I write cozy. I'm currently writing the third book of a series.
As this is the cozy mystery writer support thread, I'd like to say a few things in support of cozy writers. Take this as my 95 theses. (Although if I end up with 95 of these things, shoot me.)
1.
Cozy mysteries are different, not inferior. That difference doesn't
have to mean they're formulaic or badly written. (There are, however, formulaic and badly written books in every genre.) But they are not everyone's cup of tea. On the other side of that coin, they are growing in popularity.
2.
Cozies are character driven. A likable (or at least interesting) protagonist is a must. Most cozy readers return to a series because they're interested in the character. That's why the crime often occurs later in the book, compared to other types of mysteries, especially in the first in the series. The job of the cozy writer is to make the reader fall in love with the protagonist in those opening chapters. That's how you sell a series to a reader. Not many readers return to a series because of the plot of a first book. It's because of the character. (Critics will say that cozies often start slow or have no attention grabber. Or that the main character prattles.)
3.
Voice is paramount. I was once told by a writing contest judge that my voice was "totally unsuited to writing mystery." And in the margin he wrote, "maybe a cozy." Jerk. Especially since the contest was open to cozy mysteries. Some cozies are chick-litty, with lots of light-hearted banter. Others are not. But the voice, like the protagonist, needs to draw the reader in. (By the way, that same entry that was deemed "totally unsuited" got me my agent on a cold query.)
4.
Cozies almost often take place in an almost idyllic small town. I believe that's because cozies, like many other genres, are an escape vehicle; that's where the reader has decided they'd like to spend their reading time. (Critics often decide that setting is formulaic.)
5.
Cozies don't generally contain strong language. I can't answer for every reader, but I don't like "cozies" that do contain strong language. Why? It's not because I've never heard those words before. In fact, I grew up in an abusive home where they were hurled at me on a regular basis. Somewhere along the line, I equated the language with the abuse. So when reading for pleasure, I don't want to hear it. (Critics often decide that's unrealistic.)
6.
Cozies don't generally contain graphic descriptions of violence or sex. And if there's a little of either, reviewers will call them out. Again, as an escape genre, that's not what readers are looking for. (Critics often decide that makes for a light and unrealistic mystery.)
7.
If you haven't noticed, cozy writers get no respect. We are called formulaic, light, and worse. Consider this quote by Otto Penzler: "[Malice Domestic] honors books written in the mode of Agatha Christie, loosely defined as those that contain no explicit sex, excessive gore, or gratuitous violence. Unstated, but clearly of equal importance, is that they must contain not a scintilla of style, originality, or depth. They must have the texture and nuance of an infomercial, lacking only its philosophical power." Read more about it here:
http://www.leegoldberg.com/when_will_myste/
So write cozy mysteries at your own risk.
But I'm getting really tired of condescending pokes toward cozy writers. (Not here. I mean in general.) I've put a lot of hours into studying writing craft and learning the genre expectations. And I still do. And I work hard writing and rewriting a manuscript. The subtle (and not-so-subtle) intimations that cozies are substandard are not appreciated.
Not everyone will like cozies. Just because someone doesn't like broccoli it doesn't mean that broccoli is bad. Just because someone doesn't like exercise it doesn't mean exercise is bad. (I'm not fond of noir, but that doesn't make noir bad.) But those who disparage the cozy are often a peculiarly obnoxious breed to assume that because they don't like the genre, it's somehow beneath them. Or not worthy of the mystery genre.
But there are a lot of great readers out there. (And cozy mystery readers tend to read a
lot of cozies.) If they're anything like I was, they often want a few hours' respite from a stressful world, where they can walk around a small town, meet some interesting quirky characters, and come across an interesting mystery to solve.
I write for them.