Yesterday I posted about the Magic of Storytelling. Yes, I got a full head of steam going on that one (it happens!), and we definitely achieved liftoff. Fortunately, Wonderful Reader Rain, Rain was there to keep the post anchored in the comments.
To make one of my points, I asked readers to fill in the blanks in this dialogue:
Reader: Genre? I don’t care about genre. I’m just looking for__________.
Author: Genre? I wasn’t trying to write in a particular genre. I was just trying to_________.
I then filled in the blanks and challenged my readers to try to top me:
Reader: Genre? I don’t care about genre. I’m just looking for a good story.
Author: Genre? I wasn’t trying to write in a particular genre. I was just trying to tell a story.
QED, right? Well, along came Rain, Rain with this topper:
Reader: Genre? I don’t care about genre. I’m just looking for something with no vampires whatsoever in it.
Author: Genre? I wasn’t trying to write in a particular genre. I was just trying to write something fresh about vampires.
Perfect! My thanks to Rain, Rain for giving me the best laugh of the week. Onward and upward, people!
Jacke Wilson 
Thank you for stopping by my blog, I appreciate it.
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I have been mulling over the possibilities of writing a vampire-style novel but with angels instead of vampires for the characters. A kind of hot “Paradise Lost”. I do believe this is one genre that hasn’t been tried, or am I wrong? failing that, a series where the characters are worms. (Real ones.,not metaphorical ones.) What do you think?
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I like both ideas! Paradise Here? And Watership (Way) Down?
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Fifty Shades of Worm?
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How about a vampire-style novel, but with the characters from “Rabbit, Run” instead of vampires? That might satisfy both reader and writer. I would totally read it, or at least give it the first-paragraph test.
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Would give “Rabbit, Run” a whole new connotation…
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Reader: Genre? I don’t care about genre. I’m just looking for cheer myself up
Author: Genre? I wasn’t trying to write in a particular genre. I was just trying to write because I’m friggin depressed and I live near a rope store!
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Reader: Genre? I don’t care about genre. I’m just looking to escape!
Author: Genre? I wasn’t trying to write in a particular genre. I was just trying to give my characters a hard time.
Agent: I don’t care about genre, I just want marketability.
Acquisitions Director: I don’t care about genre, I just want something original.
Editor: I don’t care about genre, I just need it to satisfy our readers.
Marketing: so which shelf does it go on?
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