Some people I believe have some manner of ‘innate’ or even given certain life scenarios a ‘pre-destined’ affinity to a certain genre of literature. I wonder if you can change? I’ve been bashing out some science fiction recently and I feel quiet honestly it is not going well! This frustrates me and lead me to this cul-de-sac of thought.
Many writers cross genres but never with any substantial success. Franz Kafka never wrote a post American civil war love epic concerning run away negro lesbians; or Ernest Hemingway never wrote a satirical space odyssey concerning white mice and a man who just wants a decent cup of tea. It would be interesting if writers paired up and gave their opposite number a challenge of producing a piece 100% against their natural grain!
For instance you would not expect TCOOK to produce something GEOFFREY would. Or CORMACRU would not necessarily write something BLESSING or HIGHHAT would? SPARTARCAD would not write something OLDPESKY would and vice versa!
There are many writers who primarily write what I call ‘domestic’ poems; rhymes and lines dealing with family disputes, car insurance, humorous things the kids did. Others write vast fantasy epics some are more mystical possibly even insane. Can a writer ever change his spots?
FTSE100 | October 13, 2011 - 09:00
Of course! The golden rule is, read first, write later. (Sorry it doesn't rhyme, things become a lot truer if they do. ;)) You can only make a reasonable attempt at writing sci-fi if you've read a lot of it, otherwise you just end up with space monsters and laser guns. Same goes for any other genre.
hulsey | October 13, 2011 - 09:01
I believe that writers have their own comfort zone. They enjoy writing their given genre, and would probably not feel so content when faced with change. I love writing psychological thrillers, but have written a couple of war novels also, which I actually enjoyed doing.
In my short stories, I have written in many genres, including comedy, which I was not comfortable with, even though some people praised me for them. I could never write poetry and would not attempt to do so, and a poet probably feels the same way.
Science fiction, I am not a fan of and would certainly not enjoy writing in that genre. I suppose it's horses for courses. As for the famous writers crossing genres, I cannot help you there, for I read very little.
spartarcad | October 13, 2011 - 11:35
I have read a substantial amount of science fiction, however it is not a genre I am successful in as regards writing! I usually end up writing about men, in the rain, contemplating nothing and ignoring ducks on their way to moscow!
Science Fantasy I find a rather too silly!
Psychological thrillers never appeal to me!
A war novel would be interesting, but I would end up re-writing 'The Thin Red Line'!
Erotic stories have a place however I always endeavour to start off serious, detailed and sensuous, reall human beings making the big naughty...however it always turns into farce, usually with space guns and monsters.
I guess a writer can't change his spots after all?
Ewan | October 13, 2011 - 11:50
I think Spartarcad is looking at this from the wrong end of the telescope. For me it's the reader that pigeon-holes writers. Iain Banks writes his Sci-Fi under the name Iain M.Banks. Many other writers have produced pseudonymous works when stepping out of the reader's/publisher's strait-jacket. The fact is some writers are quite eclectic, others are not. It takes all sorts.
http://www.abctales.com/story/ewan/el-planeta-del-tesoro-treasure-planet
spartarcad | October 13, 2011 - 11:59
But those pseudonyms do not reflect the writers strenuous urges to break free from a 'straight jacket' of writing tawdry love pulp forced upon him by a loyal readership or a publisher when he truly desires to write Albert Camus-esque brilliance!
It is a move most often fundamentally fiscally orientated and I dare say involving a substantial amount of 'creative external input'.
One may earn more writing in two genres than one (with notable exceptions) whether it is out/looking-in or in/lookng-out writers clearly have a creative anchor that returns them again and again to the same subjects. Even you Mr Ewan!
Ewan | October 13, 2011 - 12:03
"Subjects" Quite, but they are quite a different thing from genre, or even theme. I expect Iain Banks would be very impressed that you think he does what he does to earn twice as much money.
The Other Terre... | October 13, 2011 - 12:07
I went to a comedy writers workshop once and most of the people there had written straight stories which they tried to make funny by adopting funny voices and gurning when they read them out. Very hard to write comedy if it's not your natural inclination, Graham Greene leaps to mind as an author that can do the comedy and the serious stuff.
andrea | October 13, 2011 - 14:06
Oddly, that's all I seem able to write. I have tried, in the past, to get away from the absurd and be serious, but have now given up and accepted that I must be a complete nutjob. Oh well, at least I make myself laugh :)
http://www.ukauthors.com
http://www.ukapress.com
Blessing | October 13, 2011 - 15:05
Apart from the genre issues, I mean writers transpose time frames like with "Romeo and Juliet" rather bravely so ... Who knows, one day you may hit the spot! In the meantime folks have to eat ... Or could go deep sea fishing in Scotland with Oldpesky and Robson in search of elusive monster and write about that, long as there's no midges - otherwise I'm out.
spartarcad | October 13, 2011 - 17:20
This alphabet game business that seems to have caught everyones imagination in truth, is beginning to annoy me; my wife wants to join in now, she has written four already, Jesus - now i'm in for a hiding.
donignacio | October 13, 2011 - 23:45
Every time I try to write something serious, it always seems to veer into something silly... So at some point, I had to stop trying. Maybe I even stopped caring?
cormacru999 | October 14, 2011 - 00:34
FOR THE FIRST TIME, at least here, I agree with FTSE100. you can write whatever you want. you just have to do a lotta research first. dig yourself into it and then write something great!
oldpesky | October 14, 2011 - 11:24
If anyone can identify a suitable genre for me and my rambles we'd be delighted to feel part of something. In the meantime we'll stumble on with our feet as firmly-ish on the ground as can be expected after a Buckfast breakfast. And no deep sea fishing for us. We're feart of water...big monsters...and wee midges.
spartarcad | October 14, 2011 - 12:35
I'm still aggrieved at this ALPHABET nonsense, for some reason its bit my little finger so!
oldpesky | October 14, 2011 - 12:39
Hopefully everyone will have it our their system by next week, then we can start on NUMBERS. Once upon a time, two little boys, etc...
Blessing | October 14, 2011 - 12:48
Writers just exercising in this great creative space where things just are larger than life sometimes but it is why we are here isn't it? Explorers???
ScoZen | October 14, 2011 - 15:16
Hear...hear Opesk !
Carry on with the Buckie and don't let the midges influence any of your tales.
ScoZen | October 14, 2011 - 15:23
Hey spatarcad.
"...This alphabet game business..."
"...is beginning to annoy me..."
It's only been a bit of fun, nothing else.
A few days more and then it will move on to something else no doubt.
Cheers
oldpesky | October 14, 2011 - 16:28
Hmm, think you might've inspired me to move into a new genre, scozen. Midgie poetry instead of that pesky stuff I currently scribble.
Terrence Oblong | October 14, 2011 - 19:41
I haven't worked out what I write yet, mainly feeble attempts to echo the authors I like - currently reading David Nobbs and listening to half man half biscuit, ooh I feel a story coming.
Blessing | October 15, 2011 - 16:49
I like peskyworld stories of life and behaviours set to reflective humour. How’s that for a descriptive genre oldpesky? I don’t mind midges when they’re 1, 2 or 3 but they like to do things in their thousands being so wee. If they were as big as birds I could just look at them with awesome awe. So since you’re so set on them I started writing this poem bout them, but I guess I hit a mental block, so I had to turn the midges into a man. So it started:
There was a man named Midge (not Ure)
Who lived in a tent on a hill
Then I hit my block again. Think someone else will have to finish it as I suddenly realised what I actually have is midge phobia – big time. Ah huh, finally figured it out.
spartarcad | October 15, 2011 - 20:29
The tent blew away midge was sore
Being naked in public gave him a thrill
Blessing | October 16, 2011 - 12:37
Ahhhh ... Time to read "Song of Songs" again methinks. Definitely no midges there. I would have known it.
oldpesky | October 16, 2011 - 12:46
Oh no, run for your lives everyone, I feel an irritating scratch of a poem coming. I'm sorry, it's not really me...it's them...the voices...
he scratched and scratched until he bled
his legs, his arms, his neck and head
each night in step with setting sun
those bloody midges had their fun
Oh dear, too late.
Mangone | October 16, 2011 - 15:52
The worst of all the midget fighters
Are the world renowned ankle biters
Buzzing around your neck and head
The blighters bite your leg instead
Then while you madly swipe around
The bloody midges go to ground
Until your futile swipes are done
And then they start another run!
Blessing | October 16, 2011 - 17:29
I think it is a tie between oldpesky and Mangone! Loved it!!! We'll leave spartarcad with his thrill and thank him for the effort ...
spartarcad | October 16, 2011 - 17:32
The man likes to be naked, it happens sometimes!
Blessing | October 16, 2011 - 18:47
C'est naturelle oui. Bon!
spartarcad | October 16, 2011 - 19:17
A man can know no greater truth of himself, than when he is proudly naked before the universe!