Genre writing is like, so lame.

I was directed on twitter to a great blog about genre writing, bringing up a point that I noticed at the conference or even when I have conversations with people about what I write.

Sometimes, when I tell people that I write, I try to keep it humble by saying, “Its just fun urban fantasy.” I am beginning to realize that I am not only doing myself a disservice by saying that, but doing a grave disservice to the amazing authors that write in all genre fiction: fantasy, sci-fi, romance and all the other sub-genres I can’t think of right now.

Here’s the blog:

http://ididntchoosethis.blogspot.com/2010/02/where-have-all-genre-authors-gone.html

Here’s my response:

Well put, Adrienne.

There is no doubt in my mind that SF/Fantasy is considered muck in the literary community.

Having been raised on the stuff and loving it into adulthood, I am often a bit miffed that the snobbery abounds.

It takes no less imagination, command of verse or tenacity to write a genre book than it does a great piece of "literature". There are several books that I can think of off the top of my head that are brilliant pieces of literature, though they belong to a sub-genre. Does anybody remember a small, high fantasy title called The Lord of the Rings? Trite fluff, you say? Tolkein spent the better part of his life creating a LANGUAGE, for crying out loud. How many literary authors can say that?

Now, I'm not dogging literature. I read that too. I'm dogging the attitude that genre writing is somehow less than.

I am reminded of the art world, where quilting isn't considered art. It belongs in county fairs or in quaint B&Bs that great literary authors go to when getting away from New York. It takes every bit as much insight into perspective, color and light to build a quilt as it does to make a painting.

Its also like saying that if a band makes it big, they don't make good music. Huh? The Beatles? Stevie Wonder? Frank Sinatra? Prince?

I have a feeling I am preaching to the choir on this, but I loved your blog and I hope, at the very least, you had fun dressing up.

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Just having my soap box moment for the day. Now, if I can just wash the stress out of my hair, I will be better.

Cheers.