People have been saying that contemps are dead.
But if you follow any of the agent or publishing blogs, you know that the whole industry is taking stock of what they have and what they want to spend money on. With the DOW's nosedive, many of us have already taken measures in cutting back whether it's cutting those Sunday coupons to frequenting the library more for books.
Since I'm the lone contemp writer of the Vixens, I'll give you what my experience has been so far: rejection. I'm not deluding myself in thinking that it's not all my fault, but at the same time, I know when I write a damn good story. If you're a big name, you might have more ease in selling contemps but a newbie trying to break into the market is trying to find this:
So why aren't contemps selling? Is it because there's simply too much crap going on in the world that readers don't want to pick up a romance where they have to read about it? And in these dismal times, what do you want to read?
23 comments:
I just want a good story. It's that simple. I can and can't understand why contemps are dead, for the time being. The market will swing, it always does. And when it swings Ely... They'll gobble up all your books!
I would think that a good romantic contemporary would be excellent escapism. The HEA is the ultimate in escapism and when paired with a contemporary setting it makes the HEA seem more attainable- at least that's how it is for me.
The historical is, of course, fantastic, but many times I need a break from them and nothing serves better than a good contemporary romantic comedy. Even the darker ones are good because the characters work out their problems and ride off into the sunset together to a bright and beautiful future.
I really hope contemporaries have an upswing soon. And good luck getting published! I'm sure it will happen for you.:)
I just love the illustrations! You know I'm mostly into historicals, but I read everything. I must say, though, that most contemps leave me less than overwhelmed. I think you've hit on the fact that they're not escapist enough. There's no duke, no hottie vampire, just two people at Starbucks. With condoms. Must plan ahead, which sometimes takes the drama out of it all.
My guess would be that everyone wants to escape today's reality. Though as I never believed the Historicals were dead, I don't believe this bunk either.
However, the good thing I take from it is that by the time I finally get around to finishing something (2049!) and putting it out there, the bunk will swing to something else and they'll be buying contemps again. That's what I'm hoping anyway!
Terri, by the time you publish your current contemporary (in 2049 as you say), it'll be a historical.
Love the pictures...and appreciate the despair. I'm with you, sister in Contemporary Hell. I agree with Tiff. They'll gobble you up when it swings back!
I think the popularity of paranormals has been one factor in fewer conventional contemporaries being published. But I take heart in the fact that I have read several threads recently with readers talking about their longing for good contemporaries. I also think Nora Roberts's return to the straight-forward contemporary is positive.
And I think romantic comedy and family-centered contemps will provide effective escapism. Faith Baldwin, who wrote contemporary romances in her day, earned over $300,000 in 1936(c. $4 million + in 2008). Things looked pretty grim then too. And no, I am not speaking from personal experience. I'm not that old. LOL!
Wow, great topic Ely.
Frankly, I think that things are going to move towards lighter stuff. Maybe I'm deluding myself because my stuff is, well, lighter, but it always seems that in times of turmoil people turn to lighthearted entertainment. I'd imagine comedy movies will make a bigger comeback and I suspect lighter books too.
And I'm like Maggie. I like historicals the best but I'll read anything. Gimme a good story.
When this contemp embargo lifts, they'll be on you like teenage girls at a Hollister sale (is there such thing? whatever, you get the idea...)
Sorry I'm so late in responding today---I woke up later than usual and my mom called to talk about how my uncle in Philadelphia met Barack Obama at the gym this morning!
All you have have excellent points.
Tiff, as usual we tend to think the same way. I get it but I don't. And God, I hope that they do gobble up my books.
Kelly, you make great points. That's why I love reading romantic coemdies/contemporary romances because life is so real that you want to believe that hey, this can happen in the day I live, too. It tends to be in my experience that judges/agents/what-have-you look at romantic comedies with a more jaundiced eye. They go can that really happen. Trust me, you don't want to know how many people were like c'mon, what woman doesn't know how to bake a cake, and I was like, well, I don't. LOL.
Maggie, yes, the condoms are always a moment when I go okay, here comes the condom conversation or insert the condom here. Historicals have it easy---they just pull out or sometimes use french letters. Even though there were diseases back then, I know when I read historical romances I'm not thinking syphillis, etc. But when I read a contemp, I'm thinking AIDs, pregnancy, and other STDs when the hero doesn't wear one.
Terrio, I don't necessarily believe it but I just got a rejection from one agent who basically used the market excuse to me and that they really needed to be head over heels in love with a project to take it on. WTF does that mean anyway? I'm not asking you to marry me . . . I just want to enter into a long, steamy passionate partnership where both of us come away satisfied in you signing me and my books selling. *g*
And Terrio, you're going to finish that book. You need to set a deadline or something, because you're so determined and follow-through with things that I back if you said hey, I'm going to have the first draft of this by RWA D.C. so I can pitch it, you would. So . . . wanna do it?
Terrio, that's supposed to be I bet not I back. Grrr. Stupid typing fingers.
Hellion, I knew you would feel the pain, too! Let's go out drinking and eating a lot of chocolate. Maybe we'll both be commisserating or celebrating together. Either way at least we'll be drunk or satiated on good food.
Janga, the news regarding Nora Roberts and her return to straight contemporary has given me a lot of hope as do the blogs that seem to be talking more about this. I'm more of the instant gratification sort where I want this contemp slump to be over now. Ohhh, I like your thing about the family-center contemps since my new one seems to be very family-centered.
Marnee, thanks! I loved your analogy, too. It does make sense because when I'm in a mood or need a pick-me up, I go for SEP. I read anything and everything. Lighter historicals are very popular---just look at Julia Quinn! I'm sure your books will be eaten up like kids devouring their Halloween goodies. *g*
Oh, Ely, if I don't have this thing done by DC, I may have to take a very long jump off a very short peir!
Terri, get it done!! No pier jumping necessary. Not when we can so easily push you off it ourselves. *g*
MMMmmmm.... Halloween goodies.... I just purchased them yesterday because I couldn't leave that stuff in the house for longer or I'd have eaten it already.
You know, Ely, somehow that makes me feel better. LOL! If anyone ever needed a nudge, it's me!
I'm all for that, Ely. But I want to go somewhere where there's a beach. A *WARM* beach. Like South Florida. Grand Cayman (I'd love to go to Grand Cayman...) Let's have some major drinking on a beach, I say.
Ohhh, I'm all for Grand Cayman. They'll have hotter cabana boys and maybe some sexy pirates. LOL.
Terri, here's your NUDGE. *g*
I accidentally double-posted. Oops.
Grand Cayman's also got that pirate ship bobbing in their port. And that post office in Hell. And the BEST. RUM. EVER.
I don't know what makes some genres sell while others flounder and then surge back, but if we're going to weather the storm, we have to flex and bend a little right? There'll come a time when the kind of books we're most comfortable writing will be popular once again, but until that time comes, maybe this is a good opportunity to try something different. Stretch our wings and take a chance to learn something new.
I keep hearing contemps are dead too
but that's what I write,
that's all I want to write,
so I keep on writing them.
Sigh... I love Filene's.
(I love bridal dresses too
but I don't know one of those)
I know and feel your pain, Ely. I've been working and re-working my ms for the past two years.
I keep listening to the nay sayers about contemps are out. Put more action in. I'm sorry but there are no Navy SEALS in any of the locations my books take place in. Period.
So, I'm going to be true to myself. Stop manipulating the hell out the fool thing and get her out there. For me romance, in any form, brings me out of where I am now. That's the mark of a good book in any genre or sub-genre.
Keep the faith. I'll keep mine and we'll all pitch or be agented by National in DC.
Off to make my fantasy a reality for me and an escape for readers.
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