Monday, August 4, 2008
Variety and Those Silly Forwards
I love those forwards out there where you have to fill in all your favorite things. It'll ask for your favorite color and your favorite number, your favorite kind of food and your favorite season. I'm a sucker, I admit. I'll fill those things in and send them on to my friends every time.
You'd think I'd be bored of filling them out. I mean, how many times can I tell people what my favorite color and type of food are, right?
But, every time I get one, I find myself pondering over the answers. Some things don't change (my favorite color is blue and I prefer the fall to any other season) but some things do (I like Mexican food, but sometimes I like Chinese and Italian better).
I just finished writing a historical. It was such fun, all that history and all those strictures to work with.
I thought while I was writing it that I would never want to write any other kind of romance. But after I was done and starting to get myself pumped to write the story's sequel, my mind rebeled and here I am, trotting after my muse to write a YA paranormal.
Part of me blames this on my obsession with Harry Potter and the Twilight series. I'm like a crazed tweener for those books. But I can see that the strictures of writing about teenage growth and angst would appeal to me as much as writing set in the strictures of the Regency era.
I am nervous though. I've never tried this before and it's a big stretch from where I just came from.
But I think sometimes it's fun to stretch out your creative muscles. How else will I know where I really fit in the end?
Have you ever been tempted to switch genres? Have you? If not, why not? For those readers, do you skip around in different genres? I know I never read paranormal before this past couple years, though I love it now.
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33 comments:
You name it, I've done it. Except for YA---I read it with the girls' book club I mentor in the library I work in,but I don't think I could write it. But, um, yeah, I've done a few novellas--- time-traveling magic, shape-shifting cougars, a threesome (unfinished and pretty much guaranteed to stay that way because I'm just too vanilla and when one laughs uproariously every time one types c*ck one cannot continue to type). But my love for reading/writing is historical, hands down. Good luck! It's always fun to stretch your horizons!
Well, I write two genres. I write the RS category and I write paranormal/urban fantasy. I've always been more of a para/UF fan and just now got into the RS genre of reading. Historicals have always been a favorite read for me but I could never write one. My heroine bitch smacking someone and telling them where to go is not really appropriate for 1825. LOL
Mags - I knew you'd know what I was getting at! You're certainly a great example of good things that happen when you stretch your wings. :)
Sin - I somehow think you might be right about the heroine bitch-smacking not being a historical trait. Though that would be an interest twist. I've never read your paranormal stuff but I bet you rock it. You've got an edgy voice; I imagine it suits.
Kudos on trying another genre. I never thought I'd write outside paranormal... lo and behold... Hidden Beauty is born.
Thanks Tiff! Kudos to you too for following your muse as well. Hidden Beauty sounds wonderful.
Do it! I think amazing things happen when a writer branches out, even if you return to your original work. Good heavens, look at Lisa Kleypas and Christina Dodd!
I write demons for my sheer love of everything bad and dark. LOL If I ever get something readable, I'll be sure to let you know.
Mostly I write women's fic because that's my voice. But I do write paranormal lite, too. But it's paranormal lite in the vein of being funny rather than broody and gory. Irreverent would be my buzzword.
I do have one I started (okay, I have about 30 I've started), but this one has a number of chapters and I had the black moment in my head--I could see it so clearly. It's the Cowboy Story. It was like City Slickers meets Maverick. The heroine is a rancher's daughter, a la Jodie Foster from Maverick--wild and independent...and a card shark. Broderick is a dark-haired professor type who hears Frederick Jackson Turner's speech (1893 World's Fair, I'm pretty sure) and wants to see the West before it's gone completely. Be adventurous. Become a cowboy. (Too many secret dime novels in his past.) Anyway, he goes west and ends up getting almost too much adventure...and he is easily the most Beta hero I ever created.
So that's my historical. Of course, I never finished it. Mainly because I get all hung up on research and the historical stuff. Like the whole thing hinges on him hearing that speech--it's why he goes west but the great Cattle Boom was pretty much over by the mid-1880s (there was a fierce blizzard the years of 1888/89, I think, and killed off a lot of cattle...and supply/demand bottomed out...and well...I'm not sure how to work out how they're still cattle farming in the late 1800s, even though I know there must have been some cattle ranchers.)
Research gets me. I have to have some plausibility. At least in my historicals. Apparently not at all in my paranormals.
Good for you Marnee - you'll never know what you can write until you plod through it, right??
I feel like my switching genres is more like switching sub-sub-genres. I'm talking, going from the romantic suspense genre to writing an HQ Blaze - only real difference is less suspense and more sex. But still a slight change! I'd love to write a historical someday, but I don't know if I could get the voice right. It'd be fun to play around with, though.
Gillian - it is sweet how I somehow got lumped in with Lisa Kleypas and Christina Dodd in your post. LOL!!
Sin - dark and bad. Sounds like a lot of fun. LOL!!
Hellion - that sounds like a great story! I love the wild child heroine matched with the beta professor type. Always makes for some funny stuff. :)
I've already said that the history/research part is one of my least favorite parts of writing historical. I do what I have to as I get the story out and now I have to go back through and put in historical detail. Not my favorite.
Hal - I love the Blaze line. There's some fun and steamy stuff there! :) I think you'll be great at it.
The historical voice is fun but it is easy to jump out of it. I definitely do on many occasions. I suppose I'll have to check that in revisions. *sigh*
Hellion, it sounds like a western Bringing Up Baby, only with bobcats instead. I think you should bury your nose in some books and do it. It sounds great.
Stretch, Marn. STRETCH! Sorry, I'm a bit hyped up. LOL! The only idea I have that is a little different is this weird chick-lit/para thing that came to mind one night. But the para element is that the herione's grandfather (a recently deceased PI) haunts her to make her solve his final case. In the process, she falls in love with the younger guy who is now running his PI agency. Not sure if or when I'll ever write that, but every other idea I have is straight angsty contemp.
I have considered looking into the YA thing. I think that would be fun to write. So, you know, never say never. LOL!
Hellion - I would totally read that story! Of course there were cattle SOMEWHERE. Go for it!
BTW - what is this hero's name?
Terri: Broderick Cornelius Thornton III. I picked the geekiest, most beta name I could find. I'm not surprised you'd read his story. *LOL* He doesn't even smoke. I'm not sure he drinks, actually.
Ter - I love that para idea! Ghosts are my new thing! :) LOL!!
Hellion - Broderick Cornelius Thornton III? Good heavens. That's quite the name, huh? Not that I should say anything. My son's name will never fit on the standardized test bubble sheets. He's the fifth though, so I had no choice, especially after the aunts stepped in at my bridal shower about it. Yikes.
I was going to try to fit "Homer" or "Ulysses" in there too, but thought that might be pushing it.
I would go with Homer. Cornelius Ulysses seems a bit much, don't you think?
Hooray for YA, Marnee! I started out writing historicals and also switched over to Young Adult. Honestly, for me switching genres and trying something new really helped get the creativity flowing. It helped to keep everything fresh in both genres.
...though now I'm totally addicted to YA. :) All the buzz at Nationals this year was about the YA market, so it's a great genre to be trying out. If you ever want to talk teen book trends or other issues, let me know - I would love some YA gossip! Good luck!
Sounds awesome Mary! How's your YA going?
Mr. Thornton!!! Oh, does he look like Richard? LOL! I'm so there. He sounds right up my alley.
MARY!!! Y'all, Mary is absolutely gorgeous and adorable and sweet and smart as hell!!! I was tempted to put both her and Steph in my suitcase and bring them home. But to be honest, I'm not sure I could take all the youth, and beauty, and smarts, and talent, and not hang myself. LOL!
Hellion, Samhain is looking for some cowboy stories for an anthology. Just a thought... *evil grin*
I've crossed genres. Unsuccessfully. I'll get a page into a historical, and it doesn't fly. I can't just use some words and plus, you need to research for historicals. Nothing going around that one.
I do have a YA idea toying around in my head, but I think it's going to stay firmly there. Not too sure about a book that would be a modern-day The Scarlet Letter set in high school with the protagonist pregnant by her high school English teacher. Also, how controvesial is teenage pregnancy today? Not really. Ironically enough, I hated The Scarlet Letter when I read it---karma is coming back to haunt me with this idea. LOL.
(I used to tell myself that I didn't really like fantasy, and I didn't really like YA. I was wrong.)
I've written a very short historical and a full-length romantic suspense, and I have ideas for three straight mysteries and (possibly) a trilogy of urban fantasy.
It's going to be tough to find a single agent, LOL.
I guess he does look like Richard. He had dark hair and dark eyes. Calm. *shrugs* I had him picked out (and his name) far longer than I ever knew about the other Mr. Thornton.
So you're Mr. Thornton was first. Well, that makes sense. I didn't know about Mr. Thornton before meeting all of you and hearing how much I HAD to watch that mini-series.
All of your stories always sound like they'd be perfect for movies. One of these days you're going to have to break down and just write a damn screenplay. LOL!
Ely - I'm thinking the teenage pregnancy would be minor but who the father is would be your hook. Wow, that's an interesting idea.
Jordan - Actually, I'm pretty sure you're an agent's dream! LOL!
Maybe I'm in the wrong calling, eh? I even love California and would like living there (well, up until they banned that trans fats thing...Arnold really annoys me. Fascist.) I loved Hollywood when we visited--the beach, the sun, the fun, it was just a good time!
Oh, I forgot, I read one of those "chemicals that can kill you" signs in the hotel. They had them posted at all the elevators. LOL! And I couldn't live in San Fran. Everything is too much on top of each other. You'd probably love LA from what I hear. Heed the call, girlfriend.
Definitely try YA! I tried my hand at women's fiction and young adult in addition to regency historical romance and I'm now writing a Victorian historical romance/suspense/something. You might start something and get sick of it but at least you tried! Plus, YA just keeps growing and growing. It's such a great market and there are SO many different directions you can take it.
Terri, you are way too nice! It was ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC TO MEET YOU! I seriously can't wait to see you next year. I'm in a post-conference depression b/c I miss you guys.
Steph - I know what you mean. Everytime someone left, I felt like I had this adorable litter of puppies and I was giving them all away to good homes. First there was you gals, then when I put Manda in a taxi, separating from Santa at the San Fran airport then from J at the Atlanta one. It felt weird to be on my own again. LOL!
Can't we have this conference twice a year?!
That's what I was thinking! I say we petition RWA for another one. But, ha, they'll probably just tell us to attend a local chapter conference. ::sigh:
Ely - I love Scarlet Letter. I taught it a bunch of times and I loved it more and more each time. Though that is pretty risque, with the teacher thing. Does he die all Dimmesdale?
Jordan - I'd love to hear these ideas. I bet we can brainstorm our faces off. :) How's that little sweetie (well, both little sweeties)?
Hellion - what's that about transfats in CA?
Steph - That sounds great, the Victorian suspense idea. :) I have heard really good things about YA. I think I'll probably stalk Mary about it. :)
Marnee,
If I could write anything other than lesson plans at this point, I'd be delirious.
I haven't opened my files for what seems like all summer, although I know I have-once or twice.
Historicals will always be my first love. If I wrote anything else seriously it'd probably be a time travel, yep going back to history. My muse does like to try and dabble in contemporaries from time to time, but I threated him with a few nights in the oubliette Oh-maybe I forgot and locked him up and left him there. That might explain the writer's block. I'd better go check!
BTW a YA sounds cool, so go for it. You'll have a blast.
Renee
Renee - I HATED lesson planning. I have complete sympathy.
Time travel sure does sound like fun, doesn't it? There are so many directions to go with that, I would definitely be into that some day too.
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