"I’ve never actually considered myself an SF writer. I would prefer just a
suspense label with a science backdrop, but somehow people then assume that
means SF.
In the case of Double Vision, my interest was in pursuing the
question of what happens when our current 7-qubit quantum computers grow up to
have 10000 qubits? Somewhere along the way, there’s going to be huge trouble. So
I wanted to pursue that...."-Randy Ingermanson's comment
at Wyrm's Yarns.
I read this comment and it made me think of a post on Rebecca Miller's blog (A Christian Worldview of Fiction)called Specialization and Books. In this post, Becky says :
"In the writing world specialization translates to niche. In fact, one writers’ group I belong to just held a discussion in which writers were asked to identify their niche...Specialization has its benefits, certainly, but there are down sides too—a loss of communication being one.
I think that same thing might occur in the writing arena. In the effort to target an audience, we lose some who don’t know to look in a niche they do not necessarily identify with. Perhaps this communication problem is why so many books take on a dual tag: romantic suspense or adventure thriller or science fantasy...."
I want to write books with sci fi, fantasy horror, romance, and everything else-all in one book. I wonder what my niche would be? :) As a reader, I’m tired of the same old thing. I’m ready for some niche-breakers. I think that Randy might be a niche breaker, since many people are having a hard time tagging his books into a specific genre (I've yet to read his book, Double Vision).
It's time to break the mold folks! Let's write what God has laid on our hearts and forget trying to fit in. The heroes in our books don't, so why should we? Let's be original!
8 comments:
Eve, good thoughts, and of course I agree. ;-)
Thing is, it all has to be in balance or we'll write books that only a handful of people will ever read.
Still, that also might be God's plan. Maybe the only "balance" we need is to be in such close relationship with God we know exactly when we are writing what He wants us to.
Becky
Becky,
I think that it will naturally balance itself out, since not everyone will write a niche-breaker.
I've been a niche-breaker from birth and don't plan to stop now.
There are others out there of the same mind frame, while others prefer to have a niche. Some simply write their story, and if it fits a niche, good, and if not-oh well.
I agree that the balance is simply fitting into God's niche for your life. Anything else will not fit you. :)
Thanks for stopping by!
Eve, I agree with Becky. It's all about the audience.
I wrote several books for myself--which is a good thing. Because no one but me will ever read them! (That's a slight exaggeration, but not much.)
I think you are in a good place to write whatever you want and don't worry about audience or market.
Still, it's like painting. Good painters don't usually jump right into cubism. First they study shading and realism. Then they move to more experimental stuff. I think writing is the same for me.
The genres are the forms that make our work easier--because the form itself answers a lot of questions that come up during the writing process.
I like the ideas about balance that both you and Becky brought up. A balanced life (or a centered life) is pretty much the key to Paul's wisdom in Phil. 4, I think.
Also. I just got your msg this evening. (I'm not so good about checking that sometimes.) Feel free to try me again whenever.
And KEEP writing! You have a gift. Enjoy it and steward it.
Mark,
Thanks for your comments. It's given me ideas to mull over.(Oh no, she's got ideas!!)
I don't want to advocate breaking out of genres/niches just for the sake of doing it, but to simply not be afraid of doing so-if that's the direction God has for you. I don't think it's right for us to be afraid of change or of doing things different.
I also don't think that we should re-invent the wheel.
It's that balance thing, again. Not to go overboard and wacko, but yet to be flexible.
I also agree that before you can mess with the form or genre, you have to know and master the art.
When I was quilting, I had to first learn to do it by the book. After that, I was free to try variations and bend the "rules". Some turned out, and some were learning experiences.
Mark, I know your busy.I appreciate the time you have given me to encourage me. Thanks for the open door invite.
Eve, I live to serve! (Or at least, I try to make that my motto.)
Experiment away in your prose! Have fun. And rest easy in the knowledge that experiments are as much about not achieving a hypothesis as they are about verifying it.
Thanks Mark!*getting out the test tubes...*
I like hearing "permision" for doing what I want to do. ;o)
I'm not so unique I can't be classified, it just sticks out a little when I stuff it in the box.
Since I've only been doing this for about hmmmm...6 or 8 months, it is interesting to me to browse around everybody's blogrolls and look at other writers
(Maybe we could make our own little zoo...:
"Look mommy! There's one without any glasses!"
"Yes, dear."
"And that one has hair that's two colors! And that one--"
"Child, can't we go to the next cage, now?"
"But Mama, they're all so cute! Can't I take one home? *Please*?")
:o)
Blessings on your day ;o)
Amy, sometimes permission is all that's needed to give us courage to step out from the norm.
I'd encourage you to continue learning how the "box" is put together, before making modifications to it. :)
Thanks for stopping by!
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