Monday, September 28, 2015

Trying a New Genre


So in case you haven't heard, the Insecure Authors Support Group is putting together an anthology... a contest of sorts. There is more than a month to the deadline and if you want to participate, there is still time. Ten stories will be chosen from those submitted and will go in the anthology. The TOP story will get a badge and the priviledge of naming the book...

The thing is... it's speculative fiction. Which I've never written. I've never thought I had quite the imagination for these alternative worlds sorts of stories. But I just finished an edit and had six weeks until NaNoWri Mo so it's not time to take on a BIG project, so I thought... what the heck? I can write a short(ish) story in 6 weeks... (if I ignore the fact I always say I can't write short stories at all)

And you know what? I'm having a ball. I picked my point(s) in history I wanted changed (one theme, but a series of things had to not happen) and what do you know. It lined itself up nicely with my favorite villain(s).

My point of telling you all this is that I think it can be good for us to push out of our comfort zone. Write something you've never written and even if it isn't any good, you've STILL had a good exercise. I'm hoping my story will be good. Even if it doesn't make it into the anthology, I may try it out in another publication. I only have very few short stories out there, so even THAT is new for me.

Do you try new things now and then? What's the next think you're going to try?

19 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Awesome! Glad you're writing for the anthology and enjoying it. Can't wait to see what story you send in. And thanks for mentioning the contest.

Arlee Bird said...

I enjoy trying new things and tend to enjoy a good many of them. The nice thing about blogging is that one can easily experiment with different types of genres and topics.

I've not been thinking about a story, but I should. There are a lot of things I should do.

Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

Excellent, Hart! Work that creative muscle. :)

mshatch said...

I think it's good to push the boundaries of comfort aside. I wrote a scifi which I didn't think I ever would.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Hart - glad you're getting involved with the anthology - and trying out a new genre. Then NANO ... November fun - that I miss! Cheers Hilary

L. Diane Wolfe said...

That's wonderful you are trying something new.

Stephen Tremp said...

A writer needs to expand their literary horizons. I've deviated from my norm but will return to my roots next spring.

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Pushing myself is not fun, but I always grow from it. I have one drafted, if only it were completed, I could enter, but I'm not a fast writer/editor like you are. I hope you get chosen!

Chrys Fey said...

I have heard about the anthology...and I have dabbled in sci-fi...but I am working on 2 books and 2 short stories right now, so I can't possibly write and edit a new one for this anthology in time. But I will have fun reading them all, so I'm glad you're submitting. :)

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

So awesome that IWSG inspired you to try something new. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

dolorah said...

I try new writing things all the time. Sometimes they work, sometimes not. It is good to push yourself though.

Good luck; I hope you get picked. I hope I get picked too, but I don't want to name the anthology. I'm horrible at titles.

J.H. Moncrieff said...

Congratulations on writing something new! I think that's awesome. I'm still toying with the idea of writing something for the anthology, but I'm not sure I can get it done in time.

My publisher has asked me to write an 100-word scary story. I've said yes, but that will certainly be new to me! And I'm guessing it won't be easy.

Good luck with your submission! I've got my fingers crossed for you.

Helena said...

How wonderful you're going the short story route! My side project is a sci fi book even though I barely even read sci fi, but I've got this one story in my head I've got to get down, and like you I'm having fun going out of my comfort zone.

Sheila Siler said...

Sounds delightful!

Yolanda Renée said...

I stepped out of my comfort zone and wrote a short too. I'm like you, if it doesn't make it there other places to go with it! Good for you!

Roland D. Yeomans said...

I wrote a short story for it, too: "Edison's Mansion." But only 10 stories are to be picked. Arrrgh! I never do well on these things. But do I learn? No, I just promptly submit again.

I wish you the best of luck with it. And it sounds like you're having fun writing the story -- which is a reward all in itself. Yolanda is right: there are other places to go with it.

But only ten picked! (Shakes his head and sighs) :-)

Tyrean Martinson said...

It is a great exercise to try something new with writing! Way to go!
I haven't got my entry ready yet, but I'm turning over some different ideas.

Stephanie Faris said...

It's always great to take on these new challenges. I'm working with a group of authors on a project and it's definitely introducing me to a new way of working. I've never been a planner...but I'm learning how to outline and it's actually a great way to write!

G. B. Miller said...

The one challenge I usually give myself is how PG-13/R I can write a story. Believe it or not, for me its ridiculously easy to dip into the NC-17/X level (sex) of writing. I'm trying to wean myself from writing like that because I really don't want to turn people off.

The only other challenge I gave myself was back in '07, which was to write a G-rated story. I always write adult fiction, so I thought it would be a cool idea to swim in the opposite direction.

In '09, that story became my first published story.

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