Originally posted by Renee Scattergood:
Hi, everyone! It’s been a couple of months since I did an ISWG post. I’ve been dealing with flu and dislocated limbs (my daughter’s…not my own). I think things are finally getting back on track now.I couldn’t think of anything to talk about that I haven’t already mentioned on my blog, so I decided to go with this month’s question:
Have you ever surprised yourself with your writing? For example, by trying a new genre you didn’t think you’d be comfortable in??
What has really surprised me most about my writing is in how much people seem to like it. I won’t lie…I never believed people would hate it. I mean, there will always be a few people who don’t like it. I don’t like everything I read either, but for the most part, I figured people would like my writing. I just haven’t expected some of the feedback I get from my readers, and I’m really grateful for it because it keeps me motivated to keep writing.
I also get some great constructive feedback from other authors who have read my work, which has really helped me improve my writing over the last few years.
The biggest surprise for me, though, is when I write something and leave off feeling like it was probably the most terrible thing I’ve ever written. Especially when my brain fog kicks in like it has in the last few months, I just can’t make my brain focus well enough to write well. Or at least I don’t feel like I do at the time. Then a couple days later, I go back to it and I’m shocked to find it’s actually pretty good. It always needs some polishing, but it’s not as terrible as I imagined it was when I wrote it.
Earlier this year, I wanted to expand the genre I was writing in. Dark fantasy is a very small niche, and while I don’t think I can do light and bubbly, I still wanted to try something else to expand my readership. So first, I tried a short story that was more a paranormal thriller, and then I did a sci-fi thriller. I haven’t gotten many readers for those yet, but those who have read them loved them, so I think I did well in expanding a bit.
I’ve gotten a few readers of both stories tell me they’d love me to continue those stories in novels, so it’s a good sign that I’m heading in the right direction.
So I’ve decided instead of branding myself as a dark fantasy author, I might go with dark speculative fiction author. It makes more sense anyway, especially since even my fantasies have elements of science fiction. I do a lot of cross genre writing within the speculative fiction realm, so I think it’s a better description for my writing.
What about you? Have you experimented with anything new? How’s it working for you?
The co-hosts for the September posting of the IWSG are Tyrean Martinson, Tara Tyler, Raimey Gallant, and Beverly Stowe McClure!
Be sure to visit the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Website!!!
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