The Genre Swamp

99.9% of the time, the work of genre fiction writers does not fit neatly into one designated category. Not knowing exactly where you belong can be so frustrating. Especially for a writer. For example: I like to say my novel Wallflower is a Paranormal, romance, mystery, fantasy. Although that sums it up for others to understand what they're about to read, it doesn't help the author to know how to market it.
As an author seeking representation, do I categorize Wallflower as a Paranormal Romance? Sounds fine, but what about the fantasy aspect of it? Fantasy commonly uses things like gnomes and fairies in some invented kingdom. My story deals with a girl who's half ghost and half tangibly real on modern day Earth. Although it has a fantastic theme, it doesn't really fit the general Fantasy genre.
And what about the mystery in my story? My two protagonists get themselves in trouble when they inadvertently connect a series of assaults and killings to one man in their own hometown. Does this mean I should query agents that represent Mystery?
It's enough to pull your hair out.
No one's book fits neatly in one box. So how do you sort it out?
Two words: Critique Partner
In this department, I am lacking. As of now, the tiny town I live in isn't exactly bursting at the seams with writer to writer interaction. That's why I'm so thankful for the internet. A world of fellow writers awaits at my fingertips and believe me, I've scoured the planet for my perfect match.
I was beginning to think that I was an anomaly, that no one writes the same sort of stories I do. But I've found new hope in two new websites I've recently discovered.
I'd like to introduce you to Crit Partner Match.com. This website is like a dating service for writers, only you're not looking to marry them, you're looking to find a like-minded critique partner. I've spent hours upon hours lost on this site. Aside from finding a CP, you can post questions on their forums, start your own blog and join study groups and contests. Very much worth your efforts.
Last, but most definitely not least, is a new beta site called Bookcountry.com. Started by the well known publisher Penguin Books, Book Country offers a vast network of resources for writers. This site concentrates on sharing your work with other writers for reviews and critiques. You can post some or all of your work on your profile. Others can find your work using the impressive "genre map" that tells the reader exactly where your book fits in.  Aside from sharing your work, the detailed profiles they offer help you find like-minded writers to connect with all over the world.
As of now, this site is free to join. Be sure to tell a friend and help this site grow, but be warned: you will spend hours glued to this site. There's so much to see and take in that it will easily eat up your afternoon, heck your whole day. (Just ask my husband. He went without dinner all week.)
I've babbled enough, but I'd like to finish by saying that I'm no closer to finding out where I fit in. I'm hoping that with the feedback I receive from these two sites, I'll be better equipped to target the most appropriate agents.
TTYS

Taking that first step

I've been wanting to start my own blog for some time now, but I was hesitant. I was under the misconception that only published authors had one of these things, and what's worse, I thought that lil' ol' me wasn't good enough for a prestigious blog of my own.
I was wrong x's 2.
I recently returned from my first writers conference and I brought with me a wealth of information and inspiration. This particular conference offered several helpful workshops which I attended with wide-eyed fervor. There were two recurring themes that I heard loud and clear throughout my three days there: 
1) The only rule of writing is that there are no rules.
and
2) Start your own blog. 
Seeing as how several different speakers emphasized those two points, I took them both to heart and here I am. 
My name is Jennifer B. Fields. I hope to have a successful career as a novelist someday soon. I've started this blog to share my writing journey with the you. It is my hope that I can offer advice and insight to all the struggling writers out there. I plan on keeping you apprised of the progress in my latest endeavor entitled "Wallflower". I can also predict that you will be forced to bear witness to my own personal ups and downs of confidence, opportunities and expeditions, both positive and negative. If you are a writer, you know that these ups and downs are frequent and can be rather severe and even debilitating.
Still, I vow to get back on that bucking horse of publication and continue my quest to become one of the few "lucky" ones to make it to the bookstore shelves. I hope you'll join me. :)