It’s wonderful to read about your recognized, innovative work. It makes sense to let all hybrid forms be reduced to misdemeanors, if there were any genre police. Agents and publishers like to be able to slap labels on things. But writers have been messing with the rules forever and it’s the ones that did it really well that get selectively remembered; they get to name a new genre. Forge your own and they give a prize rather than a fine.
Encouraging thoughts! "Speculative nonfiction" is a relatively new genre label (confusing because "speculative fiction" is generally understood as science fiction, which has nothing to do with "speculative nonfiction"). It's something a lot of creative nonfiction writers had been doing without a name for it.
I believe the quality of the writing determines what you can do in nonfiction. Your hybrids are so good that it is always clear to the reader what is fact and what is not. The reader is never lost unless you intended her to be so temporarily.
I'm gonna type this out and put it up on my bulletin board.
[ "What genre police?" - Jacqueline Doyle ]
I can't wait to read The Lunatic's Ball.
I love lucid dreaming! It’s one of life’s gifts.
It’s wonderful to read about your recognized, innovative work. It makes sense to let all hybrid forms be reduced to misdemeanors, if there were any genre police. Agents and publishers like to be able to slap labels on things. But writers have been messing with the rules forever and it’s the ones that did it really well that get selectively remembered; they get to name a new genre. Forge your own and they give a prize rather than a fine.
Encouraging thoughts! "Speculative nonfiction" is a relatively new genre label (confusing because "speculative fiction" is generally understood as science fiction, which has nothing to do with "speculative nonfiction"). It's something a lot of creative nonfiction writers had been doing without a name for it.
Love this. Read it twice. Can’t wait for Lunatic’s Ball!
Thanks so much, Genia!
You are a marvel of a writer, with such range, perspective, originality. I think of you as being a force (a great one) out here.
What a wonderful observation to wake up to today!
What genre police indeed?
I believe the quality of the writing determines what you can do in nonfiction. Your hybrids are so good that it is always clear to the reader what is fact and what is not. The reader is never lost unless you intended her to be so temporarily.
Thanks! You have been such an ideal reader. I can’t thank you enough.