I can't read...

for pleasure. ha ha ha, thought I was a fraud didn't you?

I've been going through the hard core editing process for my first novel. I want it to be perfect, so I have been going through each chapter as well as submitting individual chapters to a critiquing group. The critiquing group is a tit for tat group, meaning you have to critique to be critiqued. So not only am I editing my own work, but I am critiquing others. Up to 10 a week.

Last night, I tried to sit down and take a quiet moment to read. I've been meaning to start the Charlaine Harris books, since seeing that True Blood show on HBO. I opened the book and began to read the first page.

Let me preface this with, I am not published, nor am I an expert in writing. Hell, I don't have any degrees or credentials in writing, I just like to write.

The first page was as far as I got.

I found myself looking for mistakes. I couldn't just sit and read and enjoy the book. I wanted to pick it apart and make it better ( not that I could.)

What's wrong with me? I want nothing more than to zone out with a good book, but I just can't right now. Anybody else have this problem?

Urban Hiking

In an effort to start the new year off right, I've come up with a few guidelines (not resolutions, I never manage to keep those) for 2009.

1. Its time to get my fat butt moving. Get away from the computer and start doing more. Maybe even (dare I say it?) do some exercising.

2. Eat some veggies. My diet has historically been horrible, a few veggies wouldn't kill me. so I want to start simply with incorporating veggies into at least one meal a day.

So yesterday, when I realized I needed something to make for dinner, I came up with a great plan.

They just opened a little neighborhood market about half a mile from my house. I've threatened in the past to take a walk down there to shop, as my husband burst into fits of laughter.

So I thought to myself "why not do it? Make it an Urban Hike. Get a little fresh air and exercise while picking up some necessities?"

I grabbed my special "look how green I am" canvas bags and my Daughter, and off we went to the market.

How's that for keeping resolutions, er, I mean guidelines. =p

Ugh, What genre am I writing!!

Happy New Year!

Now let's get down to business shall we?

As I play around with writing my novel query's. I realize that I need to label my work. But there is a problem. I don't know what genre to link it to.

Is it actually possible, for me to write an entire novel and not know it's specific genre?

Apparently it is because I am completely lost.

Dark Fantasy (Wikipedia link )
Urban Fantasy ( Wikipedia link )
Contemporary Fantasy (Wikipedia link )
Paranormal Romance ( Wikipedia link )
Horror ( Wikipedia link )
Fantasy ( Wikipedia link )
Supernatural Fiction ( Wikipedia link)
Speculative Fiction (Wikipedia link )

I didn't realize how hard it would be to label things. Each genre/sub genre seems to overlap some. I was under the black and white impression that writing about vampires who do kill to survive, meant that my work should be Horror. Then, a test reader looked over my first draft and told me the love interest makes it Paranormal Romance, and it is way to mellow for Horror. The love interest isn't the main plot device of the story so it can't be Paranormal Romance.

If it isn't those two, maybe it is some type of fantasy. Dark, Urban, or Contemporary.

Ah decisions, decisions. There are so many genre's to choose from.

For those of you out there in the void of cyberspace having the same problem as me, how are you going about determining your genre? Or am I the only wannabe writer out there who can't figure this out?

About The Author

Katie Salidas is a USA Today bestselling author and RONE award winner known for her unique genre-blending style.

Since 2010 she's penned five bestselling book series: the Immortalis, Olde Town Pack, Little Werewolf, Chronicles of the Uprising, and the all-new Agents of A.S.S.E.T. series. As her not-so-secret alter ego, Rozlyn Sparks, she is a USA Today bestselling author of romance with a naughty side.

In her spare time Katie also produces and hosts a YouTube talk show; Spilling Ink. She also has a regular column on First Comics News where she explores writing from a nerdy perspective.