I'm wrapping up the final book of an urban fantasy trilogy that is nothing like what I typically write. The characters are a bit harder around the edges, there are angels and demons, things are being chased, heartbeats are always kicking up a notch, and characters are forever brandishing knives and guns and . . .
(Points Finger: Bang! Bang!)
There are authors who dabble in a variety of genres, but, for the rest of us, I think it's easy to fall into the trap of familiarity. We're comfortable, so we stick around. And there's nothing inherently wrong with that—writing a novel is difficult, anyway. Why make it any harder than it already is?
Still, after six or seven (or eight—no idea, I've lost count) contemporary YA manuscripts, this urban fantasy forced me to step outside my comfort zone. It affected my plotting, my pacing, my climaxes. . . . From the moment I typed the first words onto the page it has been one wild ride—mostly a roller coaster of doubt. Am I doing this right? Could I have done this better? Should this really happen?
Trying to piece together a trilogy has been a huge challenge for me—I envy those of you who make it look easy. I've had hits, and misses, and I still haven't quite figured it all out yet, but I know that, at the end of the day, my writing will be better for stepping off that ledge and seeing this project through to completion.
So . . . if you're in a rut, or between projects, or are just looking to spice up your writing routine, try picking a new genre from the proverbial hat: Romance! Mystery! Thriller! Fantasy! Science Fiction! Historical! Post-Apocalyptic Time Travel Space Opera! Either way, write something you wouldn't normally write—a short story, a novella, or even a trilogy—and stick with it, even when it gets hard.
Anything that stretches those boundaries and helps us grow as writers is a good thing. And you never know where it might lead. :)
~Katie~
Katie Klein's YA Contemporary Romance, Cross My Heart, spent more than 140 days on the Amazon Teen Top 100 bestseller list and was a 2011 Goodreads Reader's Choice Awards Finalist for Best YA Fiction. Lately, she's spent most of her time wondering why the heck she ever tried to write an urban fantasy trilogy. If you're supposed to be writing but would rather procrastinate, feel free to follow her on twitter: @katiekleinbooks and/or check out her blog.
I think that's a wonderful idea! I think mixing it up when reading and writing only helps us to be better writers. Stretches us and makes us grow and learn new skills!
ReplyDelete@Laura: So true! I do this with books, too. I have to remind myself it's okay to step out of YA from time to time. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Katie!
ReplyDeleteI do this. If I feel a ya wip getting stale... I pop off to write a picture book, chapter book or some poetry... Keeps the creativity flowing.
@Michelle: So smart! I've been paying more attention to poetry lately, and I've noticed it's really affecting my rhythm and word choice. I'd love to take a poetry class in the future. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I've found that writing short stories has really improved my writing - because they were a challenge! I'm working on my first contemporary YA right now and I'm enjoying it. Guess I'm doing things the opposite of you. It's totally nice to write about people that can't use super powers to get themselves out of a situation.
ReplyDeleteHere's to challenging ourselves!
@Stacey: Good luck with the contemp! I wrote two short stories last year and enjoyed them. I always hesitated to write shorts because I wasn't 100% sure what I was doing, but they were a nice deviation from a full-length ms. :)
ReplyDeleteMy Gran always told me that it was fine to color outside the lines and she knew best ;)
ReplyDeleteI love that Indie publishing allows us to do this, and bravo to you for stepping outside your comfort zone. I'm SURE it's making you a better writer. I may have to think about stretching a bit (after I finish up this trilogy)... :)
ReplyDeleteMy first (published) novel was a bit outside my comfort zone. But it was fun and a great challenge to write. I must admit though, I'm really looking forward to getting back to where my heart is!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Katie! We'll never grow as writers unless we challenge ourselves.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! I switch between YA Contemporary and Paranormal Mystery with a thirty-something POV...and sometimes I'll take a break to write free verse poetry on a blue Corona Electric typewriter. Marketing experts will say a writer is diluting or confusing their brand by doing this, but I can't imagine sticking to one genre forever and ever. Zoinks!
ReplyDeleteI got offered an erotica gig and have written it ever since. It's fun and took a backhoe to my usual stomping grounds. Writing sex is like writing any scene, and facing my own tendency to blush helped me be a better writer.
ReplyDeleteSounds like good advice. Now if I can just make myself use it. :)
ReplyDelete