Is my novel Chick Lit? What IS Chick Lit, anyway? http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682 Dragonchilde Want to know if what you're writing is Chick Lit? Want to know what the heck Chick Lit IS? Ask away, and I'm sure someone will have an answer! Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:36:04 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1284 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1284 duckyluver234 So where on earth does the line fall between Chick Lit and Romance? Because for whatever reason, I sort of hate to think of my novels as romance. Maybe because in my head, romance is more about the sex and mine is, hopefully, more about the characters, and chick lit, at least what I consider chick lit, is about strong female characters who sort of happen to have romance plots going on. I have no idea. Could someone help me out, please? *flails* :P Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:34:21 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_9404 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_9404 RandomJellyBeans I'm the same as you. I refuse to say that my genre is romance for the same reasons as you, but I don't really think mine's Chick Lit either. My plot is basically revolving around my MCs' romance, but I don't want to say it's a romance. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:27:19 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_16933 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_16933 lindsay allison As someone who reads and writes both romance and chick lit, and as someone who used to work in a bookstore I can tell you the following: Chick lit is a story usually about a female and geared towards female readers. It will usually include a romantic plot line although I don't think it has to. But it usually will have some romance in some degree. It will NOT have a graphic sex scene in it. Romance is a story that does (obviously) include a romantic plot line and it is a major part of the plot. This type of novel will have a detailed sex scene or two in it. Contrary to popular belief, these are NOT centered around the sex. These stories will often have a decent plot line that revolves around the romance. The sex scene(s) is just a part of it. And just for extra info, an erotica is what you're thinking of when you think of something that's "just about the sex." Erotica is porn essentially. It will have a plot of some kind, but it's really all about the sex...very graphic sex scenes and a lot of them. This information is based on my experience and my opinion. I really hope that I helped clear things up. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 22:19:24 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_19202 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_19202 duckyluver234 Oh good. Now I just have to figure out what counts as graphic...somehow I always end up with a sex scene, the writing advice of "when you're bored, write porn" is too easy for me, but my goal has always been to phase that out, you know, so the family can actually read one of my novels. So my goal is to keep my novel chick lit this year. Wish me luck. :D Tue, 11 Oct 2011 22:57:54 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_19968 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_19968 pookersmom I think it's definitely the way Lindsay explained it above. I'm proud to call what I write Chick Lit -- it's not going to change anyone's life, but it's going to make them really happy for several hours. It's got the romance but it's also got some fun drama. And a happy ending. Make it darker, and you're heading into the realm of "Women's Fiction." Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:00:13 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_20020 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_20020 WynnDFae Would a story about a woman's self-discovery be consider chick lit, even if the potential "romance" is entirely one-sided and with a dead man? Wed, 12 Oct 2011 02:05:08 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_22840 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_22840 Sickan I'm writing a detective- ish novel that has romance elements in it- (think Harlequin books) does that count as chick lit or romance? And yes, there will probably be a sex scene in it. Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:54:52 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_26950 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_26950 Beccah My interpretation of Chick Lit was that it was a novel written with female readers in mind, so will usually have a strong female lead and have plot elements that many women will relate to, but could be of any genre, or have elements of many. I think a lot of Chick Lit incorporates romance as romance/relationships are often a big part of a woman's life. Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:53:47 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_29158 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_29158 Weebonilass Where's the "like" button??? :) Wed, 12 Oct 2011 23:06:33 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_37537 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_37537 Weebonilass I'm wondering if mine should be here... it's the story of an woman entering her middle years that are introduced to a horse with been there, done that and I'm certainly not going there with you attitude. It will be their journey together. Wed, 12 Oct 2011 23:07:44 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_37549 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_37549 PiaKaycee Thanks, Lindsay. This was really helpful. Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:31:18 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_42353 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_42353 WynnDFae It seems like it doesn't matter what I'm writing, there's gonna be some creepy element in it. XD Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:15:05 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_46974 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_46974 Butterfly Can a chicklit be a fantasy as well? Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:39:50 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_60557 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_60557 runner_penguin I agree with this! Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:04:09 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_63675 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_63675 runner_penguin I definitely think that chick lit can cross genres. :D So I'd say yes. Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:04:31 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_63679 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_63679 Butterfly I'm quoting from wikipedia, as it's an interesting topic: "According to professor Suzanne Ferris, chick lit often features hip, stylish, career-driven[1] female protagonists, usually in their twenties and thirties. The women featured in these novels may be obsessed with appearance or have a passion for shopping, e.g. Carrie Bradshaw, the protagonist of Sex and the City.[1] However, this has been disputed. In Publishers Weekly, Amy Sohn redefines the genre as being about women who can stand on their own two feet.[3] This same article refutes the previous stereotypes. Library Journal also states that ethnic chick lit counts in the definition, mommy lit, and other sub sub genres which don't include the 20-30-something protagonist who is worried about shopping, boys and sex.[4] To define the genre in the most general way, chick lit features a female protagonist whose womanhood is heavily thematized in the plot. Though most often set in a contemporary world, such as in Waiting to Exhale, there is also historical chick lit. The issues dealt with are often more serious than consumerism. Marian Keyes's Watermelon, for instance, features a protagonist who wrestles with how to be a mother in a modern world, and there is a growing market for religious chick lit. As with other types of genre fiction, authors and publishers target many niche markets.[4] Protagonists vary widely in ethnicity, age, social status, marital status, career, and religion." Other opinions (http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2006-06-20-chick-lit_x.htm) Jennifer Weiner, author of best sellers Good in Bed and In Her Shoes, finds the term dismissive and sexist. "It's something that says chicky, fluffy, inconsequential, of no importance and no literary quality," she says. "But at the same time it doesn't bother readers, and I have to be mindful of that." But Shopaholic series author Sophie Kinsella, who has more than 7 million copies of her six books in print, says she's not bothered by the label. "To my mind, it means a fun, light book, often with humor, often featuring a contemporary heroine that women of today can relate to, often addressing an issue of today," she says. "I would probably prefer the term 'romantic comedy' or 'wit lit,' which I once saw in a bookstore. But I can't get too het-up about it. It hasn't done me any harm." Sat, 15 Oct 2011 10:34:40 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_69082 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_69082 lindsay allison In my eyes, it depends. Is the mystery/detective part the main part of the plot or the romance? And if it's the detective part, it might actually be a mystery novel. Nora Roberts does a lot of romance with a mystery element where as Mary Higgins Clark writes mystery with romance elements. Make sense? Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:53:55 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_69722 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_69722 lindsay allison I think so! Although if you were to publish it might do better in a scifi/fantasy classification. Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:55:29 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_69738 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_69738 DMac Generalizations are dangerous, but I'll make some anyway...;-D "Chick-lit" is generally fiction written by women, about women, and for women. Unlike straightforward romance novels, although there often is romance, it's not always the focus of the story. The story is often about relationships -- friendships, family, AND (sometimes) romance. What makes this different from "women's fiction?" Mostly the tone -- there's often a snarky edge, some humor, even in the darkest stories. And chick-lit *can* be dark. It's not all designer shoes and Cosmos. (In fact, only the earliest chick-lit had much of a focus on fashion and cocktails, a la SEX AND THE CITY.) There are some terrific novels labeled 'chick-lit' which deal with alcoholism, drug dependency, domestic violence, death, etc. etc. Here's a good run-down, from several years ago: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA623004.html DMac p.s. BTW, as many of you probably know, the 'chick-lit' label has been overused and is now scorned by the industry that invented it (publishers, agents). But writers still write it and readers still love it! Only now it's called something like "women's fiction with a comedic edge.' Sat, 15 Oct 2011 15:10:53 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_71920 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_71920 DMac FYI, FWIW, here are the category descriptions for the Chick-Lit Writers of the World (RWA on-line chapter) annual contest -- the deadline has passed, but the descriptions might be helpful. And maybe you can enter the chick-lit novel you write for NaNo this year, in the CLW contest next year! :-D http://chicklitwriters.com/stilettocontest/ CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS Single Title (Contemporary, Contemporary Series): If your heroine, like Bridget Jones, reveals her innermost fears and unsightly blemishes on the way to self-acceptance, she’ll fit in with the classics of the genre. (Think: Too Good to Be True by Kristan Higgins, Easy on the Eyes by Jane Porter) Women’s Fiction (Mainstream): Finding a dreamy man isn’t the only challenge women face. If your central plot revolves around another obstacle in your heroine’s life–with romance on the side–she’ll be at home in this category. 
(Think: Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin, Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella) Note: Trying to figure out the difference between Single Title and Women’s Fiction (Mainstream)? Single Title entries are romance-focused and will usually have the happily-ever- after ending. Women’s Fiction is less about the romance and more about the journey through life. Mystery/Suspense (Suspense, Mystery, Thriller): If your heroine’s primary goal is to solve a mystery, track the bad guy, or escape the villain, she belongs in this category. (Think: Living La Vida Lola by Misa Ramirez, Sex Murder and a Double Latte by Kyra Davis) Paranormal (Paranormal, Fantasy, Time Travel): If you built another world as the background for your ghost-hunting, spell-casting, time-traveling heroine, your manuscript will fit into this category. (Think: Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson, Midnight at Casa Dracula by Marta Acosta) Young Adult: It’s less about the boys; more about the poise. If your teen heroine is sassy, classy, and has wit to spare, she’ll fit in right here. (Think: Lifted by Wendy Toliver, Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot) DMac Sat, 15 Oct 2011 15:18:45 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_71998 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_71998 Sickan Yes, that makes sense. It's kind of 50/50 actually, I think of it more in a Nora Roberts-y way than Mary Higgings Clark. Sat, 15 Oct 2011 23:08:30 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_77202 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_77202 Sickan Yeah that's what I was wondering, everyone is so nice helping us figure this out! Sat, 15 Oct 2011 23:09:32 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_77214 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_77214 random.ramblings I'm not really sure whether my story belongs here, either. First of all, it is the same story with the same settings and secondary characters told in two different verses, in one the MC is female in the other one the MC is male. As the story progresses, I want to find out, how that one difference is gonna change everything else. Both verses have a strong and confident female lead and there'll be sides of comedy and romance. Everything else isn't planned or outlined, I'm just gonna see what happens on Nov 1st... So, what category would you guys put that in? Sun, 16 Oct 2011 18:49:32 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_86792 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_86792 lindsay allison Does the story really center around the FMC? If so, then I say start out in Chick-lit and then see where it goes. If you have to change it at the end, so be it! :) Sun, 16 Oct 2011 21:24:07 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_88795 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_88795 jjsigford Agreed. Just start out here and if your story goes somewhere else then oh well! I'm sure you can get support here either way :) Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:02:20 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_95157 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_95157 TearsOnAJournal I wonder if my novel is Chick lit... The main character is a girl. There's no serious relationships/romance going on in the novel because that is not the theme. The story is about a girl and her father. They travel a lot, move to a serious amount of houses, and never stay in a place for too long. They're both very eccentric and funny in a way because they see the world/situations very differently. I don't think it will be a comedy, because there's some issues that the girl (Halley) will have to deal with, for example.. not being able to have friends because she never stays in a place for too long, her obsession with an art project, and knowing that her mother walked away on her when she was a child. However, I'm going to write the story as light-hearted as possible. For the time being I put it in the adventure category because of all the travelling, and the crazy things that happen. Let me know if the novel sounds like chick lit to you :) Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:08:19 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_97140 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_97140 jjsigford If it focuses mainly on her story - how she develops, her personal struggles, etc. etc. and the travel piece is just a vehicle to help her grow and question her life, than I would say it's more chick lit. If it focuses mainly on her and her father's travels specifically as opposed to her personal journey, then I guess adventure? I'm not sure what category you would put that in. Depends on how crazy the travels are :) The other thing I would keep in mind is if you are writing your novel for a female audience, it's probably more chick lit. If you're hoping to reach a broader/more general audience, than it might be something else. Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:18:25 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_97243 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_97243 TearsOnAJournal I think it'll focus on her story, personal struggles, all that :) I usually write novels that are geared towards a broader audience, even if the main character is a girl, but I think this will be more for a female audience (even though I wish I could write it the way I do my other stories). Whoa! I guess I'm writing a chick lit novel this year!! Thanks for the help :D Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:51:31 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_97601 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_97601 type247 I have translated heaps of chick lit novels and I have to say that humour and wit is essential - if it isn't funny and if the MC can't see her own faults and bad choices, it's not chick lit. You can tell serious stories and have serious themes in a chick lit book, but your heroine must have a sense of humour in her observations of herself as well as others. In some books the humour and sit com takes over and it becomes a laugh-out-loud novel, in others the dark and serious themes are still there at the forefront. Wit lit is a good alternate name for it. Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:02:47 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_100298 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_100298 Hayley83 what would you say is an acceptable love sceane in a chick lit? Sometimes I can let myself get carried away.Dont want anything to hot or heavy, but do want the charecters to come together this way, but dont want to be head way from chick lit towards romance. Tue, 18 Oct 2011 08:23:26 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_107795 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_107795 lindsay allison Typically I don't see anything detailed in a chick lit novel. Usually what I might see are a few words/sentences/paragraphs alluding to what happens, but the writer doesn't actually write it all out. Make sense? Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:06:57 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_109017 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_109017 jjsigford Going off of that, there's the "fade to black" kind of mentality. Show them making out, maybe a shirt is discarded, they stumble into the bedroom and she shuts the door. Next morning she reminisces about how freaking awesome it was. Or wasn't if you want to do something less predictable. Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:47:10 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_109366 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_109366 coleyco29 The Red Dress Ink published novels generally had a few slightly racier scenes in them, I noticed. I'd say if you kept things more of Pg-13, low R-rating, it would be okay. That being said, unless it's Harlequin inspired pages and pages of graphic and explicit detail.. I'd personally still consider it to be chick lit appropriate. Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:53:29 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_111433 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_111433 paperback_writer4 I feel that I am leaning toward a chick lit type novel, but there's also a murder (at least one) to be solved. Should I count myself in the chick lit section or mystery/thriller/suspense. When I signed up, I did put myself in mystery section. (There is the word "mystery" in my title. Also, I know agents don't want anything called chick lit anymore even though there's a huge market out there still reading that genre), so the question remains, where shall I put myself? What is my genre? Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:52:16 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_113316 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_113316 DMac Very true! the tone is essential in chick-lit -- humorous, self-deprecating, snarky... And I LOVE "wit-lit" LOL! what a great name for an often-derided genre label!!! :-D Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:58:14 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_113392 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_113392 lindsay allison Exactly the thought I was going for. Thanks! :) Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:07:36 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_115481 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_115481 lindsay allison Put it where you want to for the time being. When the novel is done, THEN you can decide what it has actually become. :) Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:08:17 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_115489 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_115489 Man vs Kids Just out of curiosity, what would you all say are the primary differences between chick-lit/wit-lit and a full-out comedy? The book I'm plotting out for next month does have a primary romantic through-line and will probably have a couple sex scenes, but my intention is to really focus more on a "comedy of errors" kind setting, where we're rooting for the male and female leads to get together, but there's all this insanity around them. I plan to keep this book classified as Chick-Lit for the duration of Nanowrimo... I guess I'm just curious as to what point a story stops being one genre and becomes another. Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:31:43 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_118319 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_118319 jjsigford I think it depends on the point of view/who the MC is. It's kind of like, "What's the difference between romantic comedy and comedy?" If it is written more from a female perspective and it's intended for a female audience, I'd say it's more chick lit. If it focuses on both the male and female perspective and is intended for a general audience, I'd say it's more comedy. Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:33:25 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_125908 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_125908 Bubastes Goodnight, Nobody by Jennifer Weiner is a chick lit (to me, anyway)/murder mystery hybrid, so you do have company! I prefer the term "women's fiction" instead of "chick lit" myself. :) Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:32:37 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_129668 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_129668 .Interrobang. This is how I've always thought of it too. And PS, your baby is so cute I think I just squealed. Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:55:03 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_155553 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_155553 Hayley83 thanks guys! very helpful! xx Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:05:11 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_158992 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_158992 futuredoc2022 My MC (Sarah) is 17. Here's the synopsis: -When Sarah and her mother realize they're both getting a little older, they decide to brighten their lives with a new, young, face. They adopt a young girl named Emily. But with Sarah's mom working 13 hour days, Sarah is left to pick up the slack around the house-- including raising Emily. Tensions rise, and Sarah is kicked out, forced to take her new sister with her. Having a sister sounded fun, but having a daughter is way more than Sarah asked for. Now she has to look to her friends, as well as a few people she never expected to associate with, for guidance and support. But even with their help, can Sarah raise a little girl on her own?- Chick Lit? Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:05:41 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_161275 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_161275 jjsigford I think that sounds like chick lit - more of the "self-discovery" kind (which is what mine is like) as opposed to the "make you laugh until you pee your pants kind" but there's nothing wrong with that :) However, I would be a little cautious with how you proceed - it's actually really difficult to adopt, and I don't know if a court would grant custody to a (I'm assuming single?) mother who works 13 hour days. Social workers come to your house, you have prove your financially stable - there's a lot that goes into it. And there's usually a trial period (I don't know how long they last, it probably varies by state) where if something goes wrong in the home (like you're describing) the state would swoop in and take that child back. Just a few things to think about! Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:42:28 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_162418 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_162418 lynns92 I think I need help this time around!! I have two main characters, but the story is going to mainly follow my FMC. At first, I was just going to write about the different things she does on a daily basis, but now I realize how difficult that might be; she's a 25 year old assistant to an assistant of a major fashion designer, and I am definitely NOT fashion savy. I haven't really thought any farther than that because I don't want to psych myself out and fail on the second day. Bascially, I'm asking for some plotting help. I know in the end I want her married to my other MC who also happens to be her ex, but I just don't know what to put in the middle. I also don't know if this would even classify as ChickLit....help? Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:07:10 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_163408 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_163408 futuredoc2022 I'm well aware of these holes, and I've fixed a few. I've been through the adoption process before, or my mom has. She was working about that much, might have been 11 or 12 hours.Maybe 10? Anyways. I've thought about the trial period, and the fact that they will come snatch the kid if something goes wrong, and adjusted the actual plot line and backstory accordingly (which significantly lengthened the story, hooray for word count), but you have just now brought it to my attention that the synopsis no longer fits... I'm sorta tweaking out trying to get organized, so I've fallen into a "copy, paste, don't bother reading" rut. I'm definitely going to have to go through all of this with a fine-toothed comb. Thank you for the words of wisdom though! Much appreciated! Sat, 22 Oct 2011 01:52:49 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_166653 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_166653 jjsigford Awesome! :) You could just bash it out in November and then go back and edit the more technical stuff too. I've never done NaNo before, but everyone I've talked to seems to have the "eh, I can fix that later" mentality. Sat, 22 Oct 2011 12:28:17 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_170529 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_170529 jjsigford If it's more about her, then I would say it's chick lit. If it's more about her falling in love/getting back together with her ex it may be romance. Have you ever seen "The Devil Wears Prada" or read the book? What you're describing kind of reminds me of that (except maybe without the complete witch of a boss). The FMCs relationship is significantly altered by her job, but since that's not the main focus of the book I would call that chick lit. If you're doing the same thing it should be appropriate, but if the story is more about the two of them as a couple and her job is just an added detail than it may belong in romance. Kind of depends :) As for the fashion stuff, unfortunately I cannot help you much haha. My best recommendation is to go out and buy some magazines/search the web for what's fashionable these days. Although if she's just the assistant to the assistant that she may not necessarily be all that involved in the fashion aspects - she may be more responsible for answering phones, scheduling appointments, picking up lunch etc. etc. Sat, 22 Oct 2011 12:33:10 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_170586 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_170586 Heather Hart I was told my novel was Chick Lit, but I'm not really sure where it falls, I would love some input: Ruth: A Modern-Day Bible Story- The tragic accident rocked Ruth’s world. Her husband was gone. He had been killed along with his father and brother when their return plane from America had crashed. Her mother-in-law was being forced by the missionary agency to return to the U.S., her sister-in-law was moving back home to her parent’s house, and Ruth’s whole world seemed to be upside down. Still being in her early 20’s she had her whole life ahead of her, but that wasn’t true for her mother-in-law Naomi. Thus, Ruth makes the decision to leave her country, accompany Naomi back to America, and form her new life in her late husband’s homeland. What does the future hold for Ruth? Only time will tell. Sun, 23 Oct 2011 14:54:01 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_185413 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_185413 Emdog I have asked this question before... In ROMANCE, from what I understand, the endings are satisfying (girl gets guy) but in chick lit maybe she won't because she figures out she needs something else. And, in Chick Lit they'll have a steamy kiss, fall into bed and, cut to the next morning. Well, my novel is chick lit but I am going to steam up the love scenes a bit, darn-it. ROMANCE: “The books are about the celebration of falling in love and emotion and commitment, and all of those things we really want.” Nora Roberts, best-selling romance author. Sun, 23 Oct 2011 15:27:00 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_185820 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_185820 Emdog Would this be a story a teen would read? Sounds like it could be YA if you keep it fairly clean. Sun, 23 Oct 2011 15:36:08 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_185953 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_185953 lindsay allison Hmmm, I think this might be chick lit. It really doesn't matter how it's classified right now. You can always change its genre after the novel is written if you feel that it is no longer chick lit. Sun, 23 Oct 2011 21:01:14 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_190426 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_190426 salambander Mine is chick lit with a slightly weird/sci-fi twist in that my MC's roommate might be an alien. He keeps licking the walls (well, I haven't started writing it yet, but he's doing that in my head). And it's got a bit of murder-mystery too. But it's mostly focusing on the female MC finding out what she really wants from life, who she really is, and how to live in a world that is weirder than she thought it was. Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:24:40 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_199579 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_199579 aprettyheart I think this thread will be my new home. You guys and gals are so nice in here! A book where my character (female, of course) sets out on a road trip to complete a close friend/relative's/Istillhaven'treallydecidedityetanditsonlyaweekawayholycrap bucket list after their passing. Possibly falls in (unrequited?) crush again with her childhood crush/boyfriend/love, but I'm thinking it will only be a small subplot, as I'd really love to mainly focus on a self-discovery/a mid-twenties coming of age type storyline. Does this still count as chick lit, even with romance only being a small part? Is there some genre that deals with this coming of age type? I thought it'd best fit in chick lit, with the female self-discovery, but I'm not even sure anymore. My head's spinning and this is my first Nano. Go easy on me! :) Thanks in advance for the help! Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:45:28 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_206467 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_206467 punkinsmash this is my first time doing NaNoWriMo and my novel is a chick lit!! any extra tips? Mon, 24 Oct 2011 23:51:00 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_209586 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_209586 .Interrobang. I think my new novel idea might be chick lit. It's a story I've been trying to write for YEARS. I have the family tree, I have floor plans for the house, I have all the characters pretty well fleshed out. What I'm missing? The conflict. Darn it!! The basics: Rachel was raised by a grouchy aunt after her parents died. Her best friend Derek's family took her under their wing when the two were in grade school. Now, at 25, Rachel is unexpectedly pregnant, unceremoniously dumped, and headed to the Randall family home for Christmas, where she meets Derek's new girlfriend, Corinne. You can guess that the end game here is Derek and Rachel fall in love, but I'm stuck on how to get them there. I want Rachel and Corinne to actually become friends. Corinne needs to be someone who is a legitimate love interest for Derek and when they split up it's because of their relationship problems, not because "she's not Rachel." I also want Rachel to lose her job or apartment or have some reason to take the Randalls up on an offer to stay with them for a while. (Derek does not live there, but in the same town.) But something needs to HAPPEN and I'm completely stuck on WHAT. :( Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:58:09 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_230436 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_230436 salambander Sounds like chick lit to me, and something I'd want to read when it's done. You could do some pretty cool Jack Kerouac/Jack London things with the road trip. And bring in some travel-writing aspects as well, if you want. http://matadornetwork.com/ is a pretty useful site for good travel writing tips, but I do think that your plot sounds more like chick lit. I just think bringing this in (because of the road trip) could make it interesting. Anyway, welcome to NaNo and hope you have an awesome month! Here, have a cookie. Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:11:44 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_230629 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_230629 megany I wasn't sure where I was starting when I started outlining my novel but now I'm happy with my outline and was stuck between chick lit and romance! I like the definitions of chick lit that I'm reading here - mine has paranormal elements but I don't want it to be too over the top. I also don't want to write a "romance" novel because I think it would turn our horrendously. This is my brief snowflake method "back cover" blurb: Amelia has lost her job at a local car dealer and needs to find work - fast. Enter her family's antiques shop, a place that Amelia rarely visits as she can see the ghost of each object's original owner. She quickly turns the shop into a roaring success, desperate to send the ghosts out of her life and out of the shop. Until a boy, and his grandmother's [OBJECT], come into her life and she learns that some ghosts can be beneficial. Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:00:17 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_233368 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_233368 jjsigford I agree - I'd say this was chick lit! And I think it's interesting that your MC is completing someone ELSE's bucket list. That's a nice little spin. Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:35:19 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_233901 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_233901 jjsigford A light bulb just went off in my head when I was thinking about this, but I don't know if it would fit with your character's personalities but here goes... What if the fact that Rachel is pregnant triggers the conflict? What if Derek realizes that he really wants kids/family/community and what if Corinne is more of a "Let's travel the world and live our lives and maybe we can think about kids later" kind of gal? Eh? Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:38:30 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_233942 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_233942 jjsigford I like it! And as long as it focuses more on Amelia and you don't have any hard-core sex scenes I think it would fit in chick lit. Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:40:30 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_233970 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_233970 Tangowolf Okay, so let me sure that I follow: Chick Lit is about self-empowerment geared toward a female reader. "The doorbell rang...she knew it was the cable man, but she didn't need him. She fixed her own damned cable box." Romance is cheesecake with significant plot elements. "The doorbell rang...she was fully prepared to fix her own cable box, but she knew that Juan was at the door. There was something about the subtle trill in his accent that left her throat dry. She had to see him." Erotica is text porn. "The doorbell rang. She opened the door and it was Juan, leering at her as he always does. 'I fixed my own cable box," she said, hoping that he didn't take a peek at her wide open robe. 'You can go bother someone else.' Juan stepped inside and said, 'Oh, I'm not here for THAT box.'" Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:39:31 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_236064 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_236064 kaciebeckett I'm pretty sure I'm writing Chick Lit (of the lesbian variety), but I'm kind of curious about the answer to the second question, the "What IS Chick Lit, anyway?" Anyway, here's mine... Girl meets girl, and they "couple up" within the first three chapters. Girl #1 is out and proud, Girl #2 knows she's bisexual but has never come out to anyone, and hasn't been with a girl since she was a teenager (they're mid-to-late 20s now). Girl #1 is in a garage band, Girl #2 is a washed-up but formerly big-time pop star. The novel is written from Girl #1's point of view, but the conflict/plot is mostly about Girl #2's loss of fame, then regaining it, but now perhaps having to come out on top of it. Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:44:55 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_236148 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_236148 Breezyone23 I think mine will be a hybrid, though definitely falling under the Women's Fiction category. There is a murder and a romance plot, but the story revolves around two women and how their fresh out of college. Their trying to come into their own but circumstances beyond their control (and within) are causing them to veer of their paths. Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:08:27 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_238488 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_238488 Charis011 I love the idea! Just a thought: in a bookstore it would probably be classified Christian fiction, but then mine probably would be too, and currently I consider it Mainstream. For Nano, I don't think it really matters, except for getting help/advice from others writing similar stories. Wed, 26 Oct 2011 22:48:50 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_241028 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_241028 Mily Hope I have a couple of storylines and haven't decided yet, but it seems that wherever I go it's still romantic and funny... so I catalogued myself into the "romantic comedy" genre... totally forgetting there was Chick lit! I'm guessing I'm a chick lit writer then :) And I love it! Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:15:35 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_243437 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_243437 Coffeedrinker Hmm. I sort of disagree very much with the idea that erotica is text porn. Thu, 27 Oct 2011 05:07:14 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_244357 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_244357 .Interrobang. I like that! That fits their personalities very well, and is very much like what I've been thinking - but you made me think about a new angle, so thank you! I've been assuming Derek has known all along that he wants marriage/kids/family/etc, but maybe he's NOT totally sure, and he's kind of enticed by the lifestyle he and Corinne would have and is enjoying it and is ready to go along with it. But having Rachel around and seeing her doing baby stuff with his mom starts to make him realize that he does want a family. Corinne needs to be a believable love interest and I guess if she's not into kids and whatnot and Derek is Mr. gung-ho family man from the get-go, their relationship doesn't make a lot of sense. Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:55:58 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_247779 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_247779 lindsay allison I had an idea. What if you could subtly show how Rachel fits in seamlessly into the family where Corinne has trouble communicating and fitting in. I wouldn't draw a lot of attention to it, but maybe Corinne feels a little out of place and while she likes Rachel is also a bit jealous of her? Thu, 27 Oct 2011 23:13:19 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_257307 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_257307 .Interrobang. This is definitely something I'm going to work on incorporating! I don't want it to be glaring, just a subtle difference like you said, but one that would become very obvious in time, and would probably widen a gap between them in time. Subtlety will be the key, heh :) Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:32:15 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_262780 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_262780 aprettyheart You have no idea how encouraging that was, to know someone would actually be interested in it! And thank you for that link, I've spent the last few days on there reading over some of the things. It's especially helpful with some of the more scenic moments I was hoping to create in the novel! And I'm doubly thankful for the cookies. Mmm, cookies. Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:25:06 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_274477 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_274477 aprettyheart Thank you! Boy, do you guys know how to make a newbie feel welcome with all this encouragement. I feel a group hug coming on! Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:26:15 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_274492 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_274492 alison.paige this thread has been helpful, I'm writing chick lit and I didn't even know ;) Sun, 30 Oct 2011 15:56:32 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_302162 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_302162 squeakyniquee At the moment I have no idea what genre I fit in. I think Romance has hijacked my story. I think I should fit in here somewhere but I'm just not sure... Mon, 31 Oct 2011 06:28:51 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_317682 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_317682 Kira Wonrey I think my novel is Chick Lit... and I didn't know it until now! Thank you very much everyone Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:01:36 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_329635 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_329635 phoenixgirrl This sounds great! I have always found Ruth & Naomi fascinating characters. I've got a Christian/Chick-Lit crossover myself (but with some rather chaste romance). I'm categorizing it as Chick Lit for now, as that's the part I am more concerned about, the Christian stuff I can handle. Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:51:50 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_330793 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_330793 funnymummy [quote=Butterfly] "To my mind, it means a fun, light book, often with humor, often featuring a contemporary heroine that women of today can relate to, often addressing an issue of today," she says. "I would probably prefer the term 'romantic comedy' or 'wit lit,' which I once saw in a bookstore. But I can't get too het-up about it. It hasn't done me any harm." [/quote] I always say I'm writing a romcom to people who ask what I'm working on at the moment. Interesting to read the different thoughts on the term chicklit Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:38:46 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_331932 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_331932 Lyndsi Strata My plot is about a girl in color guard, but has dissociative identity disorder, her friend tells the whole school, and everyone hates her, but then it's all okay in the end, and I'm not revealing how ;) would that be considered chick-lit? Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:04:07 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_364948 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_364948 lindsay allison Sure! Write it first and then if you want to change the genre you can!! Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:52:55 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_371002 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_371002 amandamonet Now I'm second guessing my plot. I think it was turning into a women's fiction but I want to write it a chick lit. So i came up with another idea, so I'll put them both down and then if anyone can tell me which is more chick lit or if they both pass-that would be great. Original idea: Story of two sisters, the older is a famous successful actress with the perfect family, but really she is miserable. Her younger sister who has lived in her shadow and tried to everything right, finds herself married, struggling to pay the bills and unable to have children. In the end the older sister learns that there is more to life than just at face value. New, more chick lit(?) idea: About two sisters, the older is a famous successful actress, with the perfect family. The younger finds herself jobless, heartbroken, and a little loss. The older sister takes her younger sister in as an on call nanny/assistant/maid/etc. The younger sister is soon introduced in the world of the famous, and ends up falling for an actor. Now she finds herself lost in the world of Hollywood and trying to figure out how to stay herself and still get the guy. Actually now I'm liking the second option better. Thanks! Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:29:40 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_372267 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_372267 twinmummy Wow. I hadn't realized how many different interpretations to "Chick Lit" there were out there! It is interesting to read some of them and see that it isn't all quite what I had thought it was. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 07:02:13 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_385052 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_385052 runner_penguin Well, if you need word count, you could always write the sex scene and then edit it out in the cutting process. :) Wed, 02 Nov 2011 07:41:31 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_385703 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_385703 runner_penguin Mine definitely falls more on the Women's Fiction end of things. Not much fluff in the story - and no shopping involved. :P But it is about Mia's journey - mostly psychological, granted - so I'm keeping it here for now. I think the focus is too much on her story to call it Mainstream. At least at the moment. Ha! Wed, 02 Nov 2011 07:58:34 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_385971 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_385971 davidcrabtree I'm very much enjoying seeing lots of plots with strong women in. I don't think there's enough of it, especially as TV seems to always have male protagonists now. I think my plot is too quirky to be mainstream and not really intense enough for thriller. I'm not sure if it's chick lit, I don't fit some definitions as I am not a woman. Any help would be appreciated! Plot: Chloe is a high-functioning autistic synesthete and can taste words. She spends her time reading everything she can find on the internet, remembering everything she reads. In life she accidentally causes problems because of her fervent facebook reading and is generally disliked by all but her sister. She eventually finds a terrible author online who writes what she considers to be excellent (tasting) novels. As she demands more writing from him his ego is flattered by the attention and he lusts after her praise. She forms what she thinks is a symbiotic professional relationship with him, but he thinks of their relationship as rock-star/groupie. Things come to a head when he starts to demand more than she is willing to give and she tries to understand her feelings relating to sex, romance and him. (Don't worry he won't get his way!) Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:23:24 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_399914 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_399914 ELOAgent Is my novel chick-lit? My female MC is strong, and witty, and capable, and loves art. She is married to her husband, Michael, and trapped in a loveless marriage, becomes increasingly unhappy. She recieves cryptic calls from who will later become her love-interest, and main at that, Julian, my male MC. They become partners, she leaves her husband, and they flee the small town of Dayton, Ohio. She isn't interested in him yet, rejects his advances. He pursues her, chocolates, flowers, jewelry the whole sha-bam, and she tries her best to ignore it, but it doesn't work out as well as planned. Then, she seduces Peter Lassen, a billionaire, and a five million dollar hit is put on their heads. They are on the run, living their aliases until they are so believable, they can fool anyone, and along the way, my mc, Lauren, starts to fall in love with him. Struggling with her conflicting feelings between her divorced husband and Julian, she is confused, and upset. There aren't any sex scenes, for that would be too inappropriate for my tastes, but a kiss scene here and there, yeah. Is it Chick lit or not? Or does it fall into the romance Category? Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:40:55 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_406924 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_406924 jcrz434 ...hhhmmm.... ~rubs chin~ I originally thought my story was going to be "chick lit" because I figured it would be a story women would want to read. It will have a strong female character but not necessarily the main character. I was wanting my MC to be a guy. (Is there a Dude-Lit catagory? ~although I don't think there is going to be any beer pong or power tools so that probably wouldn't work etiher~) What I'm toying with will have three central characters that the story will revolve around and how they all impact eachother's lives. My MC was going to be a disfigured reclusive artist (guy) who meets a terminally ill boy and may or may not fall in love with the boy's mother. (still deciding on that part) The mother will be a very strong and central character and I still think the story will be geared towards a female audience. Maybe I should be in the "women's fiction" category..... Thoughts? Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:10:51 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_407990 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=2#forum_thread_comment_407990 Sab.eth [quote=Tangowolf] Erotica is text porn. "The doorbell rang. She opened the door and it was Juan, leering at her as he always does. 'I fixed my own cable box," she said, hoping that he didn't take a peek at her wide open robe. 'You can go bother someone else.' Juan stepped inside and said, 'Oh, I'm not here for THAT box.'" [/quote] HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAA!! <3 Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:11:56 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_429364 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_429364 FlashburnOut So I am trying to figure out where mine goes. Its about a girl who is out first really strong and independent, but then had her life turn upside-down by her younger brother's mistakes and tries to find ways to cope with the consequences. I mean I feel like there will be a se scene because it is necessary for later parts but I really don't plan on making it graphic. I also feel like this is to depressing for a romance, its mostly about the bad things in life and how she copes. But at the same time, a large portion of my book pokes fun at the "mainstream" teen who would probably the most likely audience for a Chick Lit book. I just don't know where to put it. Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:38:21 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=3#forum_thread_comment_439050 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=3#forum_thread_comment_439050 PamCan2 Thanks -- helpful. My 2011 nano effort has touches of Vinegar Hill by Ansay (also Oprah's Book Club), but doesn't get that weird. So ... does that mean my effort is Chick Lit or something else. Pamcan2 Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:02:58 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_465097 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_465097 Jacqui Read I like Sophie Kinsella's take on it. "To my mind, it means a fun, light book, often with humor, often featuring a contemporary heroine that women of today can relate to, often addressing an issue of today," she says. "I would probably prefer the term 'romantic comedy' or 'wit lit,' which I once saw in a bookstore. But I can't get too het-up about it. It hasn't done me any harm." I think my first manuscript is definitely Chick Lit. My contemporary heroine has romantic interests and encounters but she doesn't end up with the man in the end deciding he is a dead shit. My story is essentially a humorous account of a woman's journey of self-discovery. My 2011 manuscript however is definitely evolving into Romance, however, my contemporary heroine is strong and self sufficient and dealing with modern issues. She doesn't need the man she simply wants him and she gets him in the end. And I have romantic scenes but before they get too graphic, the bedroom door shuts. There is definitely humor in it - cheeky modern humor. But, I think I might have to be classified as Romance. I have classified it as Woman's Fiction upon advice (Chick Lit now considered passe apparently) but I now read that Woman's fiction is a bit darker than Romance and Chick Lit. I thought Woman's Fiction would cover it all. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 01:49:02 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_514985 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_514985 willwrite4chocolate Does Chick Lit ever have a male lead character? Does Romance? Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:37:16 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=3#forum_thread_comment_609955 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=3#forum_thread_comment_609955 JessClearwater I have a question too, what is the typical length of a chic lit novel? I l had a look at some on my bookshelf and they all seem to run to about 300 pages. Just wondering what to aim for with length. Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:27:54 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=3#forum_thread_comment_630275 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=3#forum_thread_comment_630275 pegleg kitty I wish we had the category of women's lit. Mine isn't exactly romance and seeing as it's not an urban setting and there's no shoes and no Nutella (I ate it), it falls outside the stricter chick-lit parameters. Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:06:01 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_641076 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_641076 pegleg kitty Could it be hen lit? Like Chick Lit, there's usually humor, only the characters are older. Wiser is optional. Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:09:16 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_641114 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_641114 pegleg kitty I should have said it falls outside the strictest definitions for chick lit. Urban setting that sometimes seemed like a character was a huge defining part of early chick lit. Early chick-lit was fun, but I spent the whole time saying, "Oh, come on. She couldn't afford to buy even one pair of those shoes (or purse or coat or...) on a beginning editor's salary, especially if she had school loans." And why were so many of the heroines editors? Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:19:20 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_641280 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_641280 eflermichelle I am guessing mine is chick-lit. Has a romantic undertone but there is a strong, independent female lead character and some action (think international spying). Sat, 12 Nov 2011 12:29:02 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=3#forum_thread_comment_658562 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=3#forum_thread_comment_658562 allrightalready Seeing as how that quote from Nora Roberts makes me feel queasy, I am pretty sure that my NaNovel really is Chick Lit, and not Romance. :) Sun, 13 Nov 2011 05:00:25 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_673153 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_673153 allrightalready Wow, I think I want to read this. There was a memoir out a few years ago by a guy who grew up like this, traveling around with his father and basically living out of a suitcase until he was 8 or 9 years old, thinking that was the way everybody lived. Wish I could remember the name of it. As for what to classify it as, I would put it more in Women's Fiction than Chick Lit, but a lot depends on where you take your main character and whether she is an adult reflecting on that childhood or the child actually living it through most of the book. Sun, 13 Nov 2011 05:18:05 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_673275 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_673275 allrightalready Your NaNovel sounds really interesting! I'm not sure where you'd put it, but I don't think it really sounds like Chick Lit, even if some of it is funny -- it sounds more like women's fiction, with the emphasis on struggles and overcoming obstacles in life. Sun, 13 Nov 2011 05:23:01 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=3#forum_thread_comment_673309 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=3#forum_thread_comment_673309 Mother Goose OK - I'm coming at this from a certain age - 54 - but I always thought the term 'Chick Lit' was demeaning. At least it's always been said in my presence by men who are dismissing the writing as being less important that others. That's when I coined the term Dick Lit. It kind of rocked those condescending men back on their heels. But if you know what one is, then you know what the other is too. Same goes for Chick Flick. Ask your boyfriend if he really wants to drag you out to watch another boring Dick Flick and watch his reaction ;) Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:19:21 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=3#forum_thread_comment_686963 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=3#forum_thread_comment_686963 TheLittlebigwoman Well I'm totally confused. I've described my novel as Chick Lit because it speaks to women, a strong woman, or a woman in search of her strength, failed romances, haven't decided if she'll be "rescued" by a romance, but its about infidelity, drugs, haphazard parenting, but she's not middle class or wealthy. She's a survivor, does that count as chick lit. I thought perhaps a feminine hero gaining control of her own destiny was always my lose definition. Chick Lit in a nutshell is books for women, by women, does romance, sex have to be an integral part? Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:09:01 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=3#forum_thread_comment_698885 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=3#forum_thread_comment_698885 filmsaboutghosts Thank you. Yours is the first to really speak to what my novel could be. I didn't set out to write "chick lit." I hadn't even heard the term, actually. But I'm finding my novel centers around four women and their relationships with each other. There is a tiny element of romance, but it is very small, and will not necessarily end happily. It's also a light read with dark undertones. There are some very serious issues. It's not all about shoes and shopping. That said, I hate to categorize it as chick lit, because in my mind that makes it sound like less of a book. At the same time, I have to be honest with myself. I'm writing women because I write what I know. I also feel there are enough books out there about men. Still, I'm toying with the idea of making mine into a screenplay at some point, and when I do, it will end up seen as a "chick movie" whether I'd like it to or not. It's starting to read like Nora Ephron meets Francesca Lia Block. But more on the Nora Ephron side. Still, I have to admit, I love Nora Ephron -- her books, articles she wrote, and her films. So it's no wonder that influence is working its way into my book, no matter how unintentional. Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:28:10 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_807035 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_807035 UnicornEmma That's what I do! Mon, 07 May 2012 06:15:24 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1349310 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/682?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1349310