tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797188666559531190.post520429386935996979..comments2024-03-08T15:14:31.312-05:00Comments on Landless: Should you write in only one genre?Tony Nolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090583562737225942noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797188666559531190.post-63842205016332960522010-03-15T13:12:43.127-04:002010-03-15T13:12:43.127-04:00I'm seeing this a little late, tony, but this ...I'm seeing this a little late, tony, but this issue has been gnawing on me as well. i can't even properly define genres much less stick to them. the most stressful time of my week is picking the 'genre' on jon's fridayflash collector! ;-) we're still in exploration mode and i feel that if i start to reign myself in i will kill my creativity and suck all the joy out of it. so, i'm happy to let my imagination run wild and in fact i'm trying to do more of it ;-) if at some point down the road we settle on 2 or 3 or even more genres that are comfortable for us, i say put sections on your blog (on a menu bar or elsewhere) so that ppl can easily get to the type of content they enjoy. in the meantime, have at it!PJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07521953491880916840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797188666559531190.post-28395620045667411332010-03-11T04:18:05.689-05:002010-03-11T04:18:05.689-05:00Why worry about constraining your creativity like ...Why worry about constraining your creativity like this?ali Fraserhttp://www.nashmagazine.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797188666559531190.post-37945404279031543772010-03-10T21:07:47.898-05:002010-03-10T21:07:47.898-05:00I'm starting to get fed up with it too, Laura,...I'm starting to get fed up with it too, <b>Laura</b>, especially because it's so contradictory.<br /><br /><b>Jared</b>, I have the same experience. My writing is much better when I write what I want to write instead of what I think other people will like.Tony Nolandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090583562737225942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797188666559531190.post-59347151119837958132010-03-10T15:40:26.967-05:002010-03-10T15:40:26.967-05:00I've noticed I get different comments on diffe...I've noticed I get different comments on different genres I write. I could just stick with the one genre that gets me the most comments, but I'm not about to sell out when I'm not even making any money.Jared Branchhttp://thebokchoy.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797188666559531190.post-41428103720505072792010-03-10T15:40:11.694-05:002010-03-10T15:40:11.694-05:00I've noticed I get different comments on diffe...I've noticed I get different comments on different genres I write. I could just stick with the one genre that gets me the most comments, but I'm not about to sell out when I'm not even making any money.Jared Branchhttp://thebokchoy.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797188666559531190.post-40491651900446632342010-03-10T14:05:40.722-05:002010-03-10T14:05:40.722-05:00I'm so tired of blasted "advice" tha...I'm so tired of blasted "advice" that spans the entire spectrum of the universe that I now follow no advice, only my gut feelings. So. There. Take. That.<br /><br />I say, if you write in different genres, you develop a following in different genres.Laura Enohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09982794146667832204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797188666559531190.post-70595581898839776762010-03-10T13:21:16.042-05:002010-03-10T13:21:16.042-05:00I agree with everyone who has commented before me:...I agree with everyone who has commented before me: great post and write what you feel!<br /><br />I write all over the place but focus on a few genres. What I share with others is a subset of what I write. What I hope to publish will be an even smaller subset. <br /><br />I always think about this and have struggled as I've tried to force, say, a historical fiction piece to be a futuristic sci-fi thing (because that's what I write). Eventually, I give up and write the historical fiction piece (because that's what I <i>had</i> to write right then) and move on.<br /><br />When I am famous, I'll publish whatever I want. I look to authors like Asimov who were insanely famous in one genre or another but also published in others (Asimov did mysteries, non-fiction, humor, limericks, etc. in addition to his large body of science fiction).<br /><br />Personally, I think the more varied your writing is in general, the <i>better</i> your writing will be on any specific piece because elements of many genres and styles can fit appropriately into specific areas of "your genre". You need to use the writing muscles now so that they're ready when you need them later.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797188666559531190.post-57985320849972394452010-03-10T13:01:08.401-05:002010-03-10T13:01:08.401-05:00Ah Tony, I feel your angst.
Remember, no word is ...Ah Tony, I feel your angst.<br /><br />Remember, no word is a wasted word. It may not be a famous word, the right word, the best word, but it is never wasted.<br /><br />Every word makes you a better, stronger, writer. <br /><br />Trev is a wise dude -- listen to him. Peace, LindaLindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01110078016784294934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797188666559531190.post-63374556389290183522010-03-10T12:50:10.524-05:002010-03-10T12:50:10.524-05:00Marisa, Linda, Emma, Trev: Thanks for these though...<b>Marisa, Linda, Emma, Trev:</b> Thanks for these thoughtful responses, guys. This has been kicking around in my head for a while now. I needed to get this out where I could get my thinking straight on it.<br /><br />Perhaps all of this is arising from a combination of insecurity and arrogance. The question "But what will my public think?" presumes that a) I have a public, and b) they think something about me. Allowing myself to be paralyzed by the potential negative opinions of future readers, reviewers, critics, publishers, etc. is just another roadblock to just writing.<br /><br />But what shall I write? What shall I write? What if I'm writing the wrong thing?<br /><br />Really, isn't that just dithering? Write the story that feels like it needs to be written. As <b>Trev</b> said, beyond that? Screw 'em.Tony Nolandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090583562737225942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797188666559531190.post-46274896632518697232010-03-10T12:02:13.919-05:002010-03-10T12:02:13.919-05:00Key points: The difference between publishing and ...Key points: The difference between publishing and writing, marketing and creating. Jobim may be able to pull off a one note samba, but even he had the wisdom to change the chorus. <br /><br />If the quality of the writing is consistent, the genre doesn't matter. I'm of the opinion there are two types of book fans: Those who like a type of story, and those who like a style of writing. As a creator, it's worth considering which fan base you would rather be stalked by, I suppose. Beyond that- screw 'em. Write what you wanna write.trevhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10930957143736509429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797188666559531190.post-76787611526726857882010-03-10T11:40:22.948-05:002010-03-10T11:40:22.948-05:00This is a great post :) And timely too, seeing as ...This is a great post :) And timely too, seeing as I've just announced on my blog that my next trilogy will be in a completely different genre to my first.<br /><br />The distinction you make between creativity and marketability in publishing is an astute one.I have a publisher for my debut novel who only publishes dystopian fiction, so there's no way in hell that he'll even consider my next trilogy. That puts me right back to square one if I want to publish that one. I have no idea if being published in another genre will aid or hinder me.<br /><br />But you know what? I don't care. I write stories because I have to write those stories at the time. If I only wrote what I thought would be marketable, I'd be miserable as sin, and not true to myself at all. <br /><br />Write first, sweat the publishing bit later I say. It worked for book one, and if it works for the others, then great. Maybe I am far too naieve, but at least I enjoy writing what I write :) And that's what I want for you too xEmma Newmanhttp://www.enewman.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797188666559531190.post-139927986109696122010-03-10T10:32:41.674-05:002010-03-10T10:32:41.674-05:00Haha! I write in different genres all the time -- ...Haha! I write in different genres all the time -- poetry (my true love), shorts, non-fiction/essay, and of course, my blessing and bane -- The Novel.<br /><br />Cross-writing certainly fertilizes all my writing, not all of it necessarily good. Sure, I translate word choice and economy from poetry and short shorts into my novels and longer shorts -- GREAT! But then I get the constant 'your prose is so poetic' comment -- NOT GREAT! Poetic prose tends not to sell, so I'm always conscious of alliteration, assonance and consonance seeping into my prose.<br /><br />Great post. Lots to ponder... Peace, LindaLindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01110078016784294934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797188666559531190.post-67176157691407335972010-03-10T10:29:04.265-05:002010-03-10T10:29:04.265-05:00It seems to me you should write whatever you enjoy...It seems to me you should write whatever you enjoy first and foremost. Then worry about what genre it defines.<br /><br />Your DVR is correct in advising that you can write anything you like on your blog. Writerly muscles do need exercising. They don't care about genre.<br /><br />More importantly, what shows can your DVR offer?Marisa Birnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17945909737147497606noreply@blogger.com