• Basic Writing questions is not a crit forum. All crits belong in Share Your Work

Changing genre gears?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Lycoplax

Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 3, 2012
Messages
353
Reaction score
32
Location
Yokosuka, Japan
So, I've written a lot of different genres in the twelve years since I discovered my passion for writing. I've always leaned toward SFF, but I've written whatever fancied me at the time, be it historical fiction, dystopian, suspense...

And then, I met the man who would later become my husband, and between the two of us we created a huge fantasy world, and discovered a story big enough for nine books and characters interesting enough for their own short stories beyond that. This has been our brainchild for the last five years, and we're satisfied that the core of it is done. (the short stories are mostly unfinished, but my priority has changed to getting the first book ready for submission)

Except now, I've become so comfortable in that fantasy world of our own creation, I find it very difficult to write anything else. I have ideas for other stories, but I have a tough time fleshing those out into something workable.

Has anyone else had this predicament? And if so, any advice on changing gears after you've been set on one concept for so long?
 

barnhijl

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 7, 2012
Messages
102
Reaction score
5
Location
North Carolina
Maybe it'll be easier once you've finished your fantasy stuff is done? I've been working on a fantasy series for years and I also have problems stepping outside to write anything else - of course right now I really don't want too. You could try short stories, that's the only thing I've been able to write other than my WIP. But i did them as part of a creative writing class. One of them I really like and it's NOTHING similar to fantasy or my usual style of writing.

You could always just write down the ideas and come back to them later

:)
 

dangerousbill

Retired Illuminatus
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 22, 2010
Messages
4,810
Reaction score
413
Location
The sovereign state of Baja Arizona
Has anyone else had this predicament? And if so, any advice on changing gears after you've been set on one concept for so long?

Why is it a predicament? You've got a good thing going, a complete story universe, and a live-in collaborator. When that vein is mined out, you'll be ready to move on to something new. In the meantime, write on in what fascinates you.

Think of successful writers, who've made their reps in detective or romance stories, and can't change genres even if they wanted to.
 

Lycoplax

Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 3, 2012
Messages
353
Reaction score
32
Location
Yokosuka, Japan
Yeah, I have thought that perhaps it would be easier once the fantasy project is really done. It just struck me as unusual that I have trouble changing gears now. Even in the middle of writing this fantasy series, I was able to take a month or so to refresh myself and write something totally different. But now I can't seem to manage even that. Before this series, I changed genres all the time, even juggled a few different ones, swapping when writer's block would hit. It's weird for me to not be able to do that now.

But I am trying to work out the first manuscript for submission, so that does really take the spotlight. As far as writing down the ideas, my problem is, at first they're very raw, and I'm not likely to remember them as well from just a memo to myself. I remember scenes, or 'snapshot' moments. I try to write those out, then I can go back and pick up where I left off. I have mountains of post-its and the like with story ideas, and so many of them are empty of meaning to me now. I remember them being powerful at the time I wrote them, but not why, because I forgot the image in my head that went with the concept.

My issue now is that I can't even concentrate on scratching out a snapshot of a new idea like I used to. And I guess, while it isn't a high-priority crisis, I worry that it's going to persist. And while I fully believe that our series is hands-down the best writing we've ever done, I want to be able to move forward.

Egad, I'm such a whiner... I'm so glad the folks here at the Cooler are an understanding bunch...
 

jjdebenedictis

is watching you via her avatar
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 25, 2010
Messages
7,063
Reaction score
1,643
It doesn't seem so odd to me that you're having trouble changing gears because your brain is obviously saying, "Hey, I'm not done yet!"

I pretty much have to chase my muse when it comes to writing. When my brain is gleefully chewing away on an idea, it doesn't take well to being told to work on something else.
 

Lycoplax

Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 3, 2012
Messages
353
Reaction score
32
Location
Yokosuka, Japan
That's the confounding part, though. I feel like the story is complete, barring some fun side work and not-so-fun main revision. And the side work is mostly my husband's, as I'm not nearly as savvy with the characters in question. (I get revision duty because I actually have the time for it)

Wait... could it be? Is this writer's monogamy? I can't get other stories to hold my interest because I'm committed to this one? :roll:
 

rwm4768

practical experience, FTW
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jan 12, 2012
Messages
15,472
Reaction score
767
Location
Missouri
I know exactly how you feel. I have two series I've been juggling back and forth, even rewriting one book entirely. Though I want to write something else, I always find my brain is stuck on these two, which is really annoying because I want to write as many things as I can to increase my chances of getting published.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.