Has Anyone Seen My Genre?...

Do you even need to?

I'm not a fan of labels. Not really. Why does everything have to be defined in specific terms? Can't we just go with the flow and accept people and things on their merits rather than their categorisation in the world? 

Don't worry. I'm not about to launch into a let's-all-love-each-other singalong. I get that real life isn't so fluid. And sometimes labels help. A longed-for medical diagnosis can lead to appropriate and effective treatment. Labels, classification, and identification can be useful. If I wasn't straightish, white, English and able-bodied, maybe I'd be proud of my protected characteristics and shout them from the rooftops. Maybe the labels that apply to my own life are just a bit mainstream and dull. Maybe I need to rewrite this entire paragraph and work out what my dislike of labels is really about. Because it doesn't bother me in the slightest when people identify with a specific demographic or apply labels to their own lives. I'm happy to stand alongside and be an ally to their experience. It's something else that's the problem.

ALL the genres!

Maybe the issue is actually a gripe I have with the publishing world. Rather than labels, perhaps it's genre. Yep, it's genre I have a problem with. It's when people ask what kind of books I write, and I struggle to answer, get tongue-tied, and eventually stammer out some nonsense. It's genre, not labels. That's my beef with the world. Hurrah! I've finally labelled it!

It's the first question anyone asks. Every single time. 'What kind of books do you write?' And it should be a simple answer, shouldn't it? No one knows my writing better than me, so it should be an easy peasy question to respond to. But it's always a problem. I know what kind of books I don't write. That's well clearer. I don't write Thrillers, or Romance, or Erotica, or Cosy Murders, or...wait for it... Chick Lit. 

Men, women, and dogs, enjoying 
literature together as they should.

Chick Lit is my pet peeve. It doesn't seem to be an official term used in publishing much these days, for which I'm grateful. The word chick, to describe any woman, makes my insides shrivel. And why - even if we re-label it as Women's Fiction - does it need to be gendered? (As many have said before, there's no such thing as Men's Fiction. It's just Fiction.) Why can't a story with a female protagonist be appealing to everyone. I've read plenty of male-character led stories and enjoyed them. There's no reason to limit your audience by deliberately directing a large chunk of it away from your book. The trouble is, a lot of people assume I write Chick Women's Fiction, purely on the basis of being a cis woman and not writing any other type of defined genre. But I don't do boy-meets-girl, happy-ever-after endings. I write from female and male perspectives and (hopefully) give agency and authenticity to both. I like tackling serious issues through the prism of humour, and don't see why that means only women can join in. But none of this is helping me find the correct genre. 

Usually, when it comes to categorising my books before publication (which you have to do and I wish you didn't) I go with Modern Fiction, Contemporary Fiction or - and it bugs me even though I still do it - Women's Fiction. (If you can't beat them, join them.) This past release I think I snuck Feminist Fiction in there too. But these are broad terms and only done to fill out a form. What genre does Nick Hornby write? Because I think that's my ball park. According to Amazon, he covers Love Sex and Marriage Humour, Humorous Fiction, and Literary Fiction. Ooh, the lofty heights of Literary Fiction! Maybe that's what I write? (Nope. Lolz. Of course it isn't. I'm Commercial Fiction all the way. No Booker Prize long lists are in my future, I'm certain of that.) However, this is hardly an exact science. His 2014 book, Funny Girl, is ranked under Women Writers and Fiction so there's a glitch in the system there. But this doesn't solve my problem. It still doesn't narrow down how to categorise what I write.

The views of people who've read Assembling the Wingpeople have given me some more insight. It's fascinating to see how others view it. If you have a gander at the Amazon reviews you'll seen some themes emerge. 

'Witty, dry, and at times quite touching.' 

'I thought it would be an enjoyable, heartwarming read, but it turned out to be so much more.'

'If you like character-driven books with humour and self-reflective vibes, this one is for you.'

'A witty feel-good novel'

'Witty and dryly funny... hilariously relatable'

OK, I'll stop quite blatantly licking my own arse here. It's really nice to read but it's also useful for future book preparation. I seem to write funny stuff. That's good. I think I aim to do that. But I aim to write about serious issues too. I hope I've managed that but it's definitely mentioned less. Hey ho. I also try to write about real life, so phrases like relatable and self-reflection tick a box for me. All good stuff. But still, none of this lends itself to a specific genre. Or does it?

Some uplifting literature
for you right here.

Because stop press. I've found a new genre! At least one I've only just read about. There's this thing called Uplit. That's Uplifting Literature to you and me. It was a month ago that I saw the term on Twitter, which led me down a couple of rabbit holes* as I found out as much as I could. But let's check the description before we get carried away. The quote below is taken from  Uplit (What It Is And How To Write It) by Amanda Davies.

'This form of writing is different to Romantic Comedy or Chick Lit books. Predominantly because the Uplit author is able to create believable storylines with strong recognisable characters. Characters with personality traits that appeal to both male and female readers.'

Ooohhhh. That sounds about right. I like it. But wait. There's more. Davies goes on to give a few more characteristics of Uplit Fiction.

'The protagonist doesn't have to be likeable; they can be unreliable, unusual or even unfriendly. They are generally vulnerable or troubled in someway, and throughout the narrative, their personality will be revealed as well as the obstacles that they have to overcome.'

'As the story moves forward, the author must create a strong emotive response, making their readers laugh, cry and cheer on the character/s. However, the story must be balanced. Too much negativity and readers get bored, too much sentimentality and the story becomes saccharine.'

'The ending does not have to be the happily ever after, though the main character needs to have overcome part if not all of their difficulties.'

It's all become clear. Uplifting Literature. Uplit. It makes so much sense. When I think back to the TV programmes I've devoured in the last few years, there's been a definite rise in feel-good, nice characters; doing their thing, making mistakes, but ultimately being OK. I'm thinking of Schitt's Creek and Ted Lasso, for example. Both stories that appeal to everyone, not just one end of the gender spectrum. Both make me laugh but make me think and feel too. Likewise, over the past five years, I've found myself moving away from the Jack Reacher style thrillers and the gritty realism of serial killers and embittered detectives. I want to be immersed in a world that's still realistic and relatable, but that's ultimately an enjoyable place to be. That's what I've been aiming for with my own writing, even though I hadn't realised. Even though I had no idea it had been formalised into a genre; into a label.

Even MORE uplifting
literature. It's EVERYWHERE.

So label me all you like. I'm fine with it. Whack a big Uplit sticker on my forehead and let me sing forth about the joys of finding my tribe. One day, when the real world has become dull and uneventful once again, perhaps I'll find myself writing gruesome murders or intense dramas. Until that day, I'll keep on with the witty, feel-good, and ultimately happier stuff. If that's OK with you, of course.

Have a lovely week, folks.

*More here from 2017. If you're interested, like.