TITLE: Adult
GENRE: Secret
My hands hovered over the keyboard, waiting for the creativity gods to jolt through my fingers. Three months to deliver the first draft of my memoir, and for the first time in my career, I’d missed my target date. The second loomed like a foreboding shadow. Brutus, my Rottweiler, slept at my feet. He didn’t care about agents or editors or deadlines.
He barked, and the hair on his back popped up like quills on a porcupine. He ran to the window. I pushed my chair back and followed. “What’s going on, boy?”
Pressing my forehead against the cool glass, I slid my fingertips across the privacy film. If I had my way, there’d be a film covering every window in our house. But my husband Matthew refused to enable my deliberate isolation. I wasn’t afraid of people; I just preferred to avoid those not living within my four walls.
Mystery
ReplyDeleteSounds like something is about to happen. "Somebody" is out there! Maybe the writer in the story writes mystery and also solves them.
Women's Fiction
ReplyDeleteI was torn between mystery and women's fiction, but the pace and level of detail about her surroundings in the opening lines, along wth her writing her memoir seemed more like wf.
Women's Fiction. So far seems like straightforward fiction.
ReplyDeleteWomen's Fiction. So far seems like straightforward fiction.
ReplyDeleteWomen's Fiction
ReplyDeleteBut it was a process of elimination guess as it didn't seem to have any specific markers of other genres
I can't decide.
ReplyDeleteWomen's fiction is a possibility, as is some kind of psychological mystery . . . lots of foreboding and privacy film.
I can't decide.
ReplyDeleteI think it really depends on what's about to happen. So far it reads as a straightforward fiction, but depending on what's raised Brutus's hackles, it could be a mystery, a psychological thriller, or a paranormal (not sure if that even counts as a genre).
I can't decide either. I want to say WF too, but it seems like something more with the tension.
ReplyDeleteWomen's Fiction
ReplyDeleteIt's a modern setting, the MC is probably female, and the writing has a lyrical upmarket feel to it.
My guess would be Commercial Fiction. She isolated and/or paranoid, yet married. She's a writer, so clearly a bit crazy... :) She talks of deadlines, drafts and a career AND she's a writer, so perhaps Fantasy. (just kidding...maybe)
ReplyDeleteHa Ha. That does feel like a fantasy, doesn't it?
DeleteDomestic Thriller
DeleteThe house/ dog/ husband suggest domestic; the "foreboding shadow", dog's sudden alert and husband's refusal to accommodate protagonist's wish for isolation suggest thriller.
I would say straight forward fiction. Would that be commercial fiction? There are hints at women's fiction, but just because it's a female MC doesn't make it women's fiction, does it???
ReplyDeleteCosy Mystery
ReplyDeleteThe setting seems to be low-key contemporary but the dog barking *maybe?* forebodes trouble ahead.
Guessing Mystery or Suspense.
ReplyDeleteHard to tell with the few lines - which were good, btw :)
Hard to tell. Women's fiction maybe?
ReplyDeleteMystery, I think, and that's just based on the feel of the writing because the context gave no clues.
ReplyDeleteDomestic Thriller
ReplyDelete(Sorry; I posted this as a reply to a reply already!)
The house/ dog/ husband suggest domestic; the "foreboding shadow", dog's sudden alert and husband's refusal to accommodate protagonist's wish for isolation suggest thriller.
Contemporary. I'm guessing the creativity gods is figurative.
ReplyDeletep.s. Just looked at the comment before mine. I do agree that a few things could suggest thriller, although I think I missed the tone the first time.
Suspense
ReplyDeletethere is a sense of foreboding, dog at the window, her husband being controlling, she being a recluse
Women's fiction. Agoraphobia.
ReplyDeleteThriller, women's. Possible elements of mental illness issues.
ReplyDeleteThriller because there's tension going on. Seems also to be oriented towards a woman reader.
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ReplyDeleteI can't tell for certain. There is a possible mystery or thriller element within the isolation of the character. I''m interested and would like to read more....
ReplyDeleteI can't tell for certain. There is a possible mystery or thriller element within the isolation of the character. I''m interested and would like to read more....
ReplyDeleteDon't know. It sounds contemporary, but what is up with the privacy film? That sounds science-fictiony.
ReplyDeleteDon't know. It sounds contemporary, but what is up with the privacy film? That sounds science-fictiony.
ReplyDeleteI can't tell
ReplyDeleteI hope it's not a memoir about writing a memoir.
If I had been drinking coffee just now, I would have spit it out. . .
DeleteIf I had been drinking coffee just now, I would have spit it out. . .
DeleteContemporary realism/women's fiction.
ReplyDeleteNothing hints at mystery, romance or other genres for me.
COZY MYSTERY.
ReplyDeleteEverything indicated this: The writer heroine who is also an amateur sleuth. She is looking for inspiration and life is about to give it to her. She may have a college degree and she is curious.
Women's fiction. There wasn't anything else that made me think otherwise.
ReplyDeleteHorror
ReplyDeleteThe dog growling and something outside the window is so ominous, especially against such a quotidian background.
Contemporary realism
ReplyDeleteCould be the beginning of a mystery, but too soon to tell. Privacy film sounded almost like a sci fi thing, but no. It's available at Walmart.
Suspense.
ReplyDeleteBecause the MC feels the need to avoid others and her husband doesn't take her seriously. Implies she feels safe within their four walls and has trust issues with outsiders. Also, someone or something outside worried the dog ("...the hair on his back popped up...") and his reaction worried her ("What's going on, boy?").
SciFi
ReplyDeleteThe sliding her fingers across the privacy film made me thing SciFi or futuristic.
Contemporary
ReplyDeleteI didn't see any spec fiction clues, and she has a husband, so it doesn't sound like romance. It's a quiet opening with no hints of mystery, so I wouldn't say thriller or mystery.
Mystery
ReplyDeleteA writer who is isolated but her dog senses something outside. Reminds me of the movie, COPYCAT with Sigourney Weaver.
Cozy Mystery
ReplyDeleteI get confused between starts for mystery and thriller, but the MC is an isolationist and the dog says something is up. There's tension here, and I feel like it's ripe for a good mystery that will force her out into the world. Since she's married, it seems like the romantic/sexual tension element from thrillers and mystery is out. The memoir makes me feel like she's done something interesting with her life, so might be up for something daring.
Hmm, privacy film, recluse, rottweiler. I'm guessing Mystery
ReplyDeleteWomen's Fiction - sounds intriguing and can't wait to read more.
ReplyDeleteMystery
ReplyDeleteThere's a general sense of foreboding throughout the piece.
Mystery
ReplyDeleteThere's a general sense of foreboding throughout the piece.
Hi Authoress and Everyone who participated! My story is Women's Fiction. For those of you wondering what Women's Fiction is, this is the best definition: https://womensfictionwriters.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/womens-fiction-defined/
ReplyDelete"To me, women’s fiction is a book about a woman or women. Ok, that’s the not the hard part. The hard part is that the protagonist’s journey is about self-discovery, self-preservation, self-acceptance or self-improvement. And this journey is taken in the company of others who affect the main character, influence her, but do not save her. In women’s fiction, the main character saves herself."
Here's my logline:
A reclusive novelist’s horrific childhood holds her hostage until the lives of the kids across the street mimic her past, but to save them from a similar fate she must first save herself.
Feel free to comment or ask questions. I'll check back. Thanks!
Sounds interesting. I'd like to read it someday. Are you on Twitter so I can follow you?
Delete