So at my last SCBWI meeting, we had a presentation on how to increase your book’s marketability. It applied for both query pitches and for those already published. There was definitely some good advice in there, like “think like a teacher” and “think of it as Pandering 101.” Some other good tips:
*Indicate a marketing platform in your query; even one sentence helps
*Come up with a teaching guide and market to history and world culture classes
*Use your network and get endorsements from fellow writers/illustrators/field professionals
*Look for clubs and societies willing to offer awards for your book. Find a “hub” and push the book on it
*Get postcards and mass mail things at the beginning of the school year. Libraries may purchase the book, or possibly invite you for a visit if you indicate you’re open for it.
Good knowledge, all. But, these were all middle or YA historical, animal, or contemporary fiction. Things that easily slip into the niche of school. But me, being a fantasy author, raised my hand and voiced my one pressing question: “What if you’re writing things like fantasy, sci-fi, or horror? None of those genres lend themselves to the whole school thing very well.”
The lecturer blinked and said, “Fantasy? Well, you’ve got you’re work cut out for you.” That was kind of it. She moved on to the finer points of how having a variety of food in your stories can help you find that marketing niche.
So … fantasy can’t be taken seriously from an educational standpoint? What a downer. I mean, I have to admit even in professional writing circles, fantasy feels like “Oh, you write fantasy? That’s so neat.” Neat meaning “cute” or some other four letter word. I got the gist of what she was saying, and I know it can be applied to the fantasy genre, I’m just dismayed that so-called “make-believe” genres were so easily dismissed out of hand. That’s not to say schools wouldn’t have their own similar bias, too, but I’d like to point out that the fantasy writers who don’t abide by the “A Wizard Did It” rule do their research. Lots of it.
I myself have done extensive reading on medieval horse breeds, their armor, and their training, which would allow me to market to historical societies, ren faires, and equine conventions. I know about the Mongols, about how war dogs were used, successful battle tactics, medieval weaponry and black power weapons, and a LOT of mythology and history. But because I use it in fantastic context, it can’t be taken seriously? I don’t believe that. And I don’t think anyone else writing should, either. The same tactics mentioned above can be used; just like everything else, you can find your hub.
I guess you should just be prepared for more resistance than usual.
Tags: Fantasy, juvenile, Writing, young adult
March 18, 2009 at 5:49 pm |
I’ve agree with a lot of what you written. Teen Fantasy, Science-Fiction, and Horror all have a place in education and everyone who says otherwise needs to get to the library. The Giver, Ender’s Game, Something Wicked This Way Comes, A Wrinkle In Time these were all titles that I read in middle school.
That being said, there is an undeniable truth that fantasy as a genre tends to be more commercial than it is literary and those that make it to the curriculum are only those titles that have been vetted in the market and received some of the more prestigious awards. (Or coming from an author that has hit these marks in previous works.) It is a lot tougher for a new writer in genre fiction to make it into the educational market, and the reward is not always worth the work and re-working of prose and or market position. There is no shame in being a commercial property. A fantasy book can be a commercial piece and still be a –great- book, one that teens will enjoy reading.
I would also say that there is a misconception about marketing commercial titles and genres to the library market. Of course ideally, every book in a library would be enthralling! Hitting ground-breaking territory! A book rich with some high-impact, emotional take away that teens can relate to! And worthy of the highest awards in teen fiction!
But in the end, children’s and school librarians just want kids to read and they want them to enjoy reading. The are looking for books that complete their collections and maintain a balance between the educational and the entertaining. If I had, had to struggle with higher abstract concepts in everything I ever checked out of the library, I might not have kept at it. If as an author you have a book that kids will enjoy why does it also have to be a teaching tool? It doesn’t. It just has to be a good story.
I completely agree that all those suggestions you mentioned can be either applied or tweaked to suit a fantasy property. Instead of pitching in the fall for the new school year when “learning-mode” is high, approach the local libraries at the end of the school year when librarians and educators are looking for those more action orientated, fun reads.
May 2, 2009 at 7:56 am |
I think your speaker must have been taken back when you mentioned fantasy, because she didn’t write it or never thought about it. I wouldn’t listen to that. Just because you write fantasy doesn’t mean you can’t tune into some of your stories content. You mention that you know a lot about horses. That is all valuable information you could use in school with children. I think you could come with lot of cool ideas. Never listen to someone who doesn’t have ideas.
Kathy
PS: I have your art up on my blog.