Author Babarba Samuel, who wrote romance once upon a time and still visits from time to time, guest blogged on Romancing the Blog today.
She wants to help readers see the light and understand why we should care a bout the RITA Awards. You know… like we do the Oscars. Because Rita is just like the Oscars.
Well if you made it all about one genre.
So I thought about it. Why do we care about the Oscars and not the RITAs? I didn’t watch the Oscars this year. So maybe I am a bad one to call it. But I think in general people care about movie stars and the like more than they care about your everyday author.
Because you know those movie people. Hey Brit’s shaved her head! OMG! Anna Nicole passed away! Tom’s still crazy! Jolie is adopting another kiddo! When was the last time you hear about the private lives of romance authors? Not counting LKH, of course.
You don’t. At least not often, see LKH, and really do you want to know about their private lives? Don’t we say review the book – not the author. Don’t we say private lives are off limits? Don’t we say unless they bring it to the table, you don’t dine in that restaurant?
Oscars are the glitz and the glam, the money of the world of movies brought home to us on TV. The uber wealthy, beautiful people and honestly it is a little over my head why we give a fuck but there are people there lined up with their cameras shouting for the attention of their favorite star.
I just can’t see that for authors. I don’t want to see that in authors. I don’t want to know that much about most authors. So that sort of screws with the Oscar idea.
So as a reader… do I care about the RITAs? Well to a point yes. Because I love for authors I read to do well with anything. I am beyond delighted for Lisa Kleypas hitting 14 on the NY Times list. I sqqquueee’ed when I heard JR Ward is #5. I thought it blew they both lost at the RITA’s last year.
Honestly though I don’t think the RITA’s matter much in the grand scheme of things. I am sure it is an honor to win and be ‘awarded by your peers’ if you are an author who see’s RWA as your peers (some don’t). But a RITA doesn’t mean your next book will sell. It doesn’t mean that readers will like it. It doesn’t mean you will hit ‘the lists’ I am pretty sure it doesn’t automatically equal more money in your pocket.
And what the hell is up with the categories?
from:
RITA and Golden Heart Category Descriptions and Judging Guidelines
Best Contemporary Single Title Romance
Romantic novels released as individual titles, not as part of a series. The word count for those novels is over 70,000.
Judging guidelines: In this category, the love story is the main focus of the novel, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying.
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OK I get that one
Best Inspirational Romance
Romantic novels in which one or more characters’ religious or spiritual beliefs (in the context of any religion or spiritual belief system) are a major part of their developing relationship, not merely a minor element or subplot. All inspirational books, set in any place or era, shall be eligible for this category. The word count for these novels is a minimum of 40,000 words.
Judging guidelines: In this category, one or more characters’ religious or spiritual beliefs (in the context of any religion or spiritual belief system) are blended with and form a significant and substantial part of the love story, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying.
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Do they REALLY include any religion or spiritual belief system
Best Long Contemporary Romance
Romantic novels in which sensuality may constitute a strong element in the romance. The word count for these novels is over 70,000 words.
Judging guidelines: In this category, the love story is the main focus of the novel, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying.
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All the books nom’ed in 2006 were Harlequin Categories…
Best Long Historical Romance
Novels or sagas which have a strong romantic element throughout. The word count for these novels is over 95,000 words.
Judging guidelines: In this category, the love story is the main focus of the novel, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying.
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uh huh… get this one
Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements
A work of fiction not belonging in another category that contains a strong romantic element, such that one or more romances contained in the story form an integral part of the story’s structure, but in which other themes or stories may also be significantly developed. The word count for these novels is a minimum of 80,000 words.
Judging guidelines: Any kind of fiction, of any tone or style and set in any place or time, is eligible for this category. The romantic elements, while not the primary focus of the story, should be an integral and dynamic part of the plot or subplot. The NR term does not apply to this category. Instead, the book may be judged NSRE (no strong romantic elements).
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I don’t get this. Why? Who cares. Romance awards should be for romance books… right?
Best Paranormal Romance
Time Travel, Futuristic, Fantasy, Paranormal. Romantic novels in which the future, a fantasy world, or paranormal happenings are a major element of the plot. These may be single-title releases or books published within established category romance lines fitting other category descriptions. The word count for these novels is a minimum of 40,000.
Judging guidelines: In this category, the love story is the main focus of the novel, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying.
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okay get this one…
Best Regency Romance
Romantic historical novels with primary settings during the Regency period, typically 1795-1840. The word count for these novels is 40,000-85,000 words.
Judging guidelines: The category includes comedy of manners as well as darker stories, and the books may contain a variety of story elements, such as sexual content, paranormal elements, mystery, suspense, adventure, and non-traditional settings.
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WHY? They aren’t even published anymore if they mean trads. And if they don’t… what? Are we afraid a Regency won’t win in the ‘regular’ historical category?
Best Romantic Suspense
Romantic novels in which suspense is a major element of the plot. The word count for these novels is a minimum of 40,000 words.
Judging guidelines: In this category, a suspense plot is blended with a love story, which is the main focus of the novel, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying.
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got cha
Best Short Contemporary Romance
Romantic novels in which sensuality may constitute a strong element in the romance. The word count for these novels is 40,000-70,000 words.
Judging guidelines: In this category, the love story is the main focus of the novel, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying.
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Are there even this many contemps published?
Best Short Historical Romance
Novels or sagas which have a strong romantic element throughout. The word count for these novels is 40,000-95,000 words.
Judging guidelines: In this category, the love story is the main focus of the novel, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying.
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Shouldn’t there be a single historical category as well? Or better yet. One for historical and one for Contemps.
Best Traditional Romance
Sweet romantic novels. The word count for these novels is 40,000-60,000 words.
Judging guidelines: In this category, the emphasis is on the development of an emotional relationship that ultimately results in the promise of a long-term commitment. The stories may include sexual tension and, within marriage, sexual fulfillment.
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What is this? A message that you can only have sexual fulfillment inside marriage?
Best Young Adult Romance
Romantic novels geared to young adult readers. The word count for YA novels is a minimum of 25,000 words.
Judging guidelines: In this category, the love story is the main focus of the novel, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying.
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We have these?
well if nothing else, this should clear up any ideas that RWA may use RITA for agenda pushing…
But as a reader, eh still not all that interested. But Good Luck if you want one!
Love the inspy guidelines. What are the chances of a Wiccan novel getting anywhere in that category. And the guidelines speak volumes about what kind of organization that RWA is and is not. And who should feel included and who should not.
As for the Oscars/Ritas? Seriously, I don’t see it. It is a peer judged award, but that doesn’t really have meaning for me as a reader. It’s like cover quotes.
The thought of anyone speculating about my personal life makes me wanna hurl. I want to keep my work and my life separate, please.
I don’t put much stock in the RITAs because the field isn’t wide open. The author has to make the effort to pay the entry fee and enter their book. Some authors just aren’t going to do this for whatever reason (insert one here). That’s fine. BUT – that also means that the RITA doesn’t include “the best of the romance genre” because every book isn’t included.
Now obviously, with the sheer volume that gets published every year (hell, just look at Harlequin’s output), what I’m suggesting isn’t practical in the least. But the fact is, there are a lot of very good books that don’t win the RITA, and maybe it’s because the author didn’t enter. Does that make the book any less “good?” No. It just means the author wanted to spend the entry fee on something else.
As for the Oscars – people are fascinated with movie stars/celebs because they f*ck up just like us normies. Oh look, Tom Cruise is crazy just like my Uncle Larry! Or on the flip side us normies can say, “Hey my boss might be an asshole and my husband didn’t take out the trash last night but at least I’m not married to that crazy Tom Cruise!”
So I say, read what you want, watch what you want. I pay marginal attention to awards to see if my “favorites” won – but after that it’s in one ear and out the other. If the RITAs really made a difference Susan Kay Law would still be writing westerns and Susan Wiggs would still be writing historicals. Yeah, I went there.
LOL – Yeah, where is all the power and meaning?
I’ve just read the RtB column, and I’m sitting here trying to figure out if it’s worth commenting over there. Because I don’t care about RITAs. I don’t care about Oscars either, as a general rule. But also, I don’t like being told why I should care about something — it reminds me of being fed medicine as a child. As if the kind, condescending author is helping me out of my cloud of apathy and ignorance.
LOL wendy! I think my first draft mention Susan Kay Law’s powerful win.
I completely forgot about the having to pay thing!
The reason there is a short contemp and a long contemp category, and a short historical and long historical category, is primarily because of what a book can accomplish with the longer word length vs the limitations a shorter book has.
Comparing an 85K word Harlequin Superromance with multiple subplots and a large cast of characters to a 50K word Silhouette Romance that is a traditional love story can often work to the disadvantage of one or the other.
Ergo, novels of similar word length that will have similar elements are felt to be best judged in one category. Same with traditionals (usually chaste) vs short contemporaries (usually sexy). The different story requirements make it more palatable to judge similar against similar.
As far as inspirational, yes, any religion would be welcome in the RITAs. However, that would mean inspirational publishers (most CBA members) would have to publish said books, which they do not.
I was late to the party but I did comment on the RtB post. And I was good. Er, nice. ‘Course, I’m always nice. At least some people think so.
Personally, I’m still not sure what the intention of the post was, to motivate the RWA or to motivate readers. If the RWA, it was a wonderful post. If readers, then it falls a little flat because while a little more informed I’m not motivated to do any more than I was already doing. Other than maybe go, huh?
Is it trademark infringement if I serve OscarRitas next year during the Academy Awards? I’m thinking tequila, cointreau, and pink lemonade.
Bev, bev, bev,
It is ALWAYS the readers fault! I don’t know. It didn’t really work for me either. Maybe if someone who is still writing romance would have done it better? But other than her dragon novella that just came out, isn’t she writing mostly women’s ficish – chicklit type stuff?
::lightbulbmoment:: THAT is why we have a fiction with ‘romance’ elements award…
Maybe that was her for your consideration ad. Does she have a book that could be up for an award?
Nah lee that is fine… as long as I am invited *g*
Ficish?
Whaaaaa??? Okay, I realize it’s almost 2AM but I’m almost curiously fascinated by that. As if it should mean something wise and wonderful. Either that or Sybil’s created a new cus word and doesn’t know it.
I’m going to sleep. Bye now.
P.S. And it is not our fault. So there. Unless you’re talking about reading the books. That we do. All the time. That should be enough. In fact, I think I’m to go do that instead of going to sleep right now. Bye again.
Actually, Barb as Ruth Wind has a Silhouette Romantic Suspense out next month, so yes. She still writes romance.
Fic ‘ish’
just go with it bev
Oh I know Alison, that is why I said visits some times *g*. But it looked like most of her recent stuff was more in a women fiction vein….
Well, since the first round scores have already been turned in, determining the finalists, she could hardly be lobbying with a “for your consideration ad.”