When Chick Lit first began, it was a fairly small genre within the realm of Literature & Fiction, some even considering it a subgenre of Romance Fiction. Most authors, publishers and readers will tell you that it all started with a quirky, smart and funny heroine named, Bridget Jones. Readers and writers alike, loved her and couldn't get enough....and as they say, "The rest is history."
Over time, Chick lit has had many ups and downs. It made huge gains in noterity in the new millenimum with series by authors Sophie Kinsella, Marian Keyes, Emily Giffin, Lauren Weisberger and Candace Bushnell. TV Shows like Sex and The City and movies like Clueless were popular, showcasing shoes, clothes and shopping and the fabuolous lives of a whole new kind of woman, who was capable of doing anything and everything and always looking her best while doing it. From there, more and more publishers caught on to this new brand of women's fiction. Meg Cabot, Sarah Mlynowski, Jane Green, Katie Fforde, Cecelia Ahern, Sheila O'Flanagan, Carole Matthews, Wendy Markham, Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus, Jennifer Weiner, Jennifer Crusie, Jen Lancaster and so many more countless smart, funny, witty and talented female writers came on board. Movies began being made from the popular books of some of my favorite authors, including (but defintely not limited to) Legally Blonde, The Devil Wears Prada, The Nanny Diaries, P.S. I Love You, Confessions of a Shopaholic.
As I write, filming of one of my favorite books of all time, Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin is going on in SOHO, New York City.
The genre had become so big, in fact, that US publishing company and Romance genre giant, Harlequin Publishers created their a subdivison dedicated solely to Chick Lit, called Red Dress Ink. Soon enough, UK's Headline Publishing Group launched a similar publication company called Little Black Dress. Unfortunately, for Chick Lit lovers, like myself, Red Dress Ink called it quits in late 2008 but the genre still lives on! (Just ask Lisa Steinke and Liz Fenton, authors of I'll Have What She's Having, of the aptly titled website www.chicklitisnotdead.com!)
Over the past decade plus Chick Lit has morphed, been revamped and changed right along with the women of the time and it has spawned countless subgenres within the subgenre of Chick Lit itself! We now have:
Mom & Baby Lit
Hollywood & Glamour Lit
Fashionista Lit
Bride/Wedding Lit
Working Girl Lit
Single City Girl Lit
Hen Lit
Sister Lit
Multicultural Lit
Christian/Inspirational LitMystery/Suspense Lit
Paanormal/Fantasy/Magic Lit
Dieting/Big Girl Lit
Recession Lit
and even, Lad Lit!
Check out some of the "Top Tens" of the genres. (Adapted from some of my favorite resources for everything Chick Lit, the Chick Lit Club and Chick Lit Books.)
WEDDING/BRIDE LIT
1. Shopaholic Ties the Knot - Sophie KinsellaOnly Rebecca Bloomwood could find herself organising two weddings on either side of the Atlantic.
2. Diary of a Mad Bride - Laura Wolf
Amy Thomas swore she'd never become an out-of-control bride, driving her nearest and dearest nuts with her demands. So why, now that she's engaged to Stephen and has a huge list of to-dos to get through, are people avoiding her.
3. Whose Wedding is it Anyway? - Melissa Senate
Who would turn down an offer for a $100,000 wedding in exchange for featuring in a bridal magazine? But Eloise Manfred soon discovers there's no such thing as a free wedding.
4. Hitched - Zoe Barnes
Gemma and Rory want a small wedding but when the parents start hijacking the arrangements, the couple decide to work hard to finance it themselves. The only hitch is they work so hard they start drifting apart.
5. Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married - Marian Keyes
The only bride-to-be to make this list without actually knowing who the groom is. But the tarot card reader swears that Lucy is getting married this year.
6. The Best Day of Someone Else's Life - Kerry Reichs Vi is about to be bridesmaid three times over - and then attend more than a dozen other weddings.
7. Tales From a Hen Weekend - Olivia Ryan
What secret is Katie keeping as she heads off to Dublin for her hen weekend?
8. Amanda's Wedding - Jenny Colgan A nasty bride who doesn't deserve her Scottish laird. And bridesmaids Mel and Fran are going all out to sabatoge Amanda's wedding.
9. I Do (But I Don't) - Cara Lockwood
The madcap world of weddings from the viewpoint of wedding planner Lauren Crandell.
10. The Bachelorette Party - Karen McCullah LutzAfter Zadie Roberts is left at the altar, she's not that enthusiastic about her best friend Grey marrying her cousin, Helen. But someone's gotta rev up the bachelorette party.
SISTER, SISTER LIT:
1. In Her Shoes - Jennifer Weiner
Sisters Rose and Maggie Feller may think they have nothing in common except their shoe size.
2. Three Wishes - Liane Moriarty Follow a tumultuous year in the life of the Kettle triplets.
3. Those Faraday Girls - Monica McInerney
Four sisters help their youngest sister bring up her baby - until an incident tears them apart.
4. A Tale of Two Sisters - Anna Maxted
When Lizbet unexpectedly falls pregnant, her sister Cassie, desperate to have her own baby, finds it difficult to deal with the news.
5. The Other Woman's Shoes - Adele Parks
Martha has strived hard to create the perfect home for her husband and kids, while sister Eliza lives a carefree life. What happens when change means they may experience life in the other's shoes?
6. One-Hit Wonder - Lisa Jewell
When former pop singer Bea dies, it's left to her half-sister Ana to collect her belongings and uncover what became of her life.
7. Each Way Bet - Ilsa Evans
The Broadhurst sisters, Jill and Emily, decide to trade places with one another for a day.
8. The Alphabet Sisters - Monica McInerney
Childhood singing stars Anna, Bett and Carrie Quinlan haven't spoken for years. Then their grandmother calls them back together for her 80th birthday.
9. Shopaholic & Sister - Sophie Kinsella
How could Becky's long-lost half-sister Jess hate shopping, shoes and spending?
10. Special Delivery - Zoe Barnes
Ally realises her older sister Miranda's life isn't as perfect as she thought when she asks her to be a surrogate mum.
FASHIONISTA LIT1. The Devil Wears Prada - Lauren Weisberger
Miranda Priestly is the boss-from-hell at Runway magazine where staff need to fit sample sizes and strut around in killer heels. About $1 million worth of designer clothing, including Prada, was showcased in the movie.
2. Fashionistas - Lynn Messina
A tale of an uprising against an unpopular Fashionista editor and dressing Jesus mannequins in designer frocks.
3. The Fashion Pack - Marion Hume
Life from the front row of the international fashion weeks, as seen by three editors of top fashion magazine Joy.
4. Handbags and Gladrags - Maggie Alderson
A magazine fashion stylist keeps herself sane on the fashion week circuit by embarking on an affair with a catwalk photographer.
5. Some Like it Haute - Julie K.L Dam
A style writer chases a reclusive designer after suffering a humiliating tangle with a model at a Chanel show.
6. Bergdorf Blondes - Plum Sykes
The glam world of Park Avenue princesses whose must-have accessory is a rich fiancé.
7. She's Got Issues - Stephanie Lessing
Gotta love a character who aspires to be shoe editor.
8. Shopaholic series - Sophie Kinsella
From the opening pursuit of a Denny and George scarf to investing her baby's future in Tiffany rings and a handbag website, Rebecca Bloomwood knows there's no fashion gain without financial pain.
9. The Favours and Fortunes of Katie Castle - Rebecca Campbell
Katie ends up in a sweatshop after losing her job with fashion designer Penny Moss. But her eye for design saves the day.
10. Elegance - Kathleen Tessaro
Lovers of vintage clothing will appreciate this character transforming herself with the help of a 1960s style bible.
FANTASY/PARANORMAL/MAGIC LIT
1. Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft – Mindy Klasky
Good-girl Jane Madison, neither has a shot in hell of coming true -- until the day she finds she is capable of magic, has a warder and whole new life.
2. Truly, Madly (Lucy Valentine Series #1) – Heather Webber
Meet Lucy Valentine; sassy, fabulously original…and psychic.
3. Undead and Unwed (Undead Series #1) – Mary Janice Davidson
Meet Elizabeth (Betsy) Taylor who wakes up “undead” – in a coffin. After a few startling discoveries, she realizes that she is not only a vampire, but an extraordinary one with superhuman powers.
4. Enchanted, Inc. – Shanna Swendson
Meet Katie Chandler, a small town girl from Texas who is introduced to a world of magic, spells and creatures.
5. Charmed & Dangerous – Candace Havens
What do you get when you mix a witch, a warlock, a Sheik, a bunch of bad guys, tons of spells, and plenty of laughs?
6. Sex and the Single Ghost – Tawny Taylor
It’s a story about a girl named Claire who has sat in “Purgatory”, which is sort of like a version of the Afterlife, or Heaven.
7. The Diva’s Guide To Selling Your Soul - Kathleen O’Reilly
This novel is about a heroine, once a size 14 with lumpy thighs, a mediocre life and job, and miserable, who sells her soul to the devil in exchange for beauty, powers, wealth and fame.
8. Dating Can Be Deadly – Wendy Roberts
Meet Tabitha blessed (or is it cursed?) with the gift of clairvoyance, who sees visions of horrible things to come.
More Sub Genres…..
Hollywood Lit – Celebrity and glamour lit; LA Candy by Lauren Conrad; The Year of living Famously by Laura Caldwell; Mim Warner’s Lost Her Cool by Lynn Messina; Everyone Worth Knowing by Lauren Weisberger; The Truth About Diamonds by Nicole Richie; Model Incorporated by Carol Alt; Star by Pamela Anderson; Secrets of the Hollywood Girls Club by Maggie Marr
Mom & Baby Lit/Yummy Mummy Lit – Mothers, Pregnancy, Family, Babies; Baby Proof by Emily Giffin; The Yummy Mummy by Polly Williams; Luscious Lemon by Heather Swain; Notes from the Underbelly by Risa Green; Tales from the Crib by Jennifer Coburn; Gucci Gucci Coo by Sue Margolis; Mad Mom To-Be by Laura Wolf; The Thin Pink Line by Lauren Baratz Logsted
Lad Lit – Like its female counterpart, this includes a male heroine and subject matter; About a Boy; High Fidelity; How to be Good; Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby; Anything by Eric Jerome Dickey (Drive Me Crazy; Sister Sister; Naughty or Nice; Mistakes Men Make by Byron Harmon; Mr. Commitment by Mike Gaya
Inspirational/Christian/Church Lit – Incorporates religious beliefs; Christianity, Baptism, Judaism, etc; Dreaming in Black and White by Laura Jensen Walker; What a Girl Wants by Kristin Billerbeck; Emily Ever After by Anne Dayton and Mary Vanderbilt; Anything by Lori Copeland;
Multicultural Lit – Alisa Valdes-Rodrigues is probably the most famous of this ethnic genre and many more to come; Hot Tamara by Mary Castillo; Bollywood Confidential by Sonia Singh; Goddess for Hire by Sonia Singh; Imaginary Men by Anjali Banerjee
Mystery/Suspense Chick Lit – Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, Kyra Davis’ Sophie Katz series, Laura Caldwell’s Izzy McNeil series; Bulletproof Mascara by Bethany Maines;
Dieting/Big Girl Lit – With Jennifer Weiner’s Good In Bed came the rise of this now very popular sub-genre; Liza Palmer’s Conversations with the Fat Girl and Jen Lancaster’s Bright Lights, Big Ass and Such a Pretty Fat; The Next Big Thing by Joanna Edwards; Size 14 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot;
Recession Lit – Think Shopaholic Series gone awry, a more realistic and modern look at life as a single woman in our financial times; The Penny Pinchers Club by Sarah Strohmyer; The Hedge Fund Wives by Tatiana Boncampagni; Social Lives by Wendy Walker; The Ex-Mrs. Hedgefund by Jill Kargman; Confessions of a Reluctant Recessionista by Amy Silver; The Sister Diaries by Karen Quinn; Save Karyn: One Shopaholic’s Journey to Debt and Back by Karyn Bosnak
City Girl Lit – Citizen Girl by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus; Unbecoming Behavior by Stephanie Rowe; The Journal of Mortifying Moments by Robyn Harding; If Andy Warhol Had A Girlfriend by Alison Pace; Bundle of Joy by Ariella Papa; See Jane Date by Melissa Senate; Couch World by Cathy Yardley
Irish Lit – Anything by Marian Keyes; Cecelia Ahern; Cathy Kelly; Sheila O’Flanagan; Kate Thomspon; Patricia Scanlon; Deidre Purcell; Sarah Webb;
And of Course; British Lit - Anything by Sophie Kinsella/Madeleine Wickham; Katie Fforde; Lindsey Kelk (though she is also a big NYC fan); Allison Rushby; Louise Bagshawe; Robyn Sisman; Gemma Townley; Helen Fielding.
What I am intrigued to find out from all the Chick Lit lovers, fans, writers, readers and ladies out there is what Chick Lit Sub Genre is your favorite and why? What Subgenre(s) do you think is/are missing? If you were to write a Chick Lit book, which subgenre would you choose to write it in? Why? Finally if you are a write, how do you choose which subgenre to write in? Or do you just let your story flow and wherever it fits, it fits!?
Please share anything relevant to Chick Lit writing here at Writer Wednesday’s. And if you have a topic that you want to learn about, know more about or contribute to, I want to hear from you.
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