paragraphs | And So I Yack Some More About Writing

January 2023

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Okay so do I owe apologies for yesterday's post? Probably. Sorry kids, really am. I didn't mean to alarm so many of you. I will answer those comments in a bit.

But can I also admit to the warm fuzzies for your concerns? Seriously. I'm so used to lolling behind somebody's shadow (a nice place to be, really--I like it here on the edge of things) that the sudden flurry of comments and emails made me grin? Y'all care! You do! You really really do! Sniff!

Silly C, huh.

Anyway. The point of that post was to express a light-bulb moment I had while nose-deep in a bunch of crossing closures; I don't want to write m/m fiction any more. I just don't want to.

I mean, really. I gotta look at this logically. If I am capable of garnering such nice responses first to my published mystery (dorky as it was) and then to Red, then I am capable of doing so with another story in a different genre. Something different and what I want to write. Not what others want me to write (no matter how lovely the requests for more more more--more of the same--are).

Red is basically a romance. Romantic suspense. I have never had a desire to be a romance author. I looked into it extensively back in the day, owe a lot (quite a lot frankly) to my time with the romance world (all those brilliant workshops) but I never belonged there. I've written a romance once, I did it well, I wrote the story of my heart when I needed to do it and I Just Do Not Want to do it again. Anything else would be a rehash of what I have already done and I put EVERYTHING (ideas and passions) I had for that particular genre into Red. I am getting NOTHING out of trying to do another. I am not striving, I am not pushing myself because there is nothing left to push.

Onward-time, yes? No more time-wasting. No more forcing myself to write (or trying to write) in a genre I have no basic interest in. I never read it, never buy it, have no desire to be seen as a writer of it. Sure I enjoy the little checks every month, and it would be nice to have those keep on going, but it is a waste of my time and energy to devote to something I just don't care about when the possibility exists that I can achieve more. But I can't do that if I am spinning my wheels trying to work on something I don't care about, just for the sake of a month-end paycheck. That is wrong.

And yeah, it is also a wee bit "eek" to let go of that, as I had imagined a 2nd sale's money would go toward my Go See Nick fund. I'll find other ways. I will always find other ways to see him. Always.

Most of y'all know I literally fell into selling Red, it was never meant to be sold, was written just for me during tough times. It served its purpose, served it well, and I love what it did for me. That doesn't mean I have to write anymore stories like it, just because I sold that one.

What brought this final decision on (at last)? Alot of things:

1. The fact I have been 'working' on 'something else' for Loose-Id to follow Red for four years and still have 43k words of nothing.

2. The posts about writing that

catsintheattic has been making (based on Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott). I have the book, but Cat's posts about the different chapters are thought-provoking. The hmmmmsss that have sprung up in my head as a result have been intriguing. Okay, a little bit embarrassing. Damn, I'm stupid.

3. Running across a 2006 fantasy story I was playing with (and its mates), which made me remember just how much fun I can have writing. And, how much work over several years I put into all sorts of things connected to that world (maps, short stories, the 4-5 ms outlines connected to it, etc.). I put it all aside due to people I once associated with and divorced myself from years ago. Why did I let them sour something that gave me such joy? Sad, but true. Damn me.

4. A post

pir8fancier wrote that directed her flisters to this: Laura Miller. It's an article based on those '10 Things Writers Should Do' articles. Miller is a reader of novels, not a writer of novels, and her list (not of ten things but she stated what she needed to) also made me ponder the hell out of one of my fav ideas related to 3. above.

2. Make your main character do something. For the reasons stated above, many writers gravitate toward characters to whom things happen, as opposed to characters who cause things to happen. It's not impossible to write a compelling novel or story in which the main character is entirely the victim of circumstances and events, but it's really, really hard, and chances are that readers will still find the character irritatingly passive. When you hear someone complain that "nothing happens" in a work of fiction, it's often because the central character doesn't drive the action.

!? *HEAD SLAP* NOW I UNDERSTAND WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY HISTORICAL FANTASY!!! Why couldn't I see it before this? I don't know. Or more, I didn't want to admit it. But, yeah yeah yeah...indeed that is the problem with my MC. He is passive, things happen TO him, not BECAUSE of him. The kid needs to grow up. I do believe in this story, I do I do!

5. That writing meme going around, and a response Nick wrote to a comment a flister made that made me smack myself as my own answer would've SUCKED. But I love what he said (and him being miiinnee has nothing to do with loving it lol).

Concerning writing that which he'd written before (more or less about that). ...but it doesn't challenge me. It's not me trying anything new, trying anything that actually goes anywhere... So for me it's really about challenging myself to do different things, write in different ways.

Sometimes it takes someone else to say what you yourself should be believing.

6. I was sooo happy November-December writing The Gulls and the SS fic (both monstery fics). I enjoyed the Yuletide fic too. Had the best time writing those three than I have had in ages with writing. And it wasn't because it was all fanfiction...it was because there was action! mystery! monsters! drama! dialogue! characterization! just a TAD of romance! And I could feel myself improving as I wrote. I need to do more of that. I do I do, and so, I am.

Lots of reasons to toss out the old stuff, huh. I guess the stars have aligned, the path has cleared, I have seen the light, I am ready to take the plunge, and lord knows I've talked about doing Something Different often enough. About time I did huh? (and I've posted THAT before too!)

LOL. So. Where to begin? Where DOES one begin when a new path is decided on?

With writing, of course.

Tags:

fantasy,
writing

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I don't know where to begin, since it's something I think about more than I should, but I think that by asking you've got a good start.

One of my favorite authors is Margaret Atwood. She has some thirteen novels, fifteen poetry collections, and ten collections of short stories. Of the five of her novels that I HAVE read, none of them are the same. She does historical fiction and sci-fi and lit fic. She writes straight out novels and weaves stories in threads that are dense and intricate. And even the people I know who don't like her can appreciate that she knows what she's doing. I want to be like her when I grow up.

I think it's wonderful that you feel the need to play in so many genres and to tell many different types of stories. It speaks volumes about your temperament and your ability. I look forward to anything you feel up to creating.

Well, I know what I want to write, and it IS fantasy, so that's where I need to start. Will post about that, I think. I don't have a grasp of this genre at all--not like I sort of once did with romance, and definitely with mystery, but I have at least one person my flist who is a great source of information and I've been following her lj and all her links for ages.

What I really want, honestly, is to create something that I want to spend my time there for a long time. Develop and expand on. Do I have the ability? Heck I don't know but maybe? It'll be fun trying though, yeah?

Lots of luck with the new writing direction.

LOL thanks, I needs that! :)

It totally makes sense to resist rewriting the same book, just because it was successful. Take the Yuletide hint, and break out into free waters!

You know your posts, discussions, the comments by your flisters to them all, your links etc. have all given me the courage to dive in, don't you? Truth!

YAY!!!!

I am ferreting my way, somehow. So much to grasp! People like you make it seem so awesome though, and yeah, I look at that.

What I want to do is get this ms going, try to attend some cons in the future, etc. Get to know the people who are this genre (and try not to be intimidated lol). Is there a place for me there?

I don't know, maybe.

There is room for everybody. But one does have to make that place.

A good line for my quote board. :)

I see you made a new post on those 10 things...whee!

Where to begin? Where DOES one begin when a new path is decided on?

With alcohol.

LOL that might help! Or make me pass out. More likely the pass out.

Yes, I shall blame you...

tell me tell pir8, did you ever dig into your space opera idea?

I think you've made the right decision. You're much better off writing something you feel passionate about.

LOL is that you behind that book? And yes, I agree. Been thinking about turning back to the fantasy world for a long time but feeling obligated to work on the other has really been a stumbling block. And, feeling like I should go back to mystery since I sold there once years ago...but that didn't feel right to me either.

Yes, that is me behind the book. It's one of my very few self-portraits. See icon for another which probably needs updating because I think my hair is a lot greyer than that now.

I like that one actually. GET DYE! LOL.

Quick question--my new post I wrote about our trip to Gwbert. How exactly is that pronounced? You are my Welsh expert!

I did the hair dye thing all through my 40s, but I got fed up and because I fancied long silver tresses, I let it grow out. It's not quite the silver mane of my imagination, but it might get there eventually. :)

Re the place name, it ought to be pronounced "Goobert", but it doesn't look quite like a normal Welsh name somehow. However, Welsh is much less prone to quirky ways of pronouncing names than England is (eg Bicester=Bister and Worcester=Wuster, etc.) and Welsh is normally pronounced as written, so I'd go with that.

A new path! That's exciting. So much possibility just spread out before you. New beginnings are wonderful things.

LOL I am excited too. Lots of work ahead, without doubt. But pushing aside the ball and chain is really an awesome feeling. :)

Life's too short to spend doing something you don't like. Congrats on rekindling your passion for writing and I'm looking forward to future reports!

LOL they'll be all about getting to know the fantasy genre and writing fantasy, so watch out. I know that is where you hang your hat so I hope you keep writing about writing too. Seriously! I learn from you too!

I think one of the key insights is that you need to find your own place. There's a lot of talk about what sells, and what agents want, and what's hot right now. The genre as a whole has a lot more to offer; and you need to find out what _your_ kind of book is, and write that.

And thanks for the compliments. <bows>

Hope you see my other comments to my friend Cats.

Yeah...I know what I need to do is just LOL stick to Sherwood's lj for inspiration and the pulse of fantasy, and bury my head in the sand and concentrate on what I have going. Heck it worked twice before, and NOT doing so (trying to second-guess the markets out there) has resulted in failures.

I am still working on that finding out what kind of book mine is. The protagonist is a young man in his teens, but this is not YA...or rather, any future tales spun off this have the potential not to be. Although in the YA books I've read, not sure my mental line I've drawn fits with the YA one...they pretty much cover everything! STill, I would not intend this for the YA market. And it isn't QUITE historical fantasy...more it is loosely based on the time period that the boy players were a part of, but I do NOT want to write yet another 'based on London' story.

So much to figure out! But it is EXCITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This post made me so happy!

*hugs and twirls you*

I sometimes think that romance is so over-represented here on LJ because many authors of fanfiction focus on pairings and on getting their favourite characters together. But maybe my perception of this is biased and it's just like that in fanfic and not so much for writers on LJ in general. Even though, when I think of GYWO, there, too, most people seem to write some sort of romance. What do you think?

Yes...the romance of the pairing does overshadow...the corner of TW fandom I'm in does have a great many writers who strive for other kinds of stories. Which is awesome, really is. But yes, romance is a huge part of fanfiction, without doubt. And I do like romance, just not as the focus. It was what I wanted from Red, and I loved what I did with that story but it is done, all done, within that story.

When I finished it originally I never meant to write more like it. I was working on this fantasy world when I wrote Red, and wrote 82k of the first story. It needs MAJOR work but the basics? Yeah. They've not gone anywhere.

Well, you know parts of the HP fandom. I sometimes think that many of the H/D slashers are in it for either the porn or the romance, and it takes a bit of time to find those authors who are in it for more. And sometimes I fear that I come across as snobbish, just for expressing that most PWP bore me to death.

I do like romance, just not as the focus.

Which is why you made such a perfect beta for my story. You accepted the tiny dash of romance and focused on the murder mystery. I've received quite a few comments about the cannibalism, and how it squicked people - it never occurred to me that it could be such a major thing. Lol. I'm clearly not a romance writer.

From where I'm sitting there seem to be a *lot* of genre SF writers. I do meet the occasional Romance writer, but mostly they seem to be hanging out in other corners of the blogosphere.

Romance and I don't get on. That doesn't mean I don't have a romantic streak, just that the conventions of the genre don't work for me at all.

So it seems that in o-fic there is a wider variety, even here on LJ - you just have to find the right corner of the web. Which kind of makes sense, because there are a lot of books published that are not romance stories.

I don't have a strong tendency towards romance either, and most of the time I end up writing genfic - this fanfic genre everyone claims to love and not many actually bother to read. *g*

LOL I am also with Green_Knight on this (egads, Green, am I going to call you that in Oxford? GREEN KNIGHT WHERE DO WE GO NOW?).

Nick asks, "Are you German?" I am sure you have told me ten times your connection to Germany. LOL. And, he knew nothing about that particular author...maybe something vague, but nothing that sets out in his mind.

ANYWAY!!!!! I see tons of romancy peeps within my fandom friends, and tons of fantasy outside that. Every single person in my writing groups here in FW but TWO are writing fantasy. Many of those on my flist who are not fandom writers--fantasy too.

It is almost daunting and seemingly impossible and maybe even silly to go for it myself, but for some crazy reason, I believe my chance at writing the right story and getting a toe-hold in the genre is as good as or better than many others I know. And, I do believe, quite deeply so, in my boy player story and its uniqueness, and my ability to flesh out something unique. I really do.

Also, authors like Sherwood

sartorias give me hope and lol warm fuzzies, and make me want to be a part of that world.

I do believe, quite deeply so, in my boy player story and its uniqueness, and my ability to flesh out something unique.

THIS. &hearts

LOL beams... I think maybe you read a smidge ages ago? I'll be working on it tonight in case I do go to writer's group tomorrow night. Am concerned my brakes are growling and it keeps raining and my co-worker who wants to fix them for me now has car trouble himself. ARGH!

I hate cars.

A Smidge? Is an author? *confused* No, it's a story you wrote? I never read it, did I? I still have the gulls story on my reading list, lol. And that first chapter you've linked me to.

Argh, sucky brakes suck. Cars are fine as long as they run. They are a nuisance once you need maintenance.

Forget that first chapter as that is the fic I am no longer writing.

A smidge is 'a tiny bit.'

I HATE CARS!!!

Ah, okay. I wasn't sure. *Obliviates self*

A smidge is 'a tiny bit.'

Ah, now it all makes sense. Thank you! There goes my very good English vocabulary cred. :-)

I'm not sure if I've actually read something. Maybe you told me about it at some point ... *shame-face*

I can see your car pouting. Lol. I visited mine today to make sure that yesterday's storm hadn't done any harm. I've seen flower pots being thrown from window sills and onto cars. And I need my car to stay undamaged.

SIgh be glad you do not have a teenage boy driving yours then. *cries*

Yup, that's a smidge! SHort for 'a smidgeon of' say in cooking. LOL!!!

We talked a bit about fantasy over email, but this right here: but it is a waste of my time and energy to devote to something I just don't care about when the possibility exists that I can achieve more.

Word. Wordy McWord. Write in the universe where you feel you WANT to write. I feel your ennui. I think you'll write better stories, and faster, if it's the story you WANT to be writing. (Of course, I'm not ready to take my own advice just yet, but I will soon. I haven't lost all desire to finish my WIPs, so I can still get those done, but then, new waters, baby.)

So reach for the stars, C!

LOL Wordy McWord, yes!! I'll be reaching for the stars...and you're helping! :)

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And So I Yack Some More About Writing

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