Does Your Genre Still Matter?

 

A few weeks ago, an Alan Moore interviewed resurfaced with an out-of-context title to suggest that Mr. Moore was lambasting comic books in general and the Marvel Cinematic Universe specifically. It makes sense. We are in the midst of a golden age of comic book adaptations so Moore's semi-incendiary statements, (more on that in a minute) seemed primed for controversy. Never mind that the interview is six-years old. 

I know what you’re thinking: what?

For the uninitiated comic books date back to the 19th century and The Yellow Kid. But the medium really came into its own in the 1930s, first with Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster’s Superman, built upon by Bob Kane’s street-level Batman, and rounded out by William Moulton Marston’s Wonder Woman. You might have heard of them.

Who?

Alan Moore began, like so many others, as a fan. Inspired, he started his own comic book title while still in grade school. Smart, edgy, and irreverent, Moore’s writing style perfectly fit the counterculture movement in 1960s England. Before long the big boys from the US, (Marvel and DC) came calling. 

Moore gave us THE Joker origin story 

But Moore really made his reputation through independent titles like The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, V for Vendetta, and his magnum opus, Watchmen. In fact the only thing Mr. Moore is better known for is his curmudgeonly criticism of the comic book industry. 

“The industry is shady, it need to be taken over…” Jay-Z, HOVA

Mostly, Moore’s criticism has been on the nose. Marvel and DC both have ripped off creators for decades. Fandom can indeed be toxic. But as a constant creator, himself working in the industry, (all the while complaining of the slings and arrows of publishing) Moore often appears the lady who doth protest too much. 

So, what did he say?

In short, Moore said that he’s done with comics and questions their artistic merit. Moore cites the aging comic-book reader and fan service diluting the art—specifically, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, (Iron Man, The Avengers, et al). Moore contends that what was once a perfectly good means of getting/keeping adolescents into reading has become little more than comfort food for Gen-X and Millennials, especially white-male geezers.

Yeah, Alan is a "hoot" at parties.

Moore has always been a polarizing figure in the comic community. So, of course, the (geek) press has resurrected Moore’s comments to gin-up clicks from both fans and haters.

What does this have to do with my genre?

Aspiring and published authors have one thing in common: self-doubt. Ironically, comic-book publishers and mainstream publishers have one thing in common: profitability. Publishers pursue profitability with a ruthless, if myopic, pathologic drive. So, an author is only as good as their last sales numbers. Likewise, publishers are only as good as their last quarterly revenue report.

Which often leads authors to feel uncertain of their work. As stated in other posts, the author who doesn’t meet sales goals seldom gets another chance at bat. Same for the buying editor/publishing agent who signs the underperforming scribe. 

This business model has been in place longer than comic books have been in circulation. But the model is broken and it is breaking the industry. This is borne out in the glut of freelance development editors, writing coaches, and agents on social media—all with multiple years working for the big publishing houses. Oh, and myriad independently published authors. 

But if that isn't you, prospects are daunting. Add-in genre criticism and it is really easy to doubt the merit of your story. Which is a shame because as goes the old saw, “if you want to read it, so does someone else.”

Which brings us back to Moore’s assessment.

Sure, comic books have become a medium of aging readers. Mostly because many kids have more immediate entertainment readily available: video games, streaming services, and old-fashioned cable TV. 

All of that is even before you factor in online communities and all the entertainment options there.

But all is not lost. There is that one young woman who works 2nd shift at the call center or the guy who works the drive-thru or at the non-binary cat who covers the hospital lab and they LIVE for Old Guard, or Black [AF] America’s Sweetheart, or Barbaric. 

Three solid titles for your reading pleasure.

And, yes, it is comfort food for the world-weary after a week of punching the clock and paying the bills. See, there’s no disputing Moore’s contention. The MCU, Marvel comics, DC comics—all of them are performing fan service. And it is a vital service.

Delivering on customer expectations (if not exceeding them) is HOW YOU SELL A PRODUCT. But the movies are to comic books what comic books are to fishing stories. The comic book is enough spectacle to convey a story more complex than you'll hear at the neighborhood bar. While the MCU has to thread the mainstream needle, comic books can create more space for complexity and a bit of commentary.

Comic books don't have to make three-times-their production cost to be considered profitable, either.

It's still about story, "genre" is just where Amazon categorizes it

When that young office worker/fast-food worker/lab flunky buys a comic book they're looking for a good story. So is the 50-ish accountant who CANNOT WAIT for Wakanda Forever. Or, you know, so I’ve been told. The only difference is the medium and film does not negate print.

Simply the best SciFi you haven't read.

Ten years ago (possibly longer as I’m the 50-ish accountant who’s iffy on time-spans) space opera was considered passé. Everyone wanted BIG concepts, DENSE/DEEP world building, and HARD science. 

And then James S.A. Corey published Leviathan Wakes and everyone remembered what they loved about science fiction. To hear it from critics, the western genre has been dead and buried. But Jacob Tracey, Joanna Brady, and Joe Pickett didn’t get the memo and their horse-operas are KILLING IT. 

Long story short, Regency Romance to Horror, Noir to middle-grade, your genre still has hungry readers looking for a new entertainment. We all want familiar stories told in new ways. The genres we gravitate to, the tropes and norms we know, are comforting to us after a long day or a long week. That is the greatest service a writer can provide: a relaxing, comforting story at the end of the day. 

Maybe he's just cranky because he needs a nap?

When he did the interview, Alan Moore was 62 years old. He had, by that point, been working in comic books for over 40 years. Very few stay in the game half as long.

Godmother of modern crime and mainstream queer fiction, Patricia Highsmith wrote comics for six years. Then she decided to chance it as a novelist even at the risk of starvation. See, comic-book writing is thankless work for horrible wages and zero equity. That makes one "grumpy."

And you thought Moore was salty...

Ultimately, I believe that genre—yours, mine, and ours—still has merit and serves a special medium for special stories. I also think Moore is done. He is right that the comic books are still skewed—white and male. I also believe there are independent titles that are change as the readership changes. Part of that change requires grumpy old men to step aside and take a seat. Upside: there will be something good for them to read. 

I own none of the images above. All are used here for instructional/educational purposes as covered under the Fair Use Doctrine.

Writing Family Matters

 

Fun fact: I’m third generation union. My grandfather was a miner and member of UMWA. A merchant sailor for 25 years, my father kept his book up to date with the SIU. With over 20-years employment across three state agencies, I’m a delegate and shop steward with TSEU.

 

No, you haven’t stumbled into a pro-labor LinkedIn page.

 

Whether it is trade unions or professional organizations, there is benefit in association. Medical professionals get together to share experiences and discuss emerging challenges and treatments. Accountants gather to build skills and trade best practices. Lawyers meet up to drink. 

Like, a lot

 

Kidding. Mostly. The thing is, there is tremendous benefit in association with vocational fellows. But either from timidity, a lack of resources, or a lack of opportunity, writers often miss that bus.

Clearly NOT a social butterfly.

"Graham Greene gave me his phone number, not that I would ever use it. I know what he wants. It's what we all want—to be left alone so we can write." Patricia Highsmith

 

Introversion is an occupational hazard. Even when the event is something I look forward to, people tax me. It’s one of too many reasons to cite that I no longer engage in critique groups. 

 

The benefit of writing conferences is more than just pitching agents or getting the skinny on the best query letter or even debating the Oxford Comma. Meeting and talking with fellow scribblers is invaluable in recharging creative batteries. Still, the admission fee to most writing conferences can still be a tough nut to crack. 

 

While groups of writers regularly gather around coffee shops in movies and television show—no, wait, that’s police and angsty young-adults. There simply isn’t much gathering of writers in the wild.

 

If only someone came up with a way to commune with other writers without paying a fee or travel far/wide. Well, as it happens, someone did. Several someones at Facebook, twitter, and Tumblr.

 

On social media you can meet with writers of all avenues of print. You can meet them all from the comfort of your home. Discuss plot? Pacing? Character arc? Without putting on pants? 

Absolutely!

 

I follow writers. I support other writers—horror, cozy, xian, dino-erotica, space opera, horse opera—genre doesn’t matter. Only writing and support matters.

 

Please note: there are hustlers a-plenty, as well. They are BIG on building followers and pitch-posting but do little-to-no interacting with other writers. Pithy platitudes and self-promotion isn’t support. If they don’t interact with writers, if they don’t support writers, if all they do is sell—I don’t follow them.

Michael Cook, good writer, swell guy.

You’ll know the real deal when you encounter them. I posted a piece on self-publishing. It was more plaintive novena than chest-thumping manifesto but a couple of days later I received a message from fellow scribbler, Michael Cook. 

Michael shared his self-publishing journey with me. He encouraged me to stay true to my vision. He supported a fellow book-brother. 

Mana from heaven is a cliché line but that blessing is also what words of encouragement are. Writers live for those words of encouragement, whether it be the triple-check mark/rough-drawn happy face in crit-notes or that first Amazon review or just another writer saying, “hang tough, you got this,” those words sustain us. 

You can make those connections on social media.

 

Jennifer Worrell and I met on the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Facebook page. We share a warped sense of humor as well as a love of whiskey and pie. She read my MS in full and gave me pointed critiques as well as soul-sustaining support. Jennifer remains a close sounding board and is friend enough to tell me when something I wrote doesn’t work.

 

I met Fiona Quinn on twitter something-something years ago. She has been inexhaustible in her counsel and support. Her enthusiasm and encouragement is one of the reasons I’m still writing. 

 

To have a friend...

 

Reciprocity is cornerstone of creative fellowship. I promote my friends’ books. I read and review their books. I’m honest with them, at the risk of offending, if my opinion is solicited and I keep my yap shut otherwise.

 

Scribble siblings have to stick together. We have to sustain each other. After all, the same ink runs through our veins. 

 

I own none of the photos above, all are used here for illustrative/educational purposes as covered under the Fair Use Doctrine.