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I have been searching to find what subject I am best to write at. When I tried a criminal novel I only managed to reach 22,500 words. Now I have been writing a relationship/friendship story and have written 49,000 words so far and it is still running.
But with vouchers I had been given at Christmas I purchased a book 'Writing A Romance Novel For Dummies' and can't believe how much it is making me want to write romance.
Has anybody ever read a book of writing that has attracted them to write on that subject?
Alana
Have to say it was the other way round for me. I realised I was going to write romances whatever I tried. So I looked out the books that would give me the information I needed to know- like I knew the basic principle but not what else I needed to consider etc.
I don't think you should limit yourself to a subject or a genre, you should write what you like and what has inspired you. I tend to write, horror, because that is what I like to read, but I have dabbled with relationships, fantasy, crime as genres, but dealt with many subjects within those genres.
For example, the novel I am editing on is of the horror genre, but I am exploring 'motivation' as its theme within it. The novel that is in bits and pices in a box file, that i should be writing yet explores 'identity' as its subject or theme again that is a sci-fi/horror/thriller.
Who knows what and when, or where inspiration will strike next! :)
I've always been attracted to dark fantasy/horror so when I started writing it was that genre that called to me, although I did get a couple of 'how to' books and they showed me I was doing it the 'right way' so to speak. Although my poor vampire novel is now so wordy its scary, I know I need to go back and revise an awful lot of it as it has mutated into a deeper more emotional story. I'm also workign my way through vampire films/novels in an attempt to find something new or at least some angle that hasnt been done to death!!
Nephi, you would get on with Moira very well.
Vampire Romance is quite a big thing in the States. I can think of about six writers who specialise, and in the last year there has been the introduction of a sort of vampire chick-lit style.
I know Carol, I think I've read quite a bit of it, some good some awful. I just want to do something a little different. Dont want to be another Anne Rice or Laurell Hamilton.
I can't imagine being pigeon holed into one genre. I know agents and publishers won't like that, but as much as I adore writing the crime novel I'm working at the moment, the idea of another bores me.
I have other ideas in my head, and the consist of a romance, a thriller, a historical trilogy on the life of Robert the Bruce; then in non-fiction I want to write a book about the Scot's language/dialect and literature and the definitive tourist's guide to Stirling. I also started out writing poetry, it was my first success, and I would like to publish some collections one day.
Then Stirling you have to do it under different guises, and with different publishers.
Publishers want regular books by the author they publish, generally within the same vein, it gives the buying public the guarantee that they will get the sort of book they like when they purchase a title under that author's name. And it helps slot you into a position in the market.
That is mainstream of course. Small presses may have more flexibility.
Comments
But with vouchers I had been given at Christmas I purchased a book 'Writing A Romance Novel For Dummies' and can't believe how much it is making me want to write romance.
Has anybody ever read a book of writing that has attracted them to write on that subject?
Alana
For example, the novel I am editing on is of the horror genre, but I am exploring 'motivation' as its theme within it. The novel that is in bits and pices in a box file, that i should be writing yet explores 'identity' as its subject or theme again that is a sci-fi/horror/thriller.
Who knows what and when, or where inspiration will strike next! :)
Vampire Romance is quite a big thing in the States. I can think of about six writers who specialise, and in the last year there has been the introduction of a sort of vampire chick-lit style.
I have other ideas in my head, and the consist of a romance, a thriller, a historical trilogy on the life of Robert the Bruce; then in non-fiction I want to write a book about the Scot's language/dialect and literature and the definitive tourist's guide to Stirling. I also started out writing poetry, it was my first success, and I would like to publish some collections one day.
Publishers want regular books by the author they publish, generally within the same vein, it gives the buying public the guarantee that they will get the sort of book they like when they purchase a title under that author's name. And it helps slot you into a position in the market.
That is mainstream of course. Small presses may have more flexibility.