What happens when a BMW driver encounters a Herdy ewe and her lamb on the road to Buttermere? If you answered with a slur on the BMW’s driving ability, guess what? You are guilty of using a stereotype.
Surely not, you might ask? This was old hat when I started in pharmaceutical sales, some twenty years ago. Surely it can’t be an issue now?
As was demonstrated in my earlier post about being called a Pharma-Babe, when I admitted to being a medical salesperson, stereotypes are alive and well. And yes, they can be damaging, both when one is looking for a job, or when one is working in a more traditional company. I have had situations where, for example, the office-based personnel turned up for a field visit in suit and tie (it was a male colleague). We were visiting an ITU. The rule in the ITU is bare below the elbows, and jackets to be left in the visitor’s waiting room. As I result, I tended to leave my jacket in the car, and roll up my shirt-sleeves. This approach demonstrated that I knew the ‘rules’. But, it also demonstrated that my colleague, and potentially others based in the office, were out of touch.
That only serves to strengthen the belief in stereotypes. Many roles require the ‘rep’ to be seen in a partnership role, rather than as a rep. This will not happen if a company insists on conformation that doesn’t fit in with the actuality in the hospital. More importantly, it will not enable the ‘rep’ to become a ‘partner’ in what they and the hospital are trying to achieve. That is the key issue. Another example was a decision made at senior management level that all reps had to have the wheeled pilot cases which were used in the 1980s/1990s. Again, it demonstrates a management structure which is not remaining current with the world outside of the office. It won’t make the job of the ‘rep’ any easier to be seen as something of a laughing stock. One can’t be a partner with the hospital if they do not take one seriously.
Stereotypes out in the field are one thing. But, they can also be found in the office. I won’t go into detail, but ask only that you look at the picture, courtesy of the PowWowNow company. Attaching a stereotype to an individual, whether it is job or gender specific, can be detrimental to working relationships, or even hinder an individual’s chance of promotion and recognition. If the latter can be proven, it would make for a very serious situation. It would also be a very unnecessary situation if it is avoidable.
So, stereotypes bad. The other side of my blog is how the topic in question affects writers. Tropes or stereotypes, call them what you will, but the net result can be the same.
How many paranormal romance or action books have you seen where the cover features a stunning set of male abs, or if it supposed to be a ‘serious’ action book, it has a clothed, but muscular hero on the front cover? But, here’s the problem. Yes, you may have seen that cover, but it is a very easy way for a potential reader to identify the book as a type that they might want. The trick is avoiding the stereotypes but still communicating the content to the right reader.
Two examples here. The first looked at using the stereotype. The second was geared towards establishing a series identity.
Then there are the stereotypes in the stories themselves. Alpha males are all very well, but no one can bond with a perfect male, because, unfortunately, they don’t exist. So, add the quirks: he can’t stand latte coffee, he doesn’t ride a Harley Davidson motorbike (Fane rides a Triumph Rocket 3 Touring), he is an alpha, but he has a weakness which in Fane’s case is his sister and an inability to see her as a female able to protect herself.
The trick is to use stereotypes and tropes wisely and to avoid the risk of producing a clone of a favourite author. It may be something small, but it can make all the difference.
The same goes for the workplace. Make yourself unique, but also ensure that you meet the requirements of the role.
RELEVANT LINKS FOR JO PILSWORTH
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JKPilsworth
Paranormal may not be your thing. Urban fantasy may not either. But who knows? I may be one of your friends new favourite author.
Inspired by #Legends an #UrbanFantasy series.
Alpha: https://t.co/IRZLR92AFu
Beta: https://t.co/DGDDI03VB9
Merysekhmet (US link): https://t.co/fFOUm5MHUs
Toho: https://t.co/oKtbDgrqiHhttps://t.co/mGMuJWd6Xd
Medved: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C19QKPH
AMAZON LINKS
Alpha (US link): https://t.co/IRZLR92AFu
Beta: https://t.co/DGDDI03VB9
Merysekhmet (US link): https://t.co/fFOUm5MHUs
Toho: (US link): https://t.co/oKtbDgrqiHhttps://t.co/mGMuJWd6Xd
Medved: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C19QKPH
It is no different with books. I read a very interesting book recently, where this process was explained. For example, someone looking for a book like mine might type in ‘shifter romance series’, which might give more than a few returns. The trick is to think like your potential reader. What words will they use to find their preferred genre. These strings of words are what one uses when listing a book on Amazon or Smashwords. A keyword is not a single word. That is the important thing. Consider what a potential reader will look for. The flipside is quite simple. In what category do you list your book? Some categories have fewer books that others. Paranormal romance is a huge category. ‘Military paranormal romance’ is slightly smaller. ‘Urban fantasy military shifters computers’ is even smaller. Pick a small category and hey presto! Sell a hundred books or so and you are a best-seller in that category. So now, you can can add ‘Bestselling Author’ to your accomplishments.
Katie Vincent: The Autistic Romance Author 