This is an epic love story between a Zombie named Zelda and a Vampire named Victor, set in Victorian England. They use steam-powered jet packs to travel around since the streets are teeming with hungry, lusty vampires and zombies who want to drink their blood and eat their brains (and totally make out with them any chance they get). They are of course, angst-ridden teens whose only goal in life is to listen to sad music and die their hair black. Zelda and Victor meet in an interesting turn of events, when all the adult vampires and zombies banish the teens to a desolate, bomb-ridden, nuclear wasteland because they are just too angsty and dramatic all the time. The teens must fight for their lives, whilst fighting each other (and making out) all the while trying to make a life for themselves (because who wants to go back to their parents??). Thrown together by chance, Zelda and Victor must determine what they want more- to stay with their own kind and live separate zombie and vampire existences , or throw away their un-lives and popularity for a chance at true love.VZESFN is about 150,000 words and I'm about halfway through. What do you think?
Okay you caught me...I really didn't write a book like that. And I don't plan to. Want to know why? Because by the time I write that book, find an agent, sell it, and get it published, all those trends will be gone and something new will be in it's place. (plus it totally sucks big time- who wants to date a zombie? Ew.)
That's why every agent, every author that's ever been published, and every editor say don't write the trends! Because by the time you do, they'll be fizzled out. Vampires are totally yesterday, Zombies are already on their way out and although Steampunk is getting up there, it'll lose its ahem...steam, by the time I get it out.
Soo....Just write what you love, and what you are passionate about. If it happens to be a trend, do it! It just better be so darn stinkin good that agents will be knocking down your door for a chance to represent you. It better be fresh. Because they get HUNDREDS of queries a day for vampire, zombie and ghost books. They are over it. Done.
I love fantasy. Particularly YA fantasy. I think that genre has been pretty steady- it has had its ups and downs, but I think there will always be room for some kind of fantasy. I hope there will, because that's what I plan to write. That's my niche. I LOVE to read it and have since elementary school. I can't see myself writing anything other than fantasy, but don't quote me on that of course. I could slip into the magical realism or paranormal if I think of something that will blow the socks off Ms. Meyer or Ms. Rowling. Or at least blow the socks off their fans enough to read it.
What do you think the next trend will be? Are we going to go completely away from paranormal and into say, mysteries for teens? Or are there going to be more genre-blending like VZESFN? If you are going to write the next trend, don't think about what it might be and just write it. Maybe your book will set it off.
26 comments:
"Write what you love". I think that's the most important rule for a writer. Great post! :)
OKay.... I am SO glad you didn't write that book. I was reading your description, eyes wide and was like... ummm, I hope this is a joke.
Thank GOOODNESS!
I don't know what the next trend will be. I think it'll stay in fantasy/paranormal for a while, to many people love it.
It doesn't matter, because, I'm going to write my book and I'm going to love it to pieces no matter what.
Exactly Suzanne- I would say that's the number one rule for writers!
Melissa- haha, it stinks pretty bad doesn't it? But seriously, thats what some people try to do and it never works. And yes, as long as you love your book and do it because you love it, people will know when they read it.
The book sounds like it would be popular. In all honesty, I believed you...up until the 150,000 word count at half way. Your point is great. People think about trends too much. The best books are written just to be written.
JE- Hm, maybe I'm onto something here...You are probably right- I bet it would be popular! I could write it as a spoof. You are so rigt too- people do think about trends too much, and then it overpowers their writing sometimes.
Okay. Have to admit; I was kind of panicking for those first few sentences. -sighs with relief-
Good post. :P
Yeah, you can't write according to trends. While I was writing my book, everybody was saying science fiction was dead. I wrote it anyway, I sent it out, and it ended up being good timing after all.
I don't know, I think that book would go in my library...:-) I do think that there is always a place for fantasy, sci-fi, and what we call edgy books (realistic drugs,sex,angst). A good gory mystery works with some. I guess the point is that the books that continue to draw a variety of teens vary in theme, but are good stories. Graphic novels are popular now too.
Oh goodness, don't write to a non-genre.
Oh, wait, you didn't really do that? YAY!
Contemporary will always be in. Not always, you know, for the long haul (sorry, 1987 books I love but no one reads anymore and sorry Trixie Belden, I swear I love you), but always in.
You're right- there will always be new and fresh contemporary- a lot of teens like to read about what they are going through at the moment. Thank goodness for those writers, because I would never be able to write a contemporary (okay I know I shouldn't say never...but I dont' really have an interest in that)
LOL!! This cracked me up! You could totally write a comedy like this that would so sell! I would buy it anyway. But you are so right about writing what you love though. great advice and post!!
Sam- sorry to almost give you a heart attack :)
Alex- you are so right, and someone who can attest to that with crediblity
mom- you are right- a variety of themes do draw them in, and I forgot about graphic novels- totally big right now.
Colene- This spoof thing is making me want to write it just for a laugh. Maybe for NaNo.
I also thought you were being kinda serious in the beginning! And I was thinking... Okaaaay, I'm sure it's better than it actually sounds! And then the 150 000 words appeared...
I also love writing YA fantasy and I'm going to stick with that until a new passion comes along. But that's just the key here: *passion* in whatever we choose to write :-)
Thanks for the laugh! I think paranormal is definitely in, and dystopia seems to be growing in the YA realm. Like you said, though, who knows what will happen tomorrow? Good thoughts here!
Zombies are the new vampires! :)
The nice thing about writing YA fantasy is that it will always be here where subgenre fiction will wax and wane over time. Ya Fantasy is consistantly the most popular YA gerne whenever reading surveys are conducted.
Thanks Emma! Checking out your blog!
Rachel- what are you talking about? I was totally serious ;p (man, can you imagine 150,000+ words on that? I think I'd eat my own brains)
Shallee- thanks, yeah you never know what people are going to catch on to from one day to the next.
Lindsey- you are so right- except they aren't as cute!
Andy- that's so reassuring. Give me a good, classic magical fantasy with it's own world any day.
That's hilarious! I really think you could write a spoof on it. Few people have your wit:)
About 2 years ago my honey bun (HB) and I thought about writing this vampire picture book. Well, me writing and him doing illustrations... but anyhoo-- when we finally had it figured out, there was a sloo of one too many vampire books, so we figure we'll wait just a few more years before turning that bad boy in.
Angela- that's funny you mention your picture book, because a couple years ago I had this awesome vampire book idea...but then vampires blew up and I figured I'd never get it written in time and the hype would be over by the time I submitted it. I can easily change what type of creature the MC is, so I may still write it except not with vampires.
Hi Abby - thanks so much for stopping by my blog! I just know you will LOVE your trip to New England next fall. I went the first week in October - and although it rained quite a bit, I think the colors were more vibrant. Last week in Sept. might be a good time. Are you planning to hit a lot of states along the coast?
Love your post! I, too, am glad the book you were proposing isn't real. (althought it could be a fascinating guilty pleasure to try and read...) I was just sucked in by the picture of Angel, lol. (BtVS rules!) I'm writing a YA fantasy, too. Actually in the revision stages - I'm hoping it turns out a little bit "Goose Girl meets Twilight" minus the vamps. A contemporary twist on a fairy tale, basically. So - if things work out for me - the next trend will be cocky, handsome immortal princes and cursed 21st century girls!
I think trends are fascinating and I'm interested to see what pops up next. If I had to guess, it would be thriller/mysteries.
Great post!
Thanks Donea! I love the idea of a contemporary twist on fairy tales.
Lydia- I am too- maybe I need to add a bit of mystery to VZESF novel.
Totally agree with write what you love! I know a lot of on-trend stuff is selling, but it still seems like what excites readers are fresh takes on common ideas. I think as writers, its important to just forget the trends.
Oh, and I realized I should introduce myself too since I'm a new visitor. :) I saw your comment on another blog and surfed over. My name is Guinevere, and I blog about books and writing at This Is Not My Day Job. So, now that I'm glad that your Zombie Love Story is not for reals, I need to go explore the rest of your blog and see what you're really writing about!
Hey Guinevere! Thanks for stopping by! I'm going to go check your blog out now!
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