have mandates on this stuff.  But if you’re an Indie Author, you get to choose.  Just make your declarations so readers get what you’re writing.  Confusion about what kind of story you write won’t help sales.

So, with all that in mind… and so you don’t have to spend the afternoon surfing Google and perhaps getting stuck in a briar patch of rabbit holes… here’s a brief list of Fiction genres and their basic definitions to help you identify your particular story.  Keep in mind, each of the multitude of genres also can come with a delicious mixture of sub-genres.  The layers and complexity of your book is only limited by your imagination.  Also, bear in mind that non-fiction, poetry, short story, essay, and children’s literature has their own set of genre definitions, so if your writing doesn’t easily fall into the list below, have the genre conversation with your editor or writing coach to be sure you understand where your story fits best in the world.

• Adventure: stories in which characters are involved in dangerous and/or exhilarating exploits.
• Allegory: a story using symbolism (sometimes the personification of animals) to express truths about the human condition.
• Comedy: a story with elements and situations intended to amuse.
• Crime: stories based on the commission and/or investigation of wrongdoing.
• Epistolary: stories constructed as a series of letters exchanged between characters.
• Folklore (folktales): stories, myths, and/or proverbs of a people as handed down through generations, usually cautionary tales or inspirational tales.
• Fantasy: stories involving imaginary beings in the real world or in an alternate reality and assuming suspension of disbelief about magic and/or supernatural powers.
• Science Fiction (similar but different from Fantasy): often set in the future, these are stories that often explore futuristic technology, scientific concepts, and communities, which may include strange worlds, creatures, and cultures.
• Memoir/Autobiography/Biography: a story structured to resemble a factual life story.
• Horror: stories incorporating supernatural and/or inexplicable elements and intended to arouse fear and dread.
• Historical: stories that take place in a past time or place with researched and verifiable details which influence plot, character, and setting.
• Mystery: stories that detail the discovery, hunting down of clues or secrets, and the solution of an unknown perpetrator, reason, or source of a crime or other wrongdoing.
• Romance: a love story that explores relationships between characters, and ALWAYS has a happy ending… or at the very least, happily ever after – for now (as with a series).
• Poetry: works focused on aesthetic language, emotion, rhythm, and imagery.
• Satire: a story that pokes fun, sometimes in a covert manner) at human shortcomings such as arrogance, greed, and vanity.
• Thriller: a dramatic story often punctuated with action, adventure, horror, mystery, and suspense.  This one’s a melting pot of edge-of-your-seat wonderment!
• Travelogue: a story with a plot centering on a significant amount of travel.
• Children’s: stories specifically written for a juvenile reader.
• Western: stories set in the American West, often involving cowboys and outlaws.

Again, this is a very basic genre list, but it’ll get you started on how to classify your books so readers can find you easier.  For those who are curious, Wikipedia has an extremely extensive list of genres and subgenres at this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Literary_genres

The point of all this classification isn’t to force you to push your writing into a particular little, tiny box.  The point is to easily, simply, and quickly describe your book so readers can find your work and recommend your books to their friends.
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Indie Author Pro Tip: Knowing your genre makes it easier when you’re selling at in-person events.  When you ask passersby, “What do you like to read?”  You can easily help them to discover one of your titles, of if you don’t write what they read, perhaps you can recommend another author’s work.  This is how our community thrives.  I don’t write mystery (yet) but I know some wonderful people who do; just ask!