I can’t BEAR twee book categorisations.

[erastes]

For some reason many publishers invent their own words to describe the ratings and the category of their books and it really gets up my nose:

Here’s an example

Category: His and His Kisses

Rating: Star Dust

I mean—WTF?  I am no wiser as to what the book’s category is, and as for the rating – who has any sort of clue?  There is a ratings explanation page on this particular site, but it took a little finding, but I DON’T WANT TO HAVE TO waste my time hunting for the publisher’s explanation of their stupid terms – why should I?

This publisher isn’t the only one either. Grrrr.

Comments

[copperbeech.livejournal.com]

I agree. It drives me nuts when publishers or agents do that. I mentioned this to my friend the other day, who's well-published yet struggling to sell her current project. She looked at me like I was nuts and said she wished they would come up with more categories. It seems to me that the more labels there are, the less they inform.

Are we that short?

I agree with you

[erastes.livejournal.com]

as Angela says--the publisher needs to make it as easy as possible to part us from our money. i havent the time to go hunting for what Romantica or erotomance MEANS

[chris-smith-atr.livejournal.com]

I will sprinkle star dust in the secret cave. THEN WE'LL SEE WHO IS SORRY.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

itchy!!

[fleurrochard]

Wow - Star Dust? I mean, some of these invented ratings and categories are at least a bit intuitive, but Star Dust? *boggles* ("His and His Kisses" isn't really better.)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

anything to do with fairies - in this twee manner makes me vomit. give me a flame thrower and let me loose at the RT Fairy ball

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

It makes me think of the 40's and ballroom dancing--which, while lovely, sounds more like their moonshine. Moonshine, on the other hand, makes me think of the Beverly Hillbillies.

[aigooism.livejournal.com]

Say what? ~___~;; I'm pondering on the Star Dust one, personally. Wtf?

[erastes.livejournal.com]

twinkly!!

[ephemera.livejournal.com]

His and His Kisses is borderline offensively twee, but at least coveys some means (I'm assuming gay romance?) but - stardust? On a scale of what? Tinkerbell to Neutron Star?

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Very sadly, you are very close.

Moon Shine – soft romance with mild language and sensual scenes.
Star Dust - Erotic Romance with spicy scenes
Shooting Star – Explicit language with erotic tension
Super Nova – varied sex scenes – may be violence
Total Eclipse – Subject matter, language and graphic scenes not for the faint of heart

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

THat publisher just vanished down the Black Hole I created forthem.

SWISH.

There, already feel better.

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

I would think Total Eclipse meant a cerebrovascular accident or cardiac arrest resulting in coitus interruptus.

This is useful only to their most devoted customers. And possibly the least informative 'rating' system I've ever seen.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

You are right - they literally tell you nothing specially the three in the middle.

[julieannette.livejournal.com]

Moon shine?
that makes me think of a scruffy man in overalls with a shotgun over his arm protecting his still which is hidden in the next holler' where no one could find it.

As a buyer I hate those ambiguous ratings names.

[angelabenedetti.livejournal.com]

Oh, good grief.

I DON’T WANT TO HAVE TO

That's it exactly. I'm a customer, I have money. Make it as easy as possible for me to spend it or I'll take it elsewhere, period. I shouldn't have to look up and then memorize a whole new set of terms just to figure out what the heck you're selling. :/

Angie

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

Makes me want to start a publisher too:

Ratings:

- Grass
- Coke
- Speed
- Crack

[angelabenedetti.livejournal.com]

LOL!

Shirley Temple
Lite Beer
Rum and Coke
Burgundy
Tequila
Vodka

[snicker]

The thing is, both your and my "scales" would make a heck of a lot more sense, and be a lot more intuitive to customers, than the "stardust" one. :/

Angie

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

Let's start an epublisher. It's the thing to do at the moment. We could do all their silliness *better* than them :)

[angelabenedetti.livejournal.com]

And we could rest secure in the knowledge that we definitely wouldn't be the worst publisher out there. [wry smile]

Angie

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

Or the one with the worst covers.

[angelabenedetti.livejournal.com]

Gads, definitely not. :P Posers are of the devil, seriously.

Angie

[mongrelheart.livejournal.com]

LOL! Are the main characters an elf and a unicorn, or something?

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Granted the site has fantasy - but that's still no excuse.

*makes face*

[nagasvoice.livejournal.com]

Oh, now I'm having *very* unfortunate ideas for the cover art.
Mostly involving where to put the horn.

[gehayi.livejournal.com]

I'd guess that "His and His Kisses" means gay romance...but "Star Dust" makes me think of sweet, sweet romance. (To quinby, it says "sky-captain wearing a tutu," because Stardust reminds her of Captain Shakespeare.)

The "Moon Shine" category just makes me think of illegal whiskey stills in Appalachia. And "Total Eclipse" reminds both Quinn and me of that literal music video.

[reddwarfer.livejournal.com]

Star Dust? Are you serious? lol