Embracing the darker side of my writing...

James81 · Jan 22, 2009

This might some like a weird thread, but it seems like lately (as in the past year or so) I can't seem to get away from certain themes in my writing.

And the bad part about it is, that it forces stories and posts out that really aren't my style of writing really. It also lends more to a boat-load of cliches and such, and the cycle is becoming kinda hard to break.

Thing is, I've been putting out all this "rise like a phoenix from the ashes" kind of shit, and that stuff doesn't make my writing shine like I know it can. I know that I write better when I deal with darker themes.

So, the WIP I have right now is one such thing. I'm trying to attack darker themes, but it's getting spattered with this lighter stuff and I feel like instead of pulling off the darker theme like I want, that it's getting that "touchy feely" feel to it and it's blurring the darkness a bit.

So, how do you guys deal with a "rut" such as this, where you can't seem to get away from certain themes and ideas and it eventually becomes redundant?

drachin8 · Jan 22, 2009

I pump the phoenix full of lead.

And when it tries to rise again, I repeat the process until it can't even poke its beak out of the ash pile without dropping a load of bricks.

-Michelle

kuwisdelu · Jan 22, 2009

I have the equal and opposite problem.

I used to be able to write both very dark themed stories and lighter, subtler stories. But lately, my writing's been very dark, violent, and explicit. Which is still great. I love writing like that. Problem is I miss being able to write something subtler and less edgy. like both, and don't want to limit my market quite so much.

For me, I think it's context. And by context, I mean my life. I was in a much more dynamic, rougher part of my life a few years ago. My life was more interesting. Strangely enough, that allowed me to write to my "lighter" side, too. These days my life is boring, and I need to write darker and edgier to escape back into that place.

Hmm.

I've said all this, and I don't really have any advice to offer. Changing things in my life helped a bit. I have no idea if your problem is caused by the same things as mine, though.

dpaterso · Jan 22, 2009

Mmm, too profound for Basic Writing Questions methinks, probably better off in AW Roundtable where nimbler minds hang out.

:e2fairy:

-Derek

WendyNYC · Jan 22, 2009

If I'm struggling with a dark scene, I go back and read snippets by people who do it well for inspiration. For me, it's often Joyce Carol Oates--she can take disturbing content and face it dead on and STILL be poetic about it.

Calla Lily · Jan 22, 2009

Try writing something utterly warm and fuzzy to get it out of your system.

My own fiction is quite dark, yet when I interview rock bands the article invariably turns out warm and uplifting. :Wha:

Since that seems to get the niceness out of the way for me, perhaps it can work for you too.

Or gut a Care Bear and nail it to your bulletin board for inspiration.

Samantha's_Song · Jan 22, 2009

I haven't written anything yet that didn't have a dark theme to it, murder, rape, child abuse. Shrugs. It's the kind of writing I like to do and I'm not looking into changing it at any time soon.

Clair Dickson · Jan 22, 2009

Maybe the secret is to polish the stuff you don't like. Force yourself to examine what it is you don't like about it-- eradicate the cliches and find better ways of writing. Either you'll end up with something you like.

Or you join me on the dark side. Screw the cookies-- we have weapons. And cool capes. Capes always look nefarious. =)

AshNova · Jan 22, 2009

A trick,I use to write dark themes,is to detach myself from the rest of humanity and view myself as a god who revels in blood sacrifices.

Pamster · Jan 23, 2009

I write more lighter stuff but have been trying my hand at some of the darker material I know I have inside me. It's not great yet, because it's just begun, but my WIP is thriller yet again and I hope that my writing will continue to be good. I think this is a good thread and glad it's here in Roundtable for us to ponder together. I agree with kuwisdelu though about the context of our real lives either fueling or not fueling darker writing. I know that it's very hard to move forward past trauma and many people who will never publish a novel use journals to get ahead of the pain in RL and that it is a successful means to an end.

JJ Cooper · Jan 23, 2009

James81 said:
So, how do you guys deal with a "rut" such as this, where you can't seem to get away from certain themes and ideas and it eventually becomes redundant?

Focus.

JJ

Namatu · Jan 23, 2009

Clair Dickson said:
Maybe the secret is to polish the stuff you don't like. Force yourself to examine what it is you don't like about it-- eradicate the cliches and find better ways of writing. Either you'll end up with something you like.

I second this advice. Write it however it comes out, and then edit out what you don't want to keep. Or consider that sometimes darker stories can contain lighter elements.

Or you join me on the dark side. Screw the cookies-- we have weapons. And cool capes. Capes always look nefarious. =)

Can I have a weapon in either hand and a plate of cookies behind me (hidden by the cape, of course, which I will soon don)?

Embracing the darker side of my writing...

James81

Great Scott Member

drachin8

post-apocalyptic bunny

kuwisdelu

Revolutionize the World

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

WendyNYC

fiddle-dee-dee

Calla Lily

On hiatus

Samantha's_Song

At least I don't need backing-up

Clair Dickson

A dark core to every cloud

AshNova

Pamster

Counting Stars

JJ Cooper

.

Namatu

Lost in mental space.