So, I have recently changed my book from YA to Adult, and have also added the ‘thriller’ tag to it.
One early reader described Avalon as “in essence—YA Fantasy; in design—twisted Adult Fiction”
Hmmm….
Especially given the ending (which of course I can’t give away), I’m wondering as of late, how dark is too dark?
If you hop on over to my blogspot, you can see my most recent post titled ‘first five sentences’ gives just that. Two sets of them, along with my blurb.
A hint—the end of my blurb…well, I’m not saying to expect the worst as she does the right thing, but… The right thing isn’t necessarily all hearts and flowers and unicorns..
If you get a chance, let me know ‘How Dark is Too Dark?’
I’m already scouting out smaller houses such as Soft Skull and the like… I’m not opposed to the idea at all, but I also don’t want to be labeled as only writing dark fiction. Twisted, maybe. But not like, go home and read and cut yourself dark…
I don’t want to be typecast..
My next project, which I’ve already started, is an odd, realistic sci-fi/fantasy based on quantum physics… That could appeal to a lot more people thank a dark, urban fantasy would, right? Or no??
Food for thought.
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p.s. I just decided that I’m going to attempt to turn this into a longer essay for a rather important yet long-shot opportunity, so any and all feedback will be genuinely appreciated. More so than on any other post… thanks =)
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Well, as far as I’m considered, things can’t really get too dark. I like movies, books, and games, that aren’t afraid to push the envelope. I like mature, well told stories that deal with some pretty macabre issues at times. Some people may like, flowers and fairy-tale endings, but I for one, want something much more than that in what I read.
I love dark stuff, as well. So it’s good to know I’m not writing for nobody. I just wonder if people would have heard of me (I’m dreaming here lol) as a dark fiction writer, so if something totally different was released, would they shy away from it do ya think??
But, really. Good to know you like dark.
)
(Although I could have guessed that
I’m not sure I totally understand what you mean by that, but I think you are talking about if you are known for writing dark fiction and suddenly write something drastically different if you’ll alienate fans? If I didn’t totally miss the mark, I would say no, I don’t think that people would necessarily shy away from it.
In my own experience, if I like I’ve been enjoying a particuliar style of an authors work, I’ll be very happy to read something totally different released by them. I’ve found alot of times the different work is just a fun little break of style and can be very enjoyable in it’s own way.
Also, there are definately accomplished writers out there that are very hard to classify as to what catagory of stories they write, because they produce works in all different spectrums that are all wonderfully written.
If I understand this right, you are asking if you have developed a following for your dark fiction if you suddenly release something totally different you run the risk of alienating fans?
If I haven’t totally missed the mark, I would say, from my own experience, no. If I enjoy an author then I have no problem picking up something totally out of the ordinary from what I’m used to with them. I’ve found that out of the ordinary can be a really enjoyable read in it’s own right.
I certainly wouldn’t to market it as anything other than what it is, but personally, I tend to try to read as much as I can by authors I already know I like. I can’t be the only person in the world that does things that way. So it is probably also a good way to introduce yourself to people that might not have ever heard of you before.
There are also plenty of accomplished writers out there that are very hard to classify as genre writers. They write in different mediums all over the spectrum, and their works are well written. It probably matters alot more that the author really has their heart in what they are writing and not as much what the topic is they choose to write about.
Sorry for the double post, I guess my computer must have hiccuped, I didn’t think that first one got through.
i’ll get back to you. no time to read now. (one more comment on those hits
why, thank you, my dear!!!
How dark is too dark?
My opinion, no such thing as too dark. I just read your first 5 – and I think they’re great – not too dark at all for me….at all!
Commercial Example. Stephenie Meyer. Twilight. The Host. fantasy followed by Adult Sci-fi.
I was worried about the same thing, but there are so many authors who jump around.
Literary Example. Kazuo Ishiguro. The Remains of the Day, followed by Never Let me GO.
I was kind of hoping that the choice Alexis made at the end didn’t involve hearts, flowers or unicorns.
haha!!
yeah, it most definitely doesn’t. only one of the reasons i bumped it from ya to adult..
thank you!!! =)
Andrew–
Thank you! You answered my question perfectly.
I was hoping that would be the case, but you never know.
My book is the type of thing that most readers I know might not like. So its good to know I have an audience. The majority of people who I know like things to wrapped up nicely in a pretty bow. Unless it’s a series. But even then, they want something good to happen at the end.
And it’s not like Alexis won’t be happy, but she’s conflicted and isn’t sliding down rainbows smiling away with her arms outstretched or anything…
Anyway, thanks for your response(s) lol.
ttyl!! =)
jennifer –
i’m glad the first five of the prologue aren’t too dark. some people freak out about a faery being killed. especially how she’s killed, which is described at the end
and, i’m glad to hear that it shouldn’t make a difference as far as a sophomore book, and on…
that’s the response i’m getting from most people, so i’m happy
If it freaks people out, that shows it’s not common – and that’s great! You want to be original!
that it definitely is… (original)
for a while, i was thinking that maybe i might fall in with all the other faery books out there, and there are A LOT!!!
but as it write, especially yesterday, i realize my book’s kinda crazy. i doubt there’s anything like it. if there is, it’s my doppelganger who’s writing it lol