Is it odd that I rarely think of nonfiction when I'm thinking of reading? I also read a lot of nonfiction, mostly as research for articles or fiction I'm working on. I read a lot on line, and I rarely read a nonfiction book straight through, but rather in bits and pieces.
My creative writing prof in college insisted that we not write genre fiction for her, for exactly the reason that you're talking about - realistic fiction is harder to write because you can't hide behind tropes. She also felt (and I agree) that if you learn to write straight fiction, your genre fiction is better for it.
And, of course, there's the flipside - genre fiction sells a hell of a lot better than straight fiction.
In the writing classes I've taken, yeah, it was all straight fiction. I imagine now that I'm going back to classes, I'll be forced back into writing. Maybe that's what really stimulated the fear.
I'm reading Ray Bradbury's Zen and the Art of Writing, and he talks about writing what you fear as much as write what you love. I imagine that'll lead to me writing about writing about non genre fiction, which is just perfect for getting headaches.
It's been a while since I've written anything that really scared me. The section on Santeria in Magical Traditions, kinda, because it involved some research, but beyond that, I haven't done anything but White Wolf in a long time and that's pretty comfy. I should start writing realistic stuff again.
You should absolutely take some risks! Write out of your comfort zone. I know I'll be over here cheering you on, (and laughing at you if you puss out.)
I'm the same way. I've almost never written any straight fiction. I found, though, that crazy people are a fun gateway genre. They can think all sorts of things and they have the same feel as mystic crap, but are not magic.
I guess my hesitance with crazy people is that I've read a some straight fiction with crazy people that just ended up being speculative fiction without any balls, or pointless navel gazing. David has been reading to me from the "Darkly Dreaming Dexter" series. The second book is better, but I don't think I could stand to read the first book for money.
well, my crazy person piece is definitely a lot of pointlessness, but it got me able to write without adding magic, which was a help. Course, it was also short. Easier when it's short.
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And, of course, there's the flipside - genre fiction sells a hell of a lot better than straight fiction.
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I'm reading Ray Bradbury's Zen and the Art of Writing, and he talks about writing what you fear as much as write what you love. I imagine that'll lead to me writing about writing about non genre fiction, which is just perfect for getting headaches.
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It's been a while since I've written anything that really scared me. The section on Santeria in Magical Traditions, kinda, because it involved some research, but beyond that, I haven't done anything but White Wolf in a long time and that's pretty comfy. I should start writing realistic stuff again.
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Want a good contest or magazine to submit?
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