What Else Are You Working On

WHAT ELSE ARE YOU WORKING ON? I’ve written right here before with reference to mental curiosity, and extolled the virtue of reading outside of your chosen/favorite genre. Now here’s a query: Have you written something but science fiction or fantasy these days? No? Try it! Of course I’m not suggesting you put aside your fantasy/SF work-in-progress and set to work for the following six months on a mystery novel, but how a couple of short story? Taking one other little bit of my own recommendation and dealing towards my private aim of writing more quick stories, I’ve put together my own listing of the stories I’ve been that means to write, serious about writing, and so forth, but I’ve additionally added to that record some stuff I didn’t think I’d ever attempt. This has matched up nicely with one other resolution of mine, which is to expand my consulting business and my life generally to incorporate new tasks, new ideas, contemporary starts, and surprising opportunities. I’m currently working on so me “secret projects” together with a guide I’m finishing up that has some SF parts but is actually extra of a medical thriller. I’ve even been working via a proposal for a romantic comedy, consider it or not. I’m working with two consulting purchasers on non-fiction books on subjects I’m not personally an expert on myselfâ€"however I am an expert editor, and know tips on how to write and work with writers, and so on. This kind of project has confirmed to be a godsend not only for my checking account however for my personal and professional improvement. It’s preserving me interested and contemporary and I don’t suppose I’ve ever been in a position in my professional life the place I’m concurrently learning and educating throughout a broader spectrum. I can’t suggest the feeling strenuously sufficient. I love science fiction and fantasy. I always have and I always will, and those genres will proceed to dominate my writing and modifying, from the upcoming Travelle r novels to my very own fantasy novel-in-progress, but alongside the way in which I’m going to choose up some additional energy by exercising my mental curiosity throughout a much wider range of subject material, widening not just my very own expertise but my circle of associates and associates as nicely. I don’t think you’ll see a mystery novel from me within the foreseeable future, although I’m happy to report I have been noodling around the edges of an thought for one for some time now, but a brief story? Yup. What else should I strive? What else would you try? Romance? Erotica? Men’s Adventure? Western? Comedy? Chick lit? How about your attempt on the Great American Novel? I even have literary aspirations of my very ownâ€"if not me, who? If not now, when? But in all seriousness, I have at all times tended to be drawn to the outer edges of the style. My favourite fantasy authors have a tendency to put in writing actually straightforward, broad sword & sorcery like Rober t E. Howard and Edgar Rice Burroughs, or literary experiments from authors like J.M. McDermott or Mark Z. Danielewski. I tend to read in the so-known as “mainstream” pretty rarely, although I assume its honest to say that the Forgotten Realms novels I’ve written kind of fall into that category. I do write horror, too! I’ve written my share of sword and sorcery recently, together with The Haunting of Dragon’s Cliff, so I’m due for a little literature. But a full-size novel? Not quite but. A brief story? Count on it. The finest authors, like Iain Banks or J.G. Ballard, to call only a couple, allow themselves the freedom to put in writing what they want, how they want, and easily ignore the publishing enterprise’s tendency to pigeonhole or “typecast” authors inescapably into one style or another. And with the publishing business in its present sustained state of flux, I’m unsure they've both the ability or inclination to typecast or pigeonhole anyone anymore. You mi ght not discover a writer on your short erotica or western novella, but there’s all the time Kindle, Smashwords, etc., etc., and so forth. And possibly those quick tales never see the sunshine of day at all, but the effort will make you a better writer. Any writing inevitably does. â€"Philip Athans About Philip Athans Though I’ve been working on fantasy and science fiction novels for the previous three years, this previous fall I decided to write some brief tales inside those genres, but in addition some inventive non-fiction. Most lately I began writing some guides and different non-fiction pieces that I plan on self-publishing within the subsequent few months. I suppose the more types of work you write, the better author you become. I know in my very own exploration into other genres has stretched me in methods I couldn’t anticipate and for that I am grateful. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for to develop as a writer, regardless of whether or not or not they go on to love their new adopted genre (or determine they really hate it!). Thanks for posting this. It validates a lot of my own feelings and inclinations on the subject. Fill in your particulars beneath or click an icon to log in: You are commenting utilizing your WordPress.com account. (Log Out/ Change) You are commentin g using your Google account. (Log Out/ Change) You are commenting utilizing your Twitter account. (Log Out/ Change) You are commenting utilizing your Facebook account. (Log Out/ Change) Connecting to %s Notify me of recent feedback through e mail. Notify me of new posts via e-mail. Enter your e mail handle to subscribe to Fantasy Author's Handbook and receive notifications of recent posts by e-mail. Join four,779 different followers Sign me up! RSS - Posts RSS - Comments