E G Logan
Full Member
- Nov 11, 2018
Nick Cheetham's replies on Pop–Up Submissions tonight on Women's Fiction (20 Feb) were interesting.
I knew that Literary Fiction was a judgment writers were wise to leave to others (agent, publisher...) but I never imagined that describing one's work as Women's Commercial Fiction could also be seen as getting a bit above oneself!
It's clear he's irritated by labels such as that; but for every agent or publisher who shares his view, I can show you several – double figures, no problem – who absolutely don't.
And what about Submissions websites such as Curtis Brown's, for example, or Query Manager in the US, which provide, and insist on completion of, an online drop-down menu choice of category with options such as Women's Commercial Fiction?
Also, I have NEVER read a 'How To Write a Submissions/Query Letter' article that did not specify a descriptor of that sort. Not one. And I've read a fair few now.
Perhaps Cheetham meant terms like Women's Fiction/Women's Commercial Fiction were too vague – but, with respect, HoZ's 'Summer Reading' isn't very precise.
Obviously this is only one more of the judgments around the Submissions process that are subjective.
I knew that Literary Fiction was a judgment writers were wise to leave to others (agent, publisher...) but I never imagined that describing one's work as Women's Commercial Fiction could also be seen as getting a bit above oneself!
It's clear he's irritated by labels such as that; but for every agent or publisher who shares his view, I can show you several – double figures, no problem – who absolutely don't.
And what about Submissions websites such as Curtis Brown's, for example, or Query Manager in the US, which provide, and insist on completion of, an online drop-down menu choice of category with options such as Women's Commercial Fiction?
Also, I have NEVER read a 'How To Write a Submissions/Query Letter' article that did not specify a descriptor of that sort. Not one. And I've read a fair few now.
Perhaps Cheetham meant terms like Women's Fiction/Women's Commercial Fiction were too vague – but, with respect, HoZ's 'Summer Reading' isn't very precise.
Obviously this is only one more of the judgments around the Submissions process that are subjective.