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Knowing your Genre Helps in Finding a Publisher.

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bionov
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Knowing your Genre Helps in Finding a Publisher.

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I think it’s important to know exactly what genre or even more specific the subgenre your book fits into. By narrowing down the subgenre for my new novel, “The True Virus”, and calling it a biotechnical thriller, I was able to look for a publisher who was interested in this kind of novel. I stumbled across a small publisher who emphasized that they were looking for novels emphasizing biotechnical ideas.
Three weeks after I submitted my manuscript to them, they replied back showing an interest in my novel. They made a few suggestions on changes they wanted and asked me to resubmit. I’ve made some of the changes they wanted and I am ready to resubmit.
What I’m trying to point out for the purpose of this discussion is that by tailoring your book to fit a certain subgenre that a publisher is looking for, it can help to get your foot in the door. However, as the author, should you make all the changes a publisher wants or hold on to what you feel is important?
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Re: Knowing your Genre Helps in Finding a Publisher.

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"should you make all the changes a publisher wants or hold on to what you feel is important?"

I think it would depend on the changes. If you feel comfortable making the changes, or feel like the changes would benefit the piece than maybe you should. On the other hand if you feel that you're being censored, or that it treads on a line that makes you feel like you're being slighted in any way than you probably shouldn't...

Allowing yourself to be censored in some cases may not be looking out for the best interests of mankind... lol.
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bionov
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Re: Knowing your Genre Helps in Finding a Publisher.

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Duplicate entry deleted. Read more.
Last edited by bionov on Fri Mar 15, 2013 12:08 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Knowing your Genre Helps in Finding a Publisher.

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Since the setting of my thriller novel, “The True Virus”, takes place in Israel and Palestine and involves the conflicts going on in that area of the world, this publisher feels that I should expand my book to involve more Middle East countries. However, I feel if I do this, I will take away from my main story line. So what I decided to do is end this novel with the expectation of a sequel book that would pick up where I left off.
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Re: Knowing your Genre Helps in Finding a Publisher.

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Sounds like a good tale. I wonder if your publisher would be alright with that? Sounds like a good story though.
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Re: Knowing your Genre Helps in Finding a Publisher.

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I might add this tidbit of wisdom. If you’re going to write novels in a certain genre, you should be reading those types of books. By doing this, you should understand the styles and techniques being used by many of the authors writing novels in the same genre you’ve chosen.
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bionov
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Re: Knowing your Genre Helps in Finding a Publisher.

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Once you know your genre, you can start hunting for publishers who are looking for books in that category. One of the first things I did was buy the latest edition of “Writer’s Market” which included a premium online subscription. With their online search, I was able to find publishers looking for thrillers. You can also check other websites which list publishers. Once you’ve found a publisher, check them out on “Preditors and Editors” (pred-ed.com) to see if they are worth your time and effort.
Note: This advice also goes for finding literary agents.
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Re: Knowing your Genre Helps in Finding a Publisher.

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:!: ALSO: Write a Good Query Letter.
Here's the one I sent to that publisher who indicated an interest in my novel.

Dear (Here I put the name of the acquisition editor),
Could a DNA based nanocomputer be programmed to produce a live deadly virus? This is the premise of my 80,000 word biotechnical thriller – “The True Virus”. This novel uses techniques like those found in Michael Crichton’s and Tom Clancy’s books.
After the main CIA computer is hacked into, John Brookfield (CIA computer specialist), goes to Israel to work with Sarah Stein (Co-developer of DNA computer technology) to find out if the DNA component of the CIA system has been compromised. John is shocked when one of his fellow CIA agents in Israel has his BlackBerry hit by a bullet and the device explodes in his hand. Worst yet, an epidemic breaks out and the agent dies. With Sarah’s help, John discovers that a Hamas bioterrorist was the hacker who programmed the CIA’s system to produce the real live virus that caused the epidemic.
Since I have a B.S. degree in Microbiology and an A.S. degree in Computer Systems, I feel confident with the technical information presented in this book. As for writing and marketing this novel, I’ve learned a lot from my first published thriller – “Green Power”. My last Google search for “Green Power by Charles Vrooman” ended up with 20 pages of references to my book. Green Power was awarded the 2008 Gold Medallion from Sierra Dreams Press and has received good reviews.
I have attached Word documents for a synopsis and the complete manuscript of my novel for your consideration. Thank you for your time and attention. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Charles Vrooman
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Re: Knowing your Genre Helps in Finding a Publisher.

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If knowing your genre helps so much, then tell me this:
Is Frankenstein or Dracula, Horror, Fantasy, or Science Fiction?
Dracula could have a bit of a love story twist to it as well. And we all know how well Vampire love stories are doing today.

Yes, folks, the answer is, it could be any or all, depending upon the reader, how the agent sees it and chooses best to market it; though, as with those mentioned, you'll likely be spread over several categories.

So don't freight too much.
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Re: Knowing your Genre Helps in Finding a Publisher.

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My first published novel, Green Power, gave away its category with this title. Sure enough it’s a novel about the environment. However, there’s no way of knowing which genre it belongs. Therefore, it had to be tagged as a thriller. Now when someone is looking for an environmental thriller, they would find my book. As a matter of fact, when I do a Google search for environmental thrillers, Green Power, is the main novel listed. So not only can you find a publisher by knowing the genre your book fits, but also increase your chances for sales.
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