Monday, August 28, 2006

Which Category?

What advice do you have for a manuscript that has several different possible audiences? Do you go with the strongest factor?

Most great books do straddle categories. For instance, many mysteries have romantic subplots, but they are most certainly mysteries and not romances. A thriller thrills the reader: there is the sense of chase, the page-turning anxiety, the scary plot and the element of great risk, while certainly an element of mystery engages the reader as well (for example, who is the serial killer? How will he/she be stopped?). I find that most books have mystery elements: this is what keeps the books moving forward. But yes, I'd recommend positioning your book with the strongest factor. Happy writing! P.S. When in doubt, ask your agent :-)

—Jacky

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