Genre and audience lurve

[valis2]

This whole CC rehashing makes me wonder anew: what is it exactly about CC's writing that causes such devotion in her fans?

I'm thinking one piece of the puzzle might be genre. Readers generally feel differently about certain genres. Car repair manuals, for example, do not inspire fervent declarations of adoration.

Keep in mind I've only read a little of her work, and that was a while ago. But I'm thinking that it has to do with her fusion of angst and humor. Make someone laugh, and you generally inspire a warm feeling; make someone feel something for a character, and you do the same. I think she does both with her writing, and that might be one clue to her popularity. I mean, humor and crack!fics certainly make one laugh, but I don't think they go to the same place that a story that combines both does.

I also think genre selects audience, to a degree. I wonder if angst!audiences are more passionate about their reading than, say, fluff!readers. Hmm...food for thought.

Comments

[furiosity.livejournal.com]

what is it exactly about CC's writing that causes such devotion in her fans?
I don't think it's her writing per se. I know plenty of less talented authors who manage to acquire a band of witless fangirls by just updating very, very infrequently. ;)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Y'know, I've noticed that sheer volume sometimes brings in more reviews than quality sometimes...but still, wow. She has thousands of reviews.

[furiosity.livejournal.com]

Well, she's also been writing the bloody thing since what, 2001? Time plays into it, too. Plus she's got popularity on her side, where her works get enthusiastically recommended to a lot of fandom newcomers; after all, the novels are basically genfic despite the constant pairing off of characters. There's plot and there's mystery; it doesn't take much more than that to hook people. And if you're half decent at the writing thing, you've got it made.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I also think it might be hooked into genre, too. A bit of plot, some funny stuff, some angsty stuff...it's a good formula.